A recent report done by The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that sixty percent of the American diet includes high levels of processed foods. These foods are made with preservatives and additives that should not be regularly consumed by the human body.
Since preservatives and additives are in the foods you like to eat such as candy, chips, and breakfast cereal, it will be hard not to consume them; however, it can be done. There are plenty of items that are on the market that do not have preservatives and additives in them.
Today we are going to discuss how to avoid foods that have preservatives and why consuming them at large amounts is bad for the body.
What are Preservatives?
Preservatives are just one aspect of food additives. They are meant to preserve the shelf life of food and to keep the products from being contaminated by mold, bacteria, and yeast, which makes the food spoil. As the years go by, more and more food manufacturing companies include preservatives in their products. Some researchers have concluded that preservatives have changed eating habits and food manufacturing patterns more than any other type of food additive.
Not all preservatives are bad for you. For instance, some basic preservatives are salt, sugar, and oil. Consuming these items at large amounts can be dangerous for the human body and can cause serious health problems.
However, there are ones that you should stay away from. Below is a list of bad preservatives and additives that you should avoid consuming:
- Trans fat
- Sodium nitrate
- Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
- Artificial food colors
- High fructose corn syrup (HFCS)
- Aspartame
- Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)
- Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)
How Can You Avoid Preservatives and Additives?
Buy food from brands that commit to being free from preservatives and additives that can cause harm to your body. Choose brands that will label their products as being organic as well. For example, Monin, a company that sells gourmet syrups for food and beverages, has committed to making products free from artificial coloring, flavors, preservatives, and sweeteners. They show that they are fully invested in having high-quality products by adding their Monin Clean Label to the bottles.
Prefer Whole and Organic Foods
Include in your diet fresh produce and whole grains food. Not only is this healthy for you now, but you will keep additives and preservatives out of your system, which will benefit your health in the future. As mentioned previously, choose organic packaged foods because they have very little to no preservatives or synthetic colors.
Choose the “Preservative Free” Food Items
Some brands will claim that their products have no added preservatives, but still contain harmful ingredients. This is because the preservatives were already included before the steps to the final product. For example, most lard products have been prepared with BHA or BHT. However, if the lard was included in making a baked good, then can the item be labeled “no added preservatives?” It is very important to choose items that are labeled “preservative-free.” This means that all ingredients listed were made without preservatives.
Read Labels
This goes without a needed explanation, but you should always read the label of any food product that you are purchasing, especially if it contains preservatives and additives that can cause an allergic reaction or contribute to a chronic ailment.
Why are Preservatives and Additives Bad for Your Bodies?
Some preservatives like sugar can suppress your immune system. For example, sugar interferes with the activity of immune-boosting lymphocytes, allowing it to become an immunosuppressant. This affects your body from being able to automatically fight viruses and bacteria such as a common cold, flu, and other infections.
Some research shows that sugar and artificial sweeteners could contribute to cancer cells developing rapidly. For example, many years ago the artificial sweetener Cyclamate was banned by the FDA because it might have an increased risk of bladder cancer. Also, a diet that includes a high amount of sugar can cause diabetes and other blood sugar affecting illnesses. This is why it is very important to read food labels and do your research on unfamiliar words or ingredients.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
