Dangerous Food Additives Hidden In Your Diet

With our fast paced lifestyles, processed foods have become the mainstay of our diets, from breakfast cereals & yogurt to juices & salad dressings. Many food items perceived as healthier options, actually contain the wonders of food technology. Technological advances have given rise to dangerous food additives including high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), hydrogenated oils (trans fats), fat substitutes, artificial colours, artificial flavours and artificial sweeteners.  Whether it is ignorance or absence of labeling, it is critical that you understand the dangers of food additives, and how to interpret labels for healthier eating, and thus better health.

Food Additives: Harmful Junk In Food

Food additives are chemical substances involved in the food processing or storage, found in foods, beverages and drugs. Realistic examples include BHT in cornflakes, MSG in some potato chips & some noodles, Sodium benzoate in bottled juice, BHA in ultra low fat ranch dressing, and Sodium nitrite in Turkey frankfurters.

Food Additives: Cancerous Convenience

Many food additives are toxic and linked to cancer including:

• • Artificial Colors
  • Artificial Flavours (Could Contain 50-100 Chemicals)
  • BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole)
  • BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene)
  • Brominated Vegetable Oil (Organ Damage & Birth Defects)
  • Carrageenan
  • Paraben
  • Propylene glycol (Antifreeze)
  • Polysorbate 60
  • Sodium Benzoate & Benzoic Acid
  • Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose
  • Sodium Nitrates/Nitrites
  • Sulfites
  • TBHQ (Tertiary butylhydroquinone)

Food Additives: MSG Masked

Monosodium glutamate (MSG), used as a flavour enhancer, can also be labeled as:

• • Hydrolyzed Protein
  • Natural Flavouring
  • Sodium Caseinate
  • Autolyzed Yeast
  • Yeast Extract
  • Citric Acid

Other food additives that contain or form MSG include:

• • Disodium Inosinate
  • Disodium Guanylate
  • Maltodextrin
  • Modified Cornstarch
  • Textured Soy Protein Concentrate

MSG (monosodium glutamate) is found in all tomato based products, including tomato paste, tomato sauces, salsa, ketchup and barbecue sauces. MSG can also be found in fast food, sausages, beef stew, soups, salad dressings & packaged dinners. MSG contributes to diabetes, obesity & metabolic syndrome.

MSG is Hidden in Most Processed Foods

Furthermore, many low fat products contain Carrageenan, a jelly-like substance from seaweeds, which can legally contain MSG without stating so on the label.  The additive carrageenan imparts the creamy texture fat usually gives, in items such as no fat sour cream and no fat cream cheese. 

Carrageenan contains MSG without Labelling

Food Additives: MSG Symptom Complex

The MSG symptom complex is developed by an unknown percentage of the population.  It occurs within one hour of eating MSG, upon which the susceptible may experience numbness or burning sensation in the back of the neck, forearms and chest, chest pain, headache, nausea, rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, drowsiness or generalized weakness.

Beware: Hydrolyzed Protein or Natural Flavouring is MSG

Food Additives: Nasty Nitrites

The most commonly used preservatives in food include sodium benzoate, nitrites and various sulphites.  Nitrites are found in preserved meats, such as hot dogs and deli meats.  Nitrites may be harmful to sensitive people, triggering a headache or migraine.  However, nitrites may be cancer-causing in everyone.

Nitrites May Cause Cancer in Everyone

Food Additives: Sinking In Sulphites

Sulphites prevent the growth of microorganisms and the resulting spoilage, which indicated their use on produce, especially in restaurant salad bars.  Also, sulphites prevent black spots on lobster and shrimp, discourage bacterial growth during wine fermentation, condition dough (breads & baked goods), and are present in medications.

Food Additives: Sulphite Sensitivity

Many people suffer severe allergic or asthmatic reactions as they are unaware of their sensitivity to sulphites and the common use of these in foods.  Symptoms can include hives, nausea, diarrhea, shortness of breath and even shock leading to death.

Sulphites Can Cause Death!

Food Additives: Hidden Allergens

Caramel is another food additive that may prevent better health.  The carbohydrates caramel is derived from includes many common allergens or foods people have sensitivities to including dairy, wheat and corn.  Unfortunately, labels either include technical terms or do not state the source.  Examples of carbohydrates heated to form caramel are corn (dextrose), barley (malt syrup), cane (molasses), wheat (starch hydrolysates), citric acid and most importantly, dairy (lactose). Therefore, individuals on hypo-allergenic diets must be careful to read between the lines. 

Labeled Items Do Not Reflect True Ingredients

Dairy in some form or another is found in carrageenan, nougat, sherbet, rennet (an enzyme that curdles milk to form cheese), whey, the wax coating on fruit and even TOMATO PASTE!  This is of critical importance to those with dairy sensitivities, because many times labeled items do not reflect true ingredients. Furthermore, the body may be triggered by only minute molecular amounts, causing either an immediate or delayed allergic reaction.

Natural Flavouring may be an Allergy Nightmare

Products with natural flavouring have many potential hidden allergens including corn alcohol (yeast) to extract the flavouring, as well as spices, fruits/juices, vegetables/juices, herbs, barks, leaf, roots, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs &/ dairy per food label regulations. If you have food allergies or sensitivities, beware of flavoured products such as protein powder, water, tea, coffee creamer, coconut / soy / almond milks, yogurt etc. That is why the Rice Protein I recommend for patients is NOT FLAVOURED, at all.  No Flavouring means No Hidden Allergens!

No Flavouring means No Hidden Allergens!

