Tanner Health System MyChart


  • Home
  • Do You Know What Is in Your Food?

Do You Know What Is in Your Food?

This question may shock and scare you, but do we really know what’s in our food?

Several articles have been written about items on our grocery store shelves that are banned in other countries. Yes, some of our foods contain additives, chemicals and ingredients that are banned by Australia, China, Europe and some other countries. So how do you protect yourself and your family?

You have to become familiar with these ingredients and read the back of your food labels carefully. Here are some of the ingredients that you should stay away from or at least limit in your diet.

  • BHA and BHT: These chemicals are widely used as a preservative that keeps foods from becoming rancid. It is used in cereals, nut mixes and bubble gum. It is known to cause cancer in rats. BHA is also suspected to trigger allergic reactions and hyperactivity. The U.K. does not allow it in baby food. BHA and BHT are banned in Europe and Japan.
  • Olestra/Olean: This is a fat substitute found in fat-free chips and fries. A Purdue University study found that rats fed chips made with Olean gained weight. There are reports of diarrhea, cramps and leaky bowels among people who consume products containing these ingredients. It is banned in the U.K. and Canada.
  • Potassium bromate: This is a chemical added to breads to help the dough hold together and rise higher. Studies have linked this additive to cancer, as well as damage to the kidneys and nervous system. It is also approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the malting of barley. It is banned in Canada, China and Europe.
  • Arsenic: Yes, arsenic has been feed to chickens raised in the U.S. for decades to increase their weight while using less feed and to prevent parasites. Customers are buying packaged meat with high levels of inorganic arsenic, a known carcinogen. Arsenic is banned in the U.K.
  • Colors and dyes: Red 40, yellow 5, yellow 6 and blue 2 are popular dyes that are in boxed mac and cheese, cheddar-flavored crackers, Jell-O and many kids’ cereals. These are known to cause behavioral problems, birth defects and cancer in laboratory animals. The Center for Science in the Public Interest reports that some dyes are also “contaminated with known carcinogens.” Kraft and Kellogg’s tint foods distributed outside the U.S. with paprika extract, beetroot and annatto — all thought to be much safer than the dyes used in the U.S., which are banned in Norway and Austria. Europe requires a warning notice on most foods containing these dyes.
  • Brominated vegetable oils: Pepsi and Coca-Cola use this additive in their sodas to keep the flavor from collecting just at the surface. Some research has shown that bromine accumulates in the fatty tissues and can be linked to thyroid issues and trouble with the nervous system resulting in tremors, depression and confusion. The FDA has listed this as a possibly questionable substance used in food. It is banned in Europe and Japan.
  • Doped-up meat: Most of our red meat and pork contains ractopamine, a muscle enhancer to promote leanness. It is also linked to hyperactivity, muscle corrosion and adverse effects on the cardiovascular system in humans. Experts speculate that as much as 20 percent of the drug is present in the meat we buy from the local grocer. Russia has issued a long-term ban on our red meat and pork because of ractopamine. It is also banned in Europe and China.

For a complete list of ingredients, chemicals and additives, check out the website 100daysofrealfood.com. The more informed you are, the better you will be able to make healthier choices. Always refer to the food label and list of ingredients to help you make healthier choices for you and your family.

Remember to go for five fruits and vegetables a day. This is a great way to fill up without chemicals or additives.

For more healthy eating tips, visit GetHealthyLiveWell.org.

Get Healthy, Live Well




0 Comment(s) so far | Skip to comment form



Name:
Email:
Address Line 1:
Address Line 2:
City:
State:
Zip:
Comments:
 

keyboard_arrow_up