4 Common Food Additives Harmful for your health and how to avoid them | Healthy Happy Healing

4 Common Food Additives Harmful for your health and how to avoid them | Healthy Happy Healing

Food isn't supposed to hurt you is it?! Sir Francis Bacon said" Knowledge is Power. However, I believe knowledge is great, But how you use it is power!
I want to empower you with knowledge of 4 common food additives that are harmful for your health and how you can avoid them.

According to a recent article by Allison Torres Burtka. https://www.insider.com/food-additives

A food additive is a substance not naturally found in a food or drink but added in processing or preparing it.

Additives are used for several reasons, including to help prepare the product, preserve it, make it look more appealing, and/or enhance flavor.


Here are four food additives you should consider eating in limited amounts.

1. Artificial food colors, artificial food colors are found in many foods, from brightly colored frosting to yogurt. They are added to enhance or change color.

2. Nitrates and nitrites - nitrates and nitrites are often found in cured and processed meats, fish, and cheese, and they are linked to cancer in the digestive and nervous systems.


3. Sulfites - sulfites are naturally occurring in some whole foods, but they are also added as a preservative to slow discoloration. Foods with sulfite additives include packaged gravies, biscuits, and pizza dough, and even dried fruit

If you have a sensitivity, avoid ingredients that contain sulfites.
These sometimes go by names like: Sulfur dioxide, Potassium bisulfite, Sodium sulfite, Sodium bisulfite

4. Artificial sweeteners - Artificial sweeteners are synthetic sugar substitutes added to sweeten foods and drinks, most commonly soft drinks, dairy products, jams, and jellies.

They are especially found in products labeled "diet" or "sugar-free," as they add virtually no calories.

Common artificial sweeteners include: Saccharin (Sweet and Low), Aspartame (NutraSweet and Equal), Sucralose (Splenda).

Although artificial sweeteners were developed to reduce obesity and insulin resistance, a 2017 review found they may actually contribute to the obesity epidemic. That's because they reduce feelings of fullness, leading to an increase in calorie consumption, and thus, weight gain.

A large 2019 study in postmenopausal women, found higher intakes of artificial sweeteners increased the risk of stroke, coronary heart disease, and all-cause mortality.

While some animal studies have found artificial sweeteners can cause cancer, there is no clear association in humans.

You may want to avoid consuming large quantities of artificial sweeteners, but this does not mean you have to cut them out of your diet entirely. Talk with a registered dietitian to determine what is best for you and your health goals.

How to avoid food additives - limit your intake of these additives, read the ingredients on your food and drink packaging. You can also reduce your intake of additives by:

Limiting highly processed foods: These include hot dogs, candy, and chips.
Eating a healthy diet: Focus on whole vegetables and fruits, as well as other plant foods like whole grains, nuts, and legumes.
Cooking your own food: The ingredients in food you make typically contain fewer additives than premade food.
Learn how to make simple gravies, sauces, and dressings without relying on pre-packaged varieties