additives, preservatives
and chemicals
There are several foods and additives that are either unhealthy for us or not nutritional. Most of us eat many of these foods every day and they may or may not affect our immediate health. It's important, however, to be aware of what they may be doing to our bodies. We may choose to practice moderation or elimination altogether since food is like medicine. There are often substitutions that can benefit our health. Reading nutrition labels is a way to be aware of what is in our food.
Household products also can have unhealthy chemicals in them that can cause illnesses. All-natural cleaning products are always preferred, even though very rarely advertised.
Household products also can have unhealthy chemicals in them that can cause illnesses. All-natural cleaning products are always preferred, even though very rarely advertised.
Alcohol: Drinking too much alcohol can cause dehydration, irritability, headaches, etc. Excess drinking can also cause serious health problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and cancers of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, voice box, live, colon and rectum. The CDC states if you drink, drink in moderation 2 drinks or less in a day for men or 1 drink or less in a day for women.
Animal Protein: Protein from fish, eggs, dair, and chicken provide complete source of protein which is good for us. Excess protein, however, can be harmful. The most popular sources for animal fats that could damage our health are fats like cheese, full fat milk, ghee, red meat, and beef.
Artificial Food Colorings:
According to healthline.com, artificial dyes can cause hyperactivity in children, as well as cancer and allergies. The safety of these colorings are controversial since some are banned in Europe while others are banned in the United States. The USDA and European Food Safety Authority have approved six food dyes: Red No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue 1 and Blue 2. Green No. 3 is approved by the FDA but banned in Europe. The Environmental Working Group (EWG.org) states that synthetic dyes like Red No. 3 have been linked to cancer in animals, and behavioral and brain health problems in children. Artificial colorings increase inflammation. They also are linked to hyperactivity, including ADH, behavioral changes like irritability, depression, hives and asthma.
According to healthline.com, artificial dyes can cause hyperactivity in children, as well as cancer and allergies. The safety of these colorings are controversial since some are banned in Europe while others are banned in the United States. The USDA and European Food Safety Authority have approved six food dyes: Red No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue 1 and Blue 2. Green No. 3 is approved by the FDA but banned in Europe. The Environmental Working Group (EWG.org) states that synthetic dyes like Red No. 3 have been linked to cancer in animals, and behavioral and brain health problems in children. Artificial colorings increase inflammation. They also are linked to hyperactivity, including ADH, behavioral changes like irritability, depression, hives and asthma.
Natural Food Colorings: There are Natural Food Colorings available if you choose not to use artificial colorings.
You can even use these everyday products to color your foods. The website Food52 will explain how.
You can even use these everyday products to color your foods. The website Food52 will explain how.
- Pink: strawberries, raspberries.
- Red: beets, tomato.
- Orange: carrots, paprika, sweet potato.
- Yellow: saffron, turmeric.
- Green: matcha, spinach.
- Blue: red cabbage + baking soda.
- Purple: blueberries, purple sweet potato.
- Brown: coffee, tea, cocoa.
Artificial Flavors: These ingredients are causing us to be sick, overweight, lethargic, and constantly craving unhealthy foods: propylene glycol, caramel coloring, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, and sodium benzoate. More Info
Artificial Sweeteners: The worst artificial sweeteners are Aspartame (Equal and NutraSweet), Sucralose (Splenda) and Saccharin (Sweet 'N Low) which may be linked to cancer according to the National Cancer Institute. Stevia, also found in Truvia and Sweetleaf, has been considered safe but there may be some side effects such as kidney damage, bloating, nausea, dizziness, low blood sugar, low blood pressure endocrine disruption and numbness. More Info on side effects. By eliminating these artificial sweeteners, many people report improvement in migraines, depression, IBS, and weight gain.
Natural Sweeteners: Maple syrup, date paste, honey, coconut sugar, agave nectar, and monk fruit.
Caffeine: Coffee, chocolates, colas and other drinks usually include caffeine. Coffee beans are grown with the use of pesticides and herbicides. Side effects could include headaches, depression, insomnia, high blood pressure and fatigue. That isn't great news for coffee drinkers but there are coffees that are organic and free from pesticides. You just have to search for the brand that you like.
Caramel Coloring: Caramel coloring may be the most widely consumed food coloring in the world. Unfortunately, its manufacture can sometimes lead to the formation of a carcinogen called methylimidazole, which was identified as a cancer-causing chemical in 2007. For the purposes of its Proposition 65 labeling law, California set a daily limit at 29 micrograms a day. So, how much cancer might caramel-colored soft drinks be causing? We didn’t know…until now" Watch this video.
Coffee - Flavored: Flavored coffee beans are often mixed with a solvent called propylene glycol (the main ingredient in antifreeze). In addition many people use artificially flavored syrups which usually contain corn syrup and preservatives, such as potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate. High doses of these chemicals affect DNA in cells and act as precursors to carcinogens. If you buy coffee syrups, check the nutrition labels for those ingredients. One brand that is free of these chemicals is Le Sirop de Monin Gourmet Syrup. More Info
Coffee Pods: Most of the coffee pods use a chemical solvent carrier called propylene glycol. In addition the plastic pods heat up and some of those chemicals, such as BPA, BPF and BPS, can leach into the coffee and may contribute to hormone imbalance, weight gain and fertility problems. More Info
Condiments: These condiments are not healthy choices - Artificial Sweeteners, Barbecue Sauce, Fat-Free Salad Dressing, Pancake Syrup, Queso (Mexican Cheese Dip), Margarine, Ranch Dressing, and Teriyaki Sauce. More info on reasons.
Dark Chocolate: An article on December 17, 2022 stated Consumers Reports tested 28 dark chocolate bars and found that many brands, such as Hershey, Trader Joe’s, Dove and Ghirardelli, contain lead and cadmium. Five brands had high levels of cadmium and lead and the other 23 brands had at least one of the heavy metals, putting a person over the limit even if they only ate one ounce per day. To read more about this topic and the amounts of lead or cadmium found in different brands, check out the Consumer Reports article. Cacao levels are lower in milk chocolate than in dark chocolate, so milk chocolate tends to have lower levels of heavy metals, yet is higher in sugar. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the presence of cadmium and lead in chocolate is well documented and is not dangerous for most people if consumed occasionally.
Refined Foods: Refined and processed foods often lack fiber that leads to constipation and could even lead to colon cancer. Instead eat whole foods with plenty of veggies and fruits to give you the fiber your body needs. These health risks can occur when you regularly eat processed foods.
Refined Foods: Refined and processed foods often lack fiber that leads to constipation and could even lead to colon cancer. Instead eat whole foods with plenty of veggies and fruits to give you the fiber your body needs. These health risks can occur when you regularly eat processed foods.
Salt: We all Salt is a flavor enhancer and our bodies require about a quarter tsp of salt every day. Too much salt can lead to hypertension. It is good to limit canned foods, pickled meat, salted breakfast cereals, pastries, soups, sauces, pizza, and many red-sauce dishes. For someone on a salt limited diet, usually 1,500 grams of salt is recommended per day.
Saturated Fats: It is wise to limit saturated fat since it can lead to obesity, increased cholesterol and possible heart related problems. It is found in fried foods and fatty meats. According to the American Heart Association, if you consume 2,000 calories per day, no more than 120 of them should come from saturated fat - about 13 grams.
Soft Drinks: Soft drinks contain sugar and often caffeine. Drinking soft drinks with artificial sweeteners is even a worse choice since it is unhealthy and can cause weight gain. Replace soft drinks with herbal teas, lemon water and just plain water.
Sugar: We all know that excess sugar is not good for us. Overconsumption can result in high blood pressure, inflammation, weight gain, diabetes, and fatty liver disease - all of which can result in having a heart attack or stroke. Moderation or elimination of excess sugar is key. More Info
TBHQ: According to EWG.org TBHQ, a preservative found in Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Pop Tarts, Cheez-Its and approximately 1,250 other products may harm the immune system.
Titanium Dioxide: Europe’s top food safety agency has found that titanium dioxide, an additive used in Skittles, Starburst and thousands of other foods may have the ability to damage our DNA.
White Flour: Consumption of white flour can lead to conditions like fatty liver, bad (LDL) cholesterol, which can result in high blood pressure, weight gain, mood swings, and obesity. Some alternative are wheat flour, millets and multi-grain breads and noodles. More Info
Household Product Ingredients
Every day we use products that may have dangerous ingredients to our health - they are found in paints, window cleaners, laundry detergents, all purpose cleaners, dishwashing detergents, oven cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners and even in our personal care products. Some specific chemicals found in cleaning products that may be hazardous to your health include ammonia, ethylene glycol monobutyl acetate, sodium hypochlorite and/or trisodium phosphate. Here is a partial list of those dangerous chemicals. Not only do these ingredients cause irritation to the skin, eyes, nose and throat but many are highly poisonous to humans and animals if swallowed. For a list of household products that contain dangerous ingredients, click here.
However, you may wonder what some of these chemicals do to your body - here's a site to explain the low and high exposure to these chemicals that are possible.
Whenever you are not sure if an ingredient is safe, check one of the sites below for more information:
- EWG Guide to Healthy Cleaning
- EWG's Skin Deep (Personal Care Products)
- American Lung Association (Indoor Air Pollutants)