| There are thousands of harmful food additives that | | | | find them in things like chips, cereals and even chewing |
| we are consuming every day. Many of these food | | | | gum. They are know to oxidize the cells and cell |
| additives have been show to be harmful to our health. | | | | oxidation is the precursor to cancer. |
| The information in this article will help empower you to | | | | Propyl Gallate |
| know what to look for. | | | | Also a preservative. There has been evidence that |
| In 1958 the government passed the Delaney Clause | | | | this can be linked to cancer. |
| Food Additives Amendment which prohibited | | | | Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) |
| companies from adding known harmful chemicals to | | | | MSG is one of the more well-known food additives |
| our food. But in spite of this, there are still dangerous | | | | and is primarily used as a flavor-enhancer. Much of the |
| chemicals that are still being added to our food and it is | | | | restaurant food we consume is flavored with MSG. |
| important to understand which chemicals these are | | | | This food additive can cause reactions in some people |
| and what the potential dangers are. | | | | such as headaches and nausea. |
| The only defense we have as consumers is that all | | | | Trans Fats |
| packaged food is required to list all the ingredients on | | | | Trans-fats are proven to cause heart disease. |
| the label. We need to educate ourselves and become | | | | Restaurant food, especially fast food chains, often |
| familiar with the harmful food additives and read every | | | | serves foods laden with trans-fats. |
| label of the food we purchase. The challenge | | | | Aspartame |
| however, is that food companies tend to make finding | | | | Aspartame is a sweetener and is also known as |
| these suspicious ingredients somewhat tedious, hiding | | | | NutraSweet. The brand of sweetener called Equal is |
| them in hard-to-find areas of the package and making | | | | also aspartame. This food additive has been linked to |
| the print extremely small so as to discourage their | | | | cancer and neurological problems. |
| discovery. | | | | Acesulfame-K |
| The names of these chemicals themselves can | | | | A new sweetener used in baked goods and candy, |
| complicate matters. These chemical names are long | | | | Acesulfame-K has had limited testing and there has |
| and foreign-sounding and people typically skip over | | | | been some evidence that it may cause cancer in lab |
| them because they are tedious to try and read. The | | | | rats. |
| food producers are clever. They will intentionally use | | | | Food Colorings: Blue 1, 2; Red 3; Green 3; Yellow 6 |
| healthy-sounding phrases to dupe pepople into thinking | | | | Food colorings are basically just a form of paint. They |
| that the product is free of chemical additives. For | | | | can liven up the walls in your living room but should |
| instance, "Natural Flavors" or "No Preservatives" are | | | | definitely be avoided in food. Blue 1 and 2, found in |
| commonly found on packaged food products, but | | | | beverages, candy, baked goods and pet food, have |
| does this mean that the product is free of harmful | | | | been linked to cancer in lab animals. Red 3, has been |
| food additives? Absolutely not. Again, you must check | | | | shown to cause thyroid tumors in rats. Green 3 has |
| all the ingredients to determine whether a product is | | | | been linked to bladder cancer. Yellow 6 has been |
| completely free of food additives. | | | | linked to tumors of the adrenal gland and kidney. |
| Here is a helpful tip that relies on basic common sense. | | | | Olestra |
| If you are reading the ingredient list and you find it is | | | | Olestra is a chemical fat that is used in chips and can |
| long and loaded with long words that you are unfamiliar | | | | have a wide array of side effects. Additionally, Olestra |
| with, guess what? This product almost assuredly has | | | | can impede the absorption of vitamins from fruits and |
| plenty of chemical food additives. | | | | veggies. |
| Here is a list of twelve food additives that you should | | | | Potassium Bromate |
| definitely try and avoid. This is not an exhaustive list, | | | | This food additive is found in many breads and |
| however, these food additives have been linked to | | | | products that use flour. It has been linked to cancer in |
| health concerns and harmful side effects. | | | | animals. |
| Sodium Nitrate or Sodium Nitrite | | | | White Sugar |
| Found primarily in lunch meat and hotdogs, this is a | | | | White sugar is white because of bleach. Eating foods |
| preservative and color and flavor enhancer and has | | | | that add a lot of white sugar is very bad for you. |
| been linked to cancer. | | | | Sodium Chloride |
| BHA and BHT | | | | AKA... salt. Most of the commercial foods we eat are |
| Butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated | | | | loaded with Sodium Chloride. This additive has been |
| hydrozyttoluene are used as a preservative. You can | | | | proven to cause heart disease. |