High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)
Over the last couple decades, HFCS has slowly replaced sugar in our diets. Corn
subsidies and tariffs on sugar are just a couple of the reasons why high fructose corn
syrup is cheaper to produce. HFCS is widely used in processed foods as a sweetener.
Unfortunately, high consumption of fructose causes an increase in triglycerides, blood
pressure, insulin resistance ,imbalance in hormones and inflammation markers.
Artificial Sweeteners
They are associated with hypertension, insulin resistance , abdominal obesity, higher risk
of heart disease and stroke. Check the ingredients when they mention sugar free for
these sweetners like Aspartame, Acesulphame K2, Saccharin, Sucralose, Xylitol.
Hydrogenated Oils
Hydrogenating oils is the process of adding hydrogen to unsaturated fats. It contains
trans fat. Hydrogenated oils are still being used in vast quantities to give better
consistency to foods, and to improve shelf-lives like biscuits, cakes, fried foods and many
other snacks. Trans fats have been linked to an increased risk of Heart disease, Diabetes, Cancer to name a few. Read the food label ingredients. Just because it says
0 grams of tans fat, it doesn’t mean there are no hydrogenated oils. The FDA allows
anything under .5 grams to be reported as a zero. Read carefully.
Nitrates/Nitrites
Nitrites are used heavily as a food additive to help preserve meats. They also change
the color and taste of the food. Some will argue that nitrites are naturally occurring in
food. While this may be true in some cases, the whole foods that contain the nitrites
naturally also have antioxidants that prevent the formation of nitrosamines.
Nitrosamines are the real killers. Nitrate ingestion has been linked to impaired thyroid
function, vitamin A and E metabolism interference, and reduced brain activity.
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
MSG is used as a flavor enhancer in foods esp in Chinese. The bad news is that MSG
is not clearly labeled on food packaging. MSG is hidden in many foods. Animals treated
with MSG developed brain lesions, caused stunted skeletal development and weight
gain, and disrupted the neural centers responsible for hormone function.
Artificial Colors and Flavors
Artificial colors and flavors are used by food manufacturers to add visual appeal, taste,
and smell to foods. By combining certain chemicals together, “chemists” can create a
near endless variety of flavors. Anything on a label that says artificial should be avoided,
and if you see a color such as blue, red, or yellow, avoid those too. Artificial colors and
flavors promote hyperactivity in children and may be a leading cause of attention-
deficit/hyperactivity disorder and increased risk of cancer.
Benzoate Preservatives (BHA/BHT)
BHA is used in food to help prevent oils from going rancid. BHT is “reasonably
anticipated to be a carcinogen” by many organizations and states (California), and is
also used to produce fuel, petroleum products, and embalming fluid. BHA has been
shown to grow cancer cells, and contributes to ADHD symptoms .