The effects of food additives and preservatives

Have you ever thought about the effects of food additives and preservatives? Maybe not, but if you read on you may find out something that could save you or your loved ones.. For young generation especially, life is so busy that they don't have time to cook or shop daily and this is the reason they prefer fast-food, or food that you can take home, reheat and eat.

And once you are going for store food, you are taking home lots of preservatives and food additives. How many people actually bother to check the labels on the food they eat to know what all they are taking into their bodies? More than that, how many people are aware of the things that they ingest unintentionally through the pesticides, coatings and much more that are put on the things they eat? These preservatives are part of your foodstuffs, and may present threats and dangers.

Dangerous or threatening additives include the colorings, preservatives, flavors, flavor enhances, sweeteners, texture agents and processing agents. As you can see the list is endless Details of these must be included on the labeling and can be identified with a little knowledge and some attention to the information provided by the manufacturer. Ideally, food that has no additives at all is to be preferred and especially if it is to be used to feed children. Far too many of our young are sensitized through these additives and this can lead to allergies and such conditions as Attention Deficit Disorder and Hyperactivity.

Additives you must avoid

1. Sodium Nitrate (also called Sodium Nitrite): This is a preservative, coloring, and flavoring commonly added to bacon, ham, hot dogs, luncheon meats, smoked fish, and corned beef. Studies have linked eating it to various types of cancer. 2. BHA and BHT: Butylated hydroxy anisole and butylated hydro zyttoluene are used to preserve common household foods. They are found in cereals, chewing gum, potato chips, and vegetable oils. They are oxidants, which form potentially cancer-causing reactive compounds in your body.

3. Propyl Gallate: Another preservative, often used in conjunction with BHA and BHT. It is sometimes found in meat products, chicken soup base, and chewing gum. Animals studies have suggested that it could be linked to cancer.

4. Mono sodium Glutamate (MSG) : MSG is an amino acid used as a flavor enhancer in soups, salad dressings, chips, frozen food, and restaurant food. It can cause headaches and nausea, and animal studies link it to damaged nerve cells in the brains of infant mice.

5. Trans Fats: Trans fats are proven to cause heart disease. Restaurant food, especially fast food chains, often serve foods laden with trans fats.

6. Aspartame: Aspartame, also known by the brand names Nutrasweet and Equal, is a sweetener found in so-called diet foods such as low-calorie desserts, gelatins, drink mixes, and soft drinks. It may cause cancer or neurological problems, such as dizziness or hallucinations.

7. Acesul fame-K: This is a relatively new artificial sweetener found in baked goods, chewing gum, and gelatin desserts. There is a general concern that testing on this product has been scant, and some studies show the additive may cause cancer in rats.

8. Food Colorings: Blue 1, 2; Red 3; Green 3; Yellow 6: Five food colorings still on the market are linked with cancer in animal testing. Blue 1 and 2, found in beverages, candy, baked goods and pet food, have been linked to cancer in mice. Red 3, used to dye cherries, fruit cocktail, candy, and baked goods, has been shown to cause thyroid tumors in rats. Green 3, added to candy and beverages, has been linked to bladder cancer. The widely used yellow 6, added to beverages, sausage, gelatin, baked goods, and candy, has been linked to tumors of the adrenal gland and kidney.

9. Olestra: Olestra, a synthetic fat found in some potato chip brands, can cause severe diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and gas. Olestra also inhibits healthy vitamin absorption from fat-soluble carotenoids that are found in fruits and vegetables.

10. Potassium Bromate: Potassium bromate is used as an additive to increase volume in some white flour, breads, and rolls. It is known to cause cancer in animals, and even small amounts in bread can create a risk for humans.

11. White Sugar: Watch out for foods with added sugars, such as baked goods, cereals, crackers, sauces and many other processed foods. It is unsafe for your health, and promotes bad nutrition.

12. Sodium Chloride: A dash of sodium chloride, more commonly known as salt, can bring flavor to your meal. But too much salt can be dangerous for your health, leading to high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure.

There is the added threat that may be posed by foods that contain genetically modified ingredients and this is particularly difficult in North America where there is, as yet, no mandatory labeling requirement.

• The celery, cucumber, lettuce, cabbage and beans you buy will often have pesticide residue on them.
• The apple, pear, pepper that looks so enticing and fresh are probably coated with paraffin wax.
• The delicious looking grapes may well be carrying sulphates which are dangerous for some asthmatics.

The US Environmental Protection Agency at one time identified 24 chemical carcinogens that went right through the chain and ‘appeared' on the dinner plate. These were the herbicides, pesticides and fungicides so liberally applied through the growing process of plant foods.

Some safe food additives:

• Maltodextrin. This is a thickening agent and sweetener made from starch. It's used in canned fruit, salad dressings, and instant puddings.
• Sodium Carboxymethyl-Cellulose. Another thickener that also keeps sugar from crystallizing. You can find it in ice cream, beer, pie fillings, icings, diet foods, and candy.
• Thiamin Mononitrate. A form of vitamin B-1 used to fortify cereals and flour.
• Sucralose. Better known as Splenda. Used in some baked goods, frozen desserts, and diet soft drinks. CSPI says unfortunately, it's often used with acesulfame.
• Colors: E101, E160 that contains vitamin B2 carotene and Vitamin A.

What can you do to protect yourself?

The safest thing to do is to avoid all foods that contain any additives whatsoever and this can most easily be accomplished by eating only those foods that have been organically produced and are certified as such by a reputable organic certification body.

• This need not be any more expensive than buying any other kinds of food though, regrettably, many organic growers and suppliers have taken advantage of the situation and charge high premiums for the privilege of eating safe food. You may have to search around and ‘negotiate' but it is the very best and safest route if you are able to take it. 

• If the organic option is not available to you then you must learn as much as you can about the additives which are used, the ones that are the most threatening and dangerous and how to identify them in the foods you buy. Wash all fruit and vegetables as thoroughly as you can and peel apples, pears, potatoes etc., before eating or cooking. This does remove much of the goodness but at least it gets rid of the residues on the skins.

The threat of all these additives cannot be minimized. Children, especially, are at risk though there is an element of risk to everyone. Next time you're in the supermarket, look more closely at the labels and ask yourself whether you want these extras on your food.

(Sources: fatfightertv.com, altmedangel.com, ?buzzle.com)