As a rule of thumb, Health Fitness Revolution advises you to read all the labels of food and if you can’t pronounce an ingredient, then don’t eat it! There are many dangerous food additives and preservatives out there that we all need to be aware of and try to avoid.
Here is Health Fitness Revolution’s list of the top 10 worst preservatives that we need to try to avoid:
- Butylated Hydroxyanisole: This preservative is mainly found in foods that have a high fat content such as meats, butters, snack foods and even beer. Testing on this preservative have been inconclusive thus far, but have shown that high doses do promote tumor cell growth in animals.
- Sodium Nitrate: How this is viewed as safe is beyond me, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that high levels of exposure are linked to increased cancer rate and may be related to brain tumors, leukemia and nose and throat tumors in children. Sodium Nitrate is common in packaged deli meats and smoked meat such as bacon and jerky
- Ammonium Sulfate: Ammonium is often used as a cleaning products and the labels have warnings on digestion, but this product is often used to make many breads! Large amounts of consumptions can lead to irritation of the gastrointestinal tract, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. So be sure to look at the ingredients when you buy your next loaf of bread!
- Monosodium Glutamate (MSG): MSG is an amino acid often found in asian foods, potato chips, salad dressing and frozen entrees. It is linked to causing headaches and nausea.
- Potassium Bromate: This ingredient is a little more rare, but is one of the most dangerous out there so be sure to check the label for this one. In fact, in California bread makers that use Potassium Bromate are required to put a cancer label on their products!
- Aspartame: Known as the most dangerous substance added to foods. There are many side effects that are linked to consuming large amounts of Aspartame including: migraines, nausea, muscle spasms, insomnia, heart palpitations, diabetes and even memory loss. This product is often found in common sodas and dried good. They even put this in many “diet” foods, so be sure to check the ingredient labels when you think you are purchasing a healthy product.
- High Fructose Corn Syrup: The most common artificial sweetener. It is found in many sodas and flavored drinks, but it is also found in many condiments in the fast food industry. High Fructose Corn Syrup is linked to obesity.
- Olestra: Found mainly in baked and fried foods.Olestra is linked to gastrointestinal disease, diarrhea, gas, cramps, bleeding and incontinence
- Brominated Vegetable Oil: Is found mainly in citrus flavored drinks and soda. It is known to damage the liver, testicles, thyroid, heart and kidneys
- Shortening/Partially Hydrogenated Oil: This is linked to obesity and clogging of arteries, but on top of that it also increases risk of metabolic syndrome.
