 12 Dangerous Food Additives:
The Dirty Dozen Food
Additives
You Really Need to be Aware Of
by www.SixWise.com
The following article describes the top 12
dangerous food additives and their detrimental effects to our health.
There is also a free e-book link to the 300+ page book entitled
“Neurotoxicity: Identifying and Controlling Poisons of the Nervous
System.”
In the United States, more than 3,000 substances can
be added to foods for the purpose of preservation, coloring, texture,
increasing flavor and more. While each of these substances is legal to
use (at least here in the States), whether or not they are all
something you want to be consuming is another story all together.
With any processed food you run the risk of coming
across additives, and reading through ingredient labels can be like
trying to decode a puzzle.
Of course, eating largely fresh, whole foods is the
best way to stay away from unsavory additives, but, assuming you do
include some processed foods in your diet, the following additives are
ones you surely want to stay away from. Look for them on ingredient
labels and if one turns up, take a pass.
Propyl Gallate
This preservative, used to prevent fats and oils from spoiling, might
cause cancer. It's used in vegetable oil, meat products, potato
sticks, chicken soup base and chewing gum, and is often used with BHA
and BHT (see below).
BHA and BHT
Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are
used similarly to propyl gallate -- to keep fats and oils from going
rancid. Used commonly in cereals, chewing gum, vegetable oil and
potato chips (and also in some food packaging to preserve freshness),
these additives have been found by some studies to cause cancer in
rats. If a brand you commonly buy uses these additives, look for a
different variety, as not all manufacturers use these preservatives.
Potassium Bromate
This additive is used in breads and rolls to increase the volume and
produce a fine crumb structure. Although most bromate breaks down into
bromide, which is harmless, the bromate that does remain causes cancer
in animals. Bromate has been banned throughout the world, except for
in the United States and Japan. In California, a cancer warning would
likely be required if it were used, which is why it is rarely used in
that state.
Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
MSG is used as a flavor enhancer in many packaged foods, including
soups, salad dressings, sausages, hot dogs, canned tuna, potato chips
and many more. According to Dr. Russell Blaylock, an author and
neurosurgeon, there is a link between sudden cardiac death,
particularly in athletes, and excitotoxic damage caused by food
additives like MSG and artificial sweeteners. Excitotoxins are,
according to Dr. Blaylock, "A group of excitatory amino acids that can
cause sensitive neurons to die."
Many consumers have also personally experienced the ill effects of
MSG, which leave them with a headache, nausea or vomiting after eating
MSG-containing foods. To find out more about the side effects
associated with MSG, as well as a complete list of which foods contain
it.
Aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet)
This artificial sweetener is found in Equal and NutraSweet, along with
products that contain them (diet sodas and other low-cal and diet
foods). This sweetener has been found to cause brain tumors in rats as
far back as the 1970s; however a more recent study in 2005 found that
even small doses increase the incidence of lymphomas and leukemia in
rats, along with brain tumors.
People who are sensitive to aspartame may also
suffer from headaches, dizziness and hallucinations after consuming
it.
Acesulfame-K
Acesulfame-K is an artificial sweetener that's about
200 times sweeter than sugar. It's used in baked goods, chewing gum,
gelatin desserts and soft drinks. Two rat studies have found that this
substance may cause cancer, and other studies to reliably prove this
additive's safety have not been conducted. Acesulfame-K also breaks
down into acetoacetamide, which has been found to affect the thyroid
in rats, rabbits and dogs.
Olestra
Olestra is a fat substitute used in crackers and potato chips,
marketed under the brand name Olean. This synthetic fat is not
absorbed by the body (instead it goes right through it), so it can
cause diarrhea, loose stools, abdominal cramps and flatulence, along
with other effects. Further, olestra reduces the body's ability to
absorb beneficial fat-soluble nutrients, including lycopene, lutein
and beta-carotene.
 Sodium Nitrite (Sodium Nitrate)
Sodium nitrite (or sodium nitrate) is used as a preservative, coloring
and flavoring in bacon, ham, hot dogs, luncheon meats, corned beef,
smoked fish and other processed meats. These additives can lead to the
formation of cancer-causing chemicals called nitrosamines.
Some studies have found a link between consuming cured meats and
nitrite and cancer in humans.
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
The process used to make hydrogenated vegetable oil (or partially
hydrogenated vegetable oil) creates trans fats, which promote heart
disease and diabetes. The Institute of Medicine has advised that
consumers should eat as little trans fat as possible. You should avoid
anything with these ingredients on the label, which includes some
margarine, vegetable shortening, crackers, cookies, baked goods, salad
dressings, bread and more. It's used because it reduces cost and
increases the shelf life and flavor stability of foods.
 Food
Colorings: Blue 1 and Blue 2
Blue 1, used to color candy, beverages and baked goods, may cause
cancer. Blue 2, found in pet food, candy and beverages, has caused
brain tumors in mice. Red 3
This food coloring is used in cherries (in fruit cocktails), baked
goods and candy. It causes thyroid tumors in rats, and may cause them
in humans as well.
Yellow 6
As the third most often used food coloring, yellow 6 is found in many
products, including backed goods, candy, gelatin and sausages. It has
been found to cause adrenal gland and kidney tumors, and contains
small amounts of many carcinogens. Sources
CSPI's Guide to Food Additives
Harmful Chemicals
Wikipedia: Neurotoxicity
Food Additives and Your Brain:
Free e-Book
If you want to know more about the effects of food additives on your
brain, check out this FREE 300+-page e-book "Neurotoxicity:
Identifying and Controlling Poisons of the Nervous System."
Some food additives are neurotoxic, which means they're capable of
altering the normal activity of the nervous system -- and even killing
neurons. Symptoms include:
- Limb weakness or numbness
- Loss of memory, vision, and intellect
- Headache
- Cognitive and behavioral problems
- Sexual dysfunction
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