Food Additives: Terrifying Trans Fats

Further technological advances promote the use of other food additives including High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) and Trans Fats (Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil). Trans Fats are one of the most dangerous food additives. Trans Fats enhance the shelf life of foods through hydrogenation. This process stabilizes the fats which make them more unhealthy for your heart. Countless studies have proven that trans fats increase heart disease & stroke, inflammation, diabetes, immunity, infertility & aging.  Trans Fats are prevalent in margarine, vegetable shortening, cookies, crackers, salad dressings, microwave popcorn, breads, chips, donuts & various fried foods.

Food Additives: Fat Phobia

Fat is a source of essential fatty acids, required in the diet for proper growth & development, and to maintain health.  It provides calories for those underweight, and those with high caloric requirements, such as infants and toddlers.  Fat also carries and aids the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E & K.  With respect to preparation and consumption, fat provides taste, consistency and stability of the food product.  However, at 9 calories per gram, fat in foods sent the health & weight-conscious running.  The Calorie Control Council surveyed that 2/3 of the adult US population consumes low fat and low calorie foods and beverages, and believe there is a need to replace fat in the diet with substitutes.

Do Not Fear Dietary Fat

Food Additives: Excess Sugar Forms Fat

Enter manufacturers producing low fat, low calorie foods.  These products still contain high amounts of sugars and carbohydrates, which promote fat formation in the body, as they skyrocket blood sugar.  Even the notorious rice cake, a dieter’s delight of puffed air, actually increases blood sugar the fastest (highest glycemic index).  Also, any natural or diet food with sugar, including fructose (fruit sugar), causes fat storage when the excess blood sugar is not used for energy by the body.

Carbs Make You FAT

Food Additives: Fake Fat

Fat substitutes are made from tapioca dextrin, cellulose gel (carbohydrate-based), egg whites & whey from dairy (protein-based).  They are found everywhere real fat should be: lunch meats, salad dressings, frozen desserts, table spreads, dips, baked goods, candy, yogurt, cheese spreads, frozen dinners and energy bars.  But they cannot be fried. Until OLESTRA.  This fat-based substitute can withstand high temperatures due to its structural similarity to fat, providing a snack with less than half the calories of fried snacks in natural oil.  Thus, olestra is readily available in America, in low calorie chips and snacks.  Fortunately, olestra has yet to be approved in Canada and the UK.

Food Additives: Fatal Fat Substitute

Since olestra passes right through the digestive tract without being absorbed, it can cause intestinal cramping, anal leakage, gas and bloating.  In leaving the body unchanged, olestra contributes no calories or fat, but takes with it the essential fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, K, and carotenoids (in fruits and vegetables).  For those with bleeding disorders, this depletion of vitamin K can be serious, as it is required for clotting blood.  The resultant deficiency in carotenoids could increase the incidence of cataracts, age-related blindness, and increase the risk of cancer and heart disease.  Dr. Walter Willett, a nutritionist from Harvard School of Public Health, states that a mere six potato chips a day will decrease carotenoids in the blood by 40%, and projects thousands of premature deaths, due to cancer and heart disease in the US annually, with olestra consumption.  Furthermore, lab studies have shown olestra to cause LIVER CANCER in some animals.  The FDA has supposedly resolved their responsibility by ensuring the presence of an unappealing label warning and fortifying products with the depleted vitamins, blind to the fact that the olestra may eliminate those as well.

You Can’t Cheat Your Body

Substitute Good Fats, Avoid Bad Fats

Remember, fat in the diet is required, with the majority from essential fatty acids.  Essential fats can be obtained from cold water fish, olive and flaxseed oil, almonds, walnuts, sesame, pumpkin and sunflower seeds.  The types of fats to avoid in the diet include saturated fats and trans fats, found in red meats, dairy products, margarine, fried, frozen & fast foods, processed and packaged foods.  On packaging labels, these fats are known as “hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils”.  Examples of foods that contain these bad fats are fried or baked chips, sports drinks, soy cheese, processed noodles, and cereal bars.

Just Choose The Good Fats

Food Additives: Sweet & Deadly Poisons

There is no question as to the safety of artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, saccharin, sucralose and acesulfame K.  They are undoubtedly harmful, and unfortunately present in greater than 9,000 foods, wherever sugar is substituted.

Aspartame is an unregulated, unsafe drug, originally to treat peptic ulcers.  It is a combination of three substances: the amino acid phenylalanine, aspartic acid and methanol (wood alcohol).  Phenylalanine decreases serotonin levels, which can cause carbohydrate cravings, PMS symptoms, insomnia and mood swings.  The breakdown of methanol in the body forms highly toxic formaldehyde, which causes permanent genetic damage.  Aspartame has been proven to cause brain cancer, uterine polyps and affects blood cholesterol in animals.

The Food and Drug Administration has registered aspartame to represent 80-85% of all food complaints. Symptoms include seizures and convulsions, chronic fatigue, severe anxiety attacks, depression, memory loss, vision problems, menstrual difficulties, blood sugar irregularities, MS-like symptoms, Parkinson’s tremors and worsening of fibromyalgia.  The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), based in Washington, DC, has listed aspartame as the third worst additive.  Although Acesulfame K is the latest available sugar substitute, it is the worst, and FDA testing has proven the additive causes cancer in animals.

Artificial Sweeteners Cause Weight Gain

Live & Learn To Create Your Health

Ultimately, society’s quest to lose weight and prevent disease has become a biological nightmare, as consumption of chemical additives and substitutes reign our dietary intake, wreaking havoc on the body’s natural function.  Optimal health is created by each person taking charge of their body, and knowing exactly what is put into it.  Although knowledge may be the foundation of well-being, action provides the structure and is achieved through optimal nutrition, exercise and moderation of all required nutrients – protein, carbohydrates, fibre and essential, healthy fats.

Related      Artificial Sweeteners: The Link To Weight Gain, Stroke & Dementia

Get Naturopathic with Dr. Jiwani:  Call 604.679.9988

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