Grocery Store Detective Mode: ON - 7 Food Additives to Avoid
When buying food from the store, there are so many options and prices to consider:
100% gluten free
No preservatives
Organic
All Natural
Good source of vitamins
Free from Dyes
Genetic Engineering
Farm Raised
etc.
Companies do a great job of standing out on the shelf. Think about how often you gravitate towards a product based on what it says or how it looks... am i right?
That is their job, to draw you in. Sometimes, those products are the BEST option on the entire shelf, which is excellent! Yet other times, it is quite the opposite, being loaded with crappy ingredients masked to taste good.
The best way to determine if this is something you want to put into your cart, your cabinet, and then your body, is to immediately go to the INGREDIENTS list and see what it's made of.
There are tons of good things to look for on the label; and a good rule of thumb is the less ingredients, the better the product.
On the flipside, the things you want to avoid are just as important to be aware of, and that is what I want to quickly share with you today.
This is coming as a 'cliff notes' version of the article released from Levels Health, "7 Additives in our processed food that are banned in other countries". Please follow the link for deeper information and some linked studies to each of the claims below. Thanks!
This is intended to inform you of what to avoid so you can feel and live your best. Rather than feeling anxious about if you are/have been consuming foods with these additives, feel good!
Want some 1-on-1 help? Talk to a coach in class or message us for a ‘Pantry Inspection” and grocery store guidance :-)
Potassium bromate and azodicarbonamide
In bread, crackers, and dough/flour-based goods to improve texture
Potentially carcinogenic after cooking, and is on the list of the ‘Top 12 worst additives to avoid”
Banned in Canada, the UK, European Union.
Brominated Vegetable Oil
helps combine ingredients together more effectively in shelf goods
Pepsi, Mtn Dew, Fanta, other soft drink companies have admitted to using it
Causes metabolic syndrome, inflammation of gut, increases risk of Type 2 diabetes and Crohn's
Linked to memory problems, nerve damage, reproductive issues
This is banned by the European Union, the U.K., and Japan
Titanium Dioxide
Found in dairy, salad dressing, baked goods, chewing gum.
No clear answer on danger level, YET it is shown to cause DNA mutations and titanium particles accumulate in the lungs, liver, and kidneys rendering toxic responses… seems like enough info for me to say NO THANK YOU
U.S.A. does allow companies to add minimal amounts, while European Union & France have it banned
Yellow 5, Yellow 6, & Red 40
Only purpose is for color appeal to processed foods.
Studies indicate their consumption by children heavily influences hyperactivity and neurobehavioral problems, such as restlessness and ADHD. Yellow 5 has tested positive countless times for being carcinogenic.
Other countries now must include a warning when on food stating “may have adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”
Now you know to look out for them and find alternative products that don’t contain them - you have tons of opportunities to make change from here on out, keep doing the best you can.
When in doubt, the food that has less labeling will be the healthier options. Stick to short ingredients list items, Whole Foods, and organically shop when possible and reasonable.
Food can be simple, and is an amazing pr-active health care plan.
Want to have a chat on how you can clean your cabinets to feel better, perform stronger, look great, and enjoy your meals even more?
Let’s do it!