Eating organic whole foods enables people to avoid some of the nasty food additives routinely put in processed foods. In the United States, the FDA allows more than 3,000 substances to be added to foods for the purpose of preservation, coloring, texture, and increasing flavor. If you have to eat processed foods, read labels carefully and try to stay away from the following additives.
Aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet)
This artificial sweetener is in Equal and NutraSweet, along with products that contain them, such as diet sodas and other low-calorie and diet foods. Evidence implicating aspartame includes early animal studies revealing an exceedingly high incidence of brain tumors in aspartame-fed rats compared to no brain tumors in concurrent controls and a recent finding that the aspartame molecule has mutagenic potential, meaning it is capable of causing mutations.
BHA and BHT
Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are used to keep fats and oils from going rancid. These additives are commonly in cereals, chewing gum, vegetable oil, potato chips, and to preserve freshness. In studies BHT has caused various disorders in animals such as cancer, reduced body weight, increased blood cholesterol levels, and it has been linked to birth defects in rats. BHA has been banned in Japan because studies there found it caused cancerous tumors in rats’ fore-stomachs and in hamsters. Some European countries highly restrict the use of BHA and BHT, because of potential safety reasons.
Food Colorings
The United States permits seven artificial food colorings in the food supply. Some studies point to artificial coloring agents aggravating ADHD symptoms. Research shows academic performance increased and disciplinary problems decreased in student populations with attention disorders when artificial ingredients, including artificial colors were eliminated from school food programs.
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
The process used to make hydrogenated vegetable oil (or partially hydrogenated vegetable oil) creates trans fats, which promote heart disease, diabetes, and depression. The Institute of Medicine has advised that consumers should eat as little trans fat as possible. To do this, one must avoid anything with hydrogenated vegetable oil on the label, including things like margarine, vegetable shortening, crackers, cookies, baked goods, and salad dressings.
Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
MSG is used as a flavor enhancer in many packaged foods, including soups, salad dressings, sausages, hot dogs, canned tuna, and potato chips. According to Russell L. Blaylock, a neurosurgeon, there is a link between neurodegeneration and excitotoxic damage caused by food additives like MSG and artificial sweeteners. According to Blaylock, excitotoxins are excitatory agents that can cause sensitive neurons to die.
Potassium Bromate
This additive is used in breads and rolls to increase the volume and produce a fine crumb structure. Although most bromate breaks down into bromide, which is harmless, the bromate that remains has caused cancer and kidney failure in animals. Because of these potential health hazards, potassium bromate has been banned throughout the world, except for in the United States and Japan.
Sodium Nitrite (Sodium Nitrate)
Sodium nitrite (or sodium nitrate) is used as a preservative, coloring and flavoring in bacon, ham, hot dogs, luncheon meats, corned beef, smoked fish and other processed and cured meats. These additives can lead to the formation of cancer-causing chemicals called nitrosamines. Some studies have linked consuming cured meats and nitrites with cancer as well as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
If something you commonly eat uses these additives, look for a different variety, as not all manufacturers use these food additives. Additionally, the great majority of certified organic food does not contain these items.