The 10 Most Harmful Food Additives (Photo)
Introduction: "You don't know until you count, and when you do, it'll shock you. I counted for myself and found that I consume 76 different additives every day." What office worker Chen never imagined was that a brand of gum she chewed daily contained as many as 16 food additives. "I can't even imagine what the long-term side effects on my body will be from eating like this!" Food additives have become an issue of growing concern, as their existence is intricately linked to our health. After reading about the 10 food additives below, you should understand which ones you should eat less of or avoid altogether. Don't turn a blind eye to them anymore.
1. Trans Fats
Large amounts of trans fats are found in hamburgers, french fries, and movie theater popcorn.
It can lead to high cholesterol and coronary heart disease.
2. High-Fructose Corn Syrup
This sweetener and preservative can be found in sodas, cereals, and condiments.
Excessive consumption can lead to obesity and diabetes.
3. Artificial Food Coloring
Artificial food colorings like Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 are commonly found in fruit products and sports drinks.
It can cause ADHD in children. Animal studies have also linked it to cancer.
4. Sodium
Large amounts of sodium are found in pizza, takeout soups, tomato juice, and processed meats.
Excessive consumption can lead to stroke and cardiovascular disease.
Experts recommend that the average adult's daily sodium intake should not exceed 2,300 milligrams, which is about one teaspoon.
5. Artificial Sweeteners
This zero-calorie artificial sweetener is used in the processing of hard candies, gum, and breath mints.
Animal studies have shown that it can be carcinogenic.
6. Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
As a preservative and flavor enhancer, hydrogenated vegetable oil is often used as a substitute for butter and fat in the processing of salad dressings, margarine, and baked goods.
It can lead to obesity, high cholesterol, and heart disease.
7. Aspartame and Saccharin
These zero-calorie sugar substitutes are commonly used to make tabletop sweeteners and diet drinks.
Some studies have shown that they may be carcinogenic.
8. Sodium Nitrite
This preservative can be found in luncheon meat, cured meats, and fish products.
It can lead to various types of cancer.
9. Flour Treatment Agent – Potassium Bromate
This additive is used in the processing of flour and bread products. It is carcinogenic. It is banned in many countries but is legal in the United States.
10. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
It can be found in steak sauces, soy sauce, and barbecue seasonings.
It is said to cause headaches, nausea, and chest pain, and it should not be taken with some prescription drugs.
Expert Advice: Cooking Your Own Food is More Natural
"In reality, it is very difficult to completely avoid food additives in our three daily meals. If they are varieties permitted by the state, and the dosage and scope are in compliance with regulations, they will not cause significant harm to the body under normal circumstances," said Fan Zhihong, an associate professor at the College of Food Science and Technology at China Agricultural University.
Fan Zhihong used the three meals as an example to introduce the food additives that might be used. Breakfast milk with bread has become a breakfast combination for many office workers nowadays. In addition to the more than ten food additives in breakfast milk, bread also contains a wide variety of additives, which may include flour oxidants, emulsifiers, mold inhibitors, yeast nutrients, enzyme preparations, nutrient fortifiers, colorings, and flavors, involving up to 20 different compounds. However, if you replace the breakfast milk with regular milk, the number of additives can be greatly reduced, as theoretically, pure milk contains no food additives.
However, if you eat a traditional, handmade Chinese breakfast, it will contain even fewer additives. Taking the "soy milk + steamed bun + tea egg" combination as an example, the most additives it might contain are the flour oxidant benzoyl peroxide, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) used to neutralize the dough, and monosodium glutamate (MSG).
For lunch and dinner, as long as you are diligent enough to buy fresh ingredients and cook at home, your daily intake of food additives will be very small. However, condiments also contain food additives. Fan Zhihong reminds that if you use semi-finished products for cooking, you will not consume fewer food additives. Many housewives are accustomed to stir-frying vegetables with ham sausages or other canned foods, and these products contain compound phosphate water-retaining agents, plant gums that absorb moisture, preservatives such as nitrites and sodium erythorbate for preservation and color development, red yeast rice coloring, and nisin.