It’s not uncommon these days to see someone standing in an aisle reading the back of a packet and rightly so! (Franken) food manufacturers