I am very conscious about what I eat and read ingredients all the time. But sometimes you are just unaware where those ingredients come from and what they do to your body. Here are some of the scariest of them.
Shockingly chemicals that are used as weed killer, flame retardant are startlingly common in your supermarket. But you won't find
"carcinogens," "paint chemicals," or "beaver anal gland juice" on the
back panel. They'll be hidden under names like "Butylated
HydroxyAnisole" or "natural flavoring." Break through the science
experiment to find out what you're really eating.
Acesulfame Potassium (Acesulfame-K)
What It Is
A calorie-free artificial sweetener 200 times sweeter than sugar. It is often used with other artificial
sweeteners to mask a bitter aftertaste.
Where You'll Find It
More than 5,000 food products worldwide, including
diet soft drinks and no-sugar-added ice cream.
What You Need to Know
Although the FDA has
approved
it for use in most foods, many health and industry insiders claim that
the decision was based on flawed tests. Animal studies have linked the
chemical to lung and breast tumors and thyroid problems.
Aspartam
What It Is
A near-zero-calorie artificial sweetener made by combining two amino acids with methanol. Most commonly used in
diet soda, aspartame is 180 times sweeter than sugar.
Where You'll Find It
More than 6,000 grocery items including diet sodas, yogurts, and the
table-top sweeteners NutraSweet and Equal. (Did you know that most
flavored yogurt is a step above ice cream?
What You Need to Know
Over the past 30 years, the FDA has received thousands of consumer
complaints due mostly to neurological symptoms such as headaches,
dizziness, memory loss, and, in rare cases, epileptic seizures. Many
studies have shown aspartame to be completely harmless, while others
indicate that the additive might be responsible for a range of cancers.
Glyphosphate
What It Is
The active ingredient in the popular week killer Roundup. It's used on
corn and soy crops genetically engineered to withstand a heavy dousing
of the chemical.
Where You'll Find It
Most nonorganic packaged foods containing corn- and soy-derived
ingredients. Because it's a systemic herbicide, it's taken up by the
plant—meaning you eat it.
What You Need to Know
Glyphosphate exposure is linked to obesity, learning disabilities, and infertility.
Butylated HydroxyAnisole (BHA)
What It Is
A petroleum-derived antioxidant used to preserve fats and oils.
Where You'll Find It
Beer, crackers, cereals, butter, and foods with added fats.
What You Need to Know
Studies have shown BHA to cause cancer in the forestomachs of rats,
mice, and hamsters. The Department of Health and Human Services
classifies the preservative as "reasonably anticipated to be a human
carcinogen."
Interesterified Fat
What It Is
A semi-soft fat created by chemically blending fully hydrogenated and
non-hydrogenated oils. It was developed in response to the public demand
for an alternative to trans fats.
Where You'll Find It
Pastries, pies, margarine, frozen dinners, and canned soups.
What You Need to Know
Testing on these fats has not been extensive, but the early evidence
doesn't look promising. A study by Malaysian researchers showed a 4-week
diet of 12 percent interesterified fats increased the ratio of LDL to
HDL cholesterol. Furthermore, this study showed an increase in blood
glucose levels and a decrease in insulin response.
Red #3 (Erythrosine) and Red #40 (Allura Red)
What They Are
Food dyes that are orange-red and cherry red, respectively. Red #40 is the most widely used food dye in America.
Where You'll Find Them
Fruit cocktail, candy, chocolate cake, cereal, beverages, pastries,
maraschino cherries, and fruit snacks.
What You Need to Know
The FDA has proposed a ban on Red #3 in the past, but so far the agency
has been unsuccessful in implementing it. After the dye was inextricably
linked to thyroid tumors in rat studies, the FDA managed to have the
liquid form of the dye removed from external drugs and cosmetics.
Yellow #5 (Tartrazine) and Yellow #6 (Sunset Yellow)
What They Are
The second and third most common food colorings, respectively.
Where You'll Find Them
Cereal, pudding, bread mix, beverages, chips, cookies, and condiments.
What You Need to Know
Several studies have linked both dyes to learning and concentration
disorders in children, and there are piles of animal studies
demonstrating potential risks such as kidney and intestinal tumors. One
study found that mice fed high doses of sunset yellow had trouble
swimming straight and righting themselves in water. The FDA does not
view these as serious risks to humans.
Castoreum
What They Are
Beaver anal gland juice. Really. Beavers combine it with their urine to mark their territory.
Where You'll Find It
Vanilla or raspberry flavoring in processed foods, labeled only as "natural flavoring."
What You Need to Know
It's beaver anal gland juice!!!!
