13 Common Food Additives To Watch Out For

In the process of preserving the food we eat and making it taste good, manufacturers are adding a host of additives that can be harmful, especially with long term use. Here are 13 common food additives that you should watch out for when choosing food for your family.

Potassium Bromate

You find this additive in bread crumbs, rolls, flatbread and bagel chips. Bromine is one of the ingredients in potassium bromate and is a poisonous chemical. It is known to cause gastrointestinal pain, nervous system problems and kidney disorders.

Olestra (aka Olean)

This is used in the manufacture of fat free potato chips. The depletion of fat-soluble vitamins and carotenoids has been found to be a side effect of olestra. Another problem that goes along with the ingestion of this additive is oily anal leakage.

Coloring Agents

These are usually found in sports drinks, soda, candy, cake and even macaroni and cheese. Almost all artificial colors have coal tar as an ingredient which is a known carcinogen. Hyperactivity has also been associated with food dyes.

Synthetic Hormones

Some milk and dairy products contain these, known as rBGH and rBST. These hormones have been associated with prostrate, breast and colon cancers. The best way to avoid these is to buy organic dairy products.

Azodicarbonamide

This is added to packaged baked goods, frozen dinners and boxed pasta mixes. One of the reasons for its use is as a dough conditioner. Asthma has been associated with the use of this additive.

Ractopamine

This substance is used to lower the fat content in meat. Unfortunately, it can have an adverse effect on the cardiovascular system. Rastopamine has also been associated with hyperactivity, food poisoning and muscle breakdown.

Monosodiun Glutamate

Widely used as a flavor enhancer, this is found in all kinds of food. It’s used in some restaurants, especially those serving Asian food. You’ll find this substance in some canned soups, frozen foods and crackers. Headaches, heart palpitations, nausea and weakness in extremities are just a few of the reactions that people have been known to have after consuming it.

Brominated Vegetable Oil

Hiding in many of the sports drinks and citrus type sodas that are consumed every day, this additive competes with iodine for receptor sites inside the body. This can cause hypothyroidism. It is also a culprit in the development of autoimmune disease and cancer.

High Fructose Corn Syrup

Obviously, this is a main ingredient in soda and candy. However, this substance is also in a majority of the processed foods that are consumed daily. It is known to cause hyperactivity in kids and it promotes inflammation throughout the body.

Arsenic

This scary ingredient is found in some brands of poultry. We all recognize it as a poisonous agent. It’s also been classified by the EPA as a human carcinogen.

BHA and BHT

These can be found in dehydrated potatoes, cereal, nut mixes, meat and gum. Their purpose is to help preserve fats. They may contribute to cancer development in some people.

Aspartame

Found in diet soft drinks, gum, fruit spreads and many other foods, it has become popular. As a no calorie substitute for sugar, aspartame does a good job of sweetening, but at a price. Stomach pain, dizziness and migraines can be the result of consuming aspertame.

Acesulfame-K

As an artificial sweetener, it can be found in diet soda and other sugar free items. Studies have shown it to be potentially cancer causing. Until more tests are done to clarify, it’s recommended that this substance be avoided.