Preservatives

Whatcha Eating? The dark side of food additives and preservatives. 

Hanging out with friends, drinking soda, eating hot dogs, and finishing off the meal with a slice of colorful cake. Sounds like a typical cookout/backyard BBQ meal with friends, but what exactly are you eating? Unless you've made these products from scratch and know all the ingredients, you may be ingesting chemicals that lead to undesirable health effects. 

Food additives, preservatives, and dyes are commonly found in packaged and processed foods you see at the grocery stores. Here are just a few common substances and their potential effects on your body. 

SODIUM NITRITE - this additive helps preserve food, adds a red coloring and salty flavor. They're found in hot dogs, bacon, pepperonis, and other processed meats (ie: lunch meats). The problem is, when heated to high temperatures, sodium nitrite turns into nitrosamine. Nitrosamine and nitrites may be linked to increased risk of diabetes and many different types of cancer. Alternative: uncured, organic meats, or vegetable-based proteins (low-processed is almost always better!). 

HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP (HFCS) - highly processed, genetically-modified corn starch base that fructose is extracted from. It's found in soft drinks, ice cream, candy, cookies, and so much more. HFCS is linked to diabetes, weight gain, and inflammation, increasing the risk of cancers and heart disease. It’s full of empty calories, as it is pure sugar, affecting the body's insulin response and really doing no good for the body. Alternative: natural sugars/low sugar sweeteners, fresh fruit. 

ARTIFICIAL FOOD COLORING - artificial colors and dyes are added to foods (and even medicines!) to enchance their coloring. Several of them are petroleum-based and have been shown to place both people and animals at risk of cancer. Red 3, 40, Blue 1, and Yellows 5 & 6 are of increased medical concern. The EU has actually banned several artificial food colors because of health dangers. These are found in candy, sodas, ice cream, cosmetics, medicines, and pet food. Alternative: avoid food and skincare products that contain these additives, selecting items with food-based and natural dyes instead. 

This list is not extensive. For more information, you can always visit the link below. 

Take a look at several of the products you use frequently at home and make a list/note of the ingredients in these products. Do some of your most-loved items contain any of the substances listed above? This post only hopes to help provide insight into selecting healthier food options and being aware of potential substances that could negatively impact health, and does not serve as medical advice. For further questions or concerns, you could always reach out to your doctor or a registered dietician for help on how to select healthier food options and meal planning. 

for the love of the world + all on it.

x o, rachel

Sources 

https://iawpwellnesscoach.com/food-additives-to-avoid/