Dangerous Synthetic Preservatives and Additives in food

I am Beverley, the voice behind “Imbibe Health” I am a Certified Holistic Health and Nutrition Coach and I have a deep passion for serving others and for sharing health information. Being well informed will help us to make life changing decisions.

Today my sharing is about the topic of synthetic preservatives and additives in our foods.

Even though we may know of these hidden dangers, we struggle to find them because many are hidden under different names and misleading terms.

Today let us IMBIBE this information:

There are over 2,000 additives in our foods especially in processed foods.

DANGEROUS ADDITIVES AND PRESERVATIVES IN OUR FOODS

1. Artificial Sweeteners: Especially Aspartame, acesulfame potassium, sucralose, saccharin, sucralose

Aspartame Is s toxic stimulant which attacks brain cells. Artificial sweeteners are also associated with excessive weight gain.

2. Artificial Flavors: When these words Artificial Flavor appear on food labels they can be a combination of up to nearly 50 chemical ingredients, or it can be that there is just one unnatural additive. Either way it is not good news. The label might read Natural flavors, Fruit Flavors; or for example Butter Flavor as may be used in microwave popcorn and can cause brain cell damage.

3. Artificial Colors: These additives are used in abundance. The most popular food color Red # 40 can trigger hyperactivity in children. Blue # 2, is usually used in candies, beverages, pet foods and can be linked to brain tumors. Yellow 5, used in baked goods, candies, and cereal is also linked to hyperactivity, hypersensitivity and other behavioral effects in children.

E-numbered food dyes such as tartrazine (E102), ponceau 4R (E124), sunset yellow (E110), carmoisine (E122), quinoline yellow (E104) and allura red AC (E129) do as much damage to children's brains as lead in gasoline, resulting in a significant reduction in IQ.

Dr. Mercola states that as of July 2010, most foods in the European Union that contain artificial food dyes were labeled with warning labels stating the food "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children." He further states that 9 of the food dyes currently approved for use in the US are linked to health issues ranging from cancer and hyperactivity to allergy-like reactions.

4. Mono-sodium Glutamate (MSG) is used as a flavor enhancer. I have had a most personal experience with this one. It was one of the main triggers of a migraine headache with which I suffered for over 10 years, until I removed it from my diet. MSG is most often found in Chinese food, processed food products like frozen dinners, salad dressing, some snack chips and meats. MSG is an excitotoxin, which means it overexcites our cells and can cause cell damage and even cell death. It has been linked to brain dysfunction and triggers learning disabilities. It worsens Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Lou Gehrig's disease and more.

5. Synthetic Trans Fats: Most trans fats in our diets are in the form of artificial trans fats, which are created by adding hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them more solid. These trans fats are common in foods that contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, such as crackers, chips, most store-bought baked goods, and many fried foods, just to name a few.

Trans Fats have very disturbing consequences. They raise bad (LDL) cholesterol levels, and lower good (HDL) cholesterol levels, They increase the risk of heart disease, stroke. They contribute to obesity and diabetes.

Trans Fats are cheap and abundant, so we consume a lot. There is no wonder that we are presently experiencing such vast amounts of obesity and heart disease.

6. Preservatives are used to lengthen the shelf life of food and create more profit for manufacturers. Most of them cause major health problems, so please check labels for:

BHA (Butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydrozyttoluene). These 2 have been said to affect the neurological system of your brain, alter behavior and may cause cancer.

TBHQ (Tertiary butylhydroquinon). This one has to be very carefully added since just five grams can actually kill you.

Sodium nitrite is used as preservative in hot dogs, deli meats and bacon. It has been linked to higher rates of colorectal, stomach and pancreatic cancer.

Sodium benzoate found in many soft drinks, fruit juices and salad dressings, it has been found to cause children to become more hyperactive and distractible.

In the future I will share with you other dangerous preservatives. For now, let us IMBIBE this information to make a positive change in our health.