Many readers and acquaintances often ask me similar questions about which superfoods, vitamins or supplements will miraculously improve skin quality, make hair shiny and thick, shape slimmer and generally improve health.
Unfortunately, all of these products are just a supplement to a healthy diet based on whole, unprocessed foods. And I'm not even saying just plants, if you eat meat, then "wholesomeness" and "unprocessed" applies to it as well.
Start by stopping eating jarred, boxed, semi-finished, refined foods and anything that contains ingredients that will increase their shelf life, improve texture, enhance flavor and make them visually more appealing. These additives benefit the manufacturer, not the consumer. Scientists have linked many of them to poor health, risks of cancer and other diseases, and, as a consequence, poor appearance.
After saying goodbye to such "food" it makes sense to talk about goji berries and similar miracle superfoods 🙂 .
Here's an example of the 5 most harmful additives that are waiting for us in industrially processed foods.
Sodium Nitrate
Where is it found
This additive is most commonly found in processed meats. It is added to bacon, sausages, hot dogs, sausages, defatted turkey, processed chicken breast, ham, baked goods, pepperoni, salami and almost all meat contained in prepared foods.
Why it's used
Sodium nitrate gives foods a reddish meat color and flavor, increases shelf life and inhibits bacterial growth.
Why it's dangerous to your health
The World Cancer Research Foundation recently prepared a detailed review of 7,000 clinical studies on the relationship between diet and cancer development. The review provides compelling evidence that eating processed meat is associated with an increased risk of colon cancer. There are also arguments about the effects on the development of lung, stomach, prostate, and esophageal cancers.
Regular consumption of even small amounts of processed meat significantly increases your risk of colon cancer, the reviewers say. If you eat processed meat more than 1-2 times a week, it already significantly increases the risk of developing cancer, and many people eat processed meat products every day.
A study of 448,568 people found that processed meats increase heart disease and cancer mortality by 44%.
Scientists recommend avoiding processed meat altogether because there is no official data on acceptable levels of consumption at which one can be sure there is no risk of cance
The flavor enhancer monosodium glutama
Where is it foun
Monosodium glutamate is commonly found in processed and pre-packaged foods, buns, crackers, chips, vending machine snacks, prepared sauces, soy sauce, canned soups and many other packaged food
Why it's us
Monosodium glutamate is an exotoxin that makes your tongue and brain think you are eating something incredibly delicious and nutritious. Manufacturers use monosodium glutamate to make you addicted to the savory taste of processed foods that are otherwise not very appetizin
How it's dangerous to your heal
By consuming large amounts of monosodium glutamate, you risk triggering many health problems. The most common problems include migraines, headaches, heart palpitations, sweating, numbness, tingling, nausea, and chest pain, also called Chinese restaurant syndrome. Longer term are liver inflammation, decreased fertility, memory problems, loss of appetite, metabolic syndrome, obesity, etc. For sensitive people, monosodium glutamate is dangerous even in small dose
How it is labeled on labe
The following labels should be avoided: EE 620-625, E-627, E-631, E-635, autolyzed yeast, calcium caseinate, glutamate, glutamic acid, hydrolyzed protein, potassium glutamate, sodium glutamate, sodium caseinate, textured protein, yeast extract.
Trans fats and hydrogenated vegetable oils
Where are they found?
Trans fats are found mostly in heavily fried foods, cookies, granola bars, chips, popcorn, cakes, pastries, fast food, baked goods, waffles, pizza, frozen ready meals, breaded foods, processed packaged soups, solid margarine.
Why are trans fats used
Trans fats are mainly produced when polyunsaturated oils are chemically hydrogenated to achieve a firmer consistency. This increases the shelf life of the product and preserves its shape and texture.
What are the health hazards
Major health problems associated with consuming trans fats include increased risk of coronary heart disease, type II diabetes, high LDL cholesterol and low HDL cholesterol, obesity, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, impaired liver function, infertility, behavioral problems and mood swings.
As labeled on labels.
All products that contain ingredients with the words "hydrogenated" and "hydrogenated" should be avoided.
Artificial sweeteners
Where they are found
Artificial sweeteners are found in diet sodas, diet foods, chewing gum, mouth fresheners, most store-bought juices, smoothies, cereal flakes, confections, yogurt, chewable vitamins and cough syrups.
Why they are used
They are added to food products to reduce sugar and calories while maintaining a sweet taste. They are cheaper than sugar and other natural sweeteners.
What are the dangers to health
Animal studies have shown that sweet taste induces an insulin response and can lead to hyperinsulinemia and hypoglycemia, which in turn trigger the need to increase calories with the next meal and can contribute to further problems with overweight and overall health.
There are a number of independent studies that have demonstrated that artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, can have side effects such as migraines, insomnia, neurological disorders, behavioral and mood changes, and even increase the risk of cancer, especially brain tumors. Aspartame has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for human consumption for many years. This is a very controversial topic with many controversies about possible health problems.
How they are labeled
Artificial sweeteners include aspartame, sucralose, neotame, acesulfame potassium, and saccharin. The names Nutrasweet, Splenda should also be avoided.
Artificial colors
Where are they found
Artificial colors are found in candies, candies, jellies, desserts, fruit ice cream (frozen juice), soft drinks, baking mixes, pickles, sauces, canned fruits, instant drinks, sausage products, cough syrups, medications and some food supplements.
Why they are used
Synthetic food colorings are used to improve the appearance of a product.
Why are they dangerous to health?
Synthetic dyes, especially those that give foods very saturated colors (bright yellow, bright scarlet, bright blue, deep red, indigo and brilliant green), cause numerous health problems, especially in children. Cancer, hyperactivity, and allergic reactions are just a few of them.
The potential dangers of artificial and synthetic dyes remain the subject of much debate. Modern research methods have demonstrated the toxic effects of various ingredients previously thought to be harmless.
Natural food colorings such as paprika, turmeric, saffron, betaine (beet), elderberry and others can easily replace their artificial counterparts.
How they are labeled on the label
Artificial dyes to watch out for are EE 102, 104, 110, 122-124, 127, 129, 132, 133, 142, 143, 151, 155, 160b, 162, 164. In addition, designations such as tartrazine and others may occur.
Hazardous ingredients are often found in foods not singly, but in combination, and scientists have not yet studied the cumulative effects of regularly consuming all of these ingredients together.
To protect yourself from their harmful effects, read the contents of any product you are going to buy on the package. Better yet, don't buy such products at all.
By sticking to a diet based on fresh whole foods, I get the added bonus of not having to read labels and check for all those harmful additives in my food.
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