Five Worst Food Additives Found in Processed Foods

Something as simple as ice cream, which can be made with cream, sugar and some flavoring will often have a lengthy paragraph of ingredients with unfamiliar names of various additives the manufacturer uses for various purposes including coloring, improving consistency and increasing shelf life.
Some food additives are worse than others and these five are the worst of the worst.

5. Artificial Sweeteners

While most people agree that sugar is not the best thing for you, a number of artificial sweeteners are much worse. Among the very worst is Aspartame, also known as Nutrisweet or Equal.

The harmful effects of this stuff are too long to list in full, but here are some highlights: Evidence suggests that it causes cancer.

It has been blamed for more adverse reactions than all other foods and food additives combined. In addition to its reputation as a carcinogen, it’s also a neurotoxin, meaning that it can wreak havoc with your brain.

Some believe the consumption of Aspartame may be linked to diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, brain tumors, migraines and seizures, among other things.

4. Artificial Colours

Food coloring has been in use for a very long time. Unfortunately, there’s no reason to believe that it has become any safer over the years.

While many natural alternatives to artificial colorings are available, using artificial coloring likely helps keep the cost of processed foods low, making it all the more appealing to the masses.

Potential problems associated with artificial colorings include hyperactivity in kids, worsening ADD or ADHD, allergic reactions and sinus congestion.

3. Preservatives

These are ingredients that show up on food labels with names like Polysorbate (60, 65 and 80), BHT, BHA, TBHQ, Nitrites, Nitrates, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, and Sulfites.

These additives may put consumers at risk for cancer, kidney and liver disease, infertility, allergic reactions, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and tinnitus.

Sure, these ingredients may help preserve processed foods on the shelf, but they certainly weren’t created with preservation of human health in mind.

2. Artificial Flavor

You would think that we have a more than sufficient number of natural ingredients to make our food taste good, but trying to “improve” on nature’s work is something big food manufacturers just love to do.

Again, it’s all about the money, since they can use artificial flavors more cheaply and keep those junk food prices low. Artificial flavorings may be associated with allergic reactions and behavioral problems.

1.Potassium Bromate

This is an additive often found in white flour, breads, rolls and other baked goods. This additive is known to cause cancer in animals and people can experience adverse reactions from even a small amount in their food.

 Courtesy: Odd or What