You Should Know The Top Ten Food Additives To Avoid!

Food additives have become commonplace in our modern American diet, but do they really add any value to our food?  Typically, these food additives are not easy to identify, as they are hidden under a variety of names and codes and usually in very small font. There are over 300 chemicals used in processed foods today and statistics show that the average American household spends about 90 percent of their food budget on such foods. These manmade chemicals are seen as foreign to our bodies, which often results in a number of implications to our health and wellbeing.  We are at a point now that it is imperative to check the labels of any processed food item we purchase.  The safest approach is to purchase “real” food that has no ingredients list.  Of course, organic and local grown is usually much better.  Here is our TOP 10 FOOD ADDITIVES TO AVOID:

1.      Artificial Sweeteners.  The worst offender is Aspartame, popularly known as Nutrasweet and Equal and found in foods labeled “diet” or “sugar free”.  Aspartame is believed to be carcinogenic and accounts for more reports of adverse reactions than all other foods and food additives combined.  Another relatively “new” artificial sweetner to watch for is Acesulfame-K found in baked goods.

2.      High Fructose Corn Syrup. HFCS is a highly refined sweetner which has become the number one source of calories in America.  It is found in about all processed foods.

3.      Monosodium Glutamate (MSG/E621).  MSG is an amino acid used as a flavor enhancer in lots of processed foods and many restaurant foods.  This additive is a neurotoxin and damages our brain.  Unfortunately, the FDA only requires an MSG label if the additive contains 95% glutamate.  Now, additives having up to 94% glutamate can show up as “natural flavoring” or other innocuous additive.

4.      Trans Fat.  Trans Fat is used to enhance and extend the shelf life of food products and is among the most dangerous substances that you can consume.  This is found in deep fried fast foods and certain processed foods made with margarine or partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.  (The good news is that this nasty additive is starting to be reduced in many processed foods.)

5.      Common Food Dyes.  Studies show  that artificial colorings found in soda, fruit juices and salad dressings contribute to behavioral problems, chromosomal damage and cancer.  Watch for Blue Dye #1 and #2, Red Dye #3 and #40 and Yellow#6 and Yellow Tartrazine.

6.      Sodium Sulfite (E221).  This preservative is used in wine making and other processed foods like dried fruit.  Approximately, 1 in 100 people are sensitive to sulfites in food.  People experience headaches and breathing problems and in severe cases , can cause death.

7.      Sodium Nitrate/Nitrite.  These are used as a preservative, coloring and flavoring in bacon, ham, hot dogs, luncheon meats and other processed meats.  It turns meats a bright red color. This ingredient is highly carcinogenic. 

8.      BHA and BHT (E320).  These preservatives are found in cereals, potato chips, vegetable oils, candy and jello.  It keeps foods from changing color, changing flavor or becoming rancid.  These are oxidants that form cancer-causing reactive compounds in your body.

9.      Sulfur Dioxide (E220). Sulfur additives are banned by the FDA for use on raw fruits and vegetables, however, it is found in beer, soft drinks, juices, vinegar and potato chips.  It is connected to bronchial problems.

10.   Potassium Bromate.  This is an additive used to increase volume in some white flour, breads and rolls.  It is known to cause cancer.

So there you have the top 10.  Not sure what the other 290 do, but a good rule of thumb is that if you don’t know the ingredient, or can’t pronounce it, don’t buy it!  Till next time…Keep reading labels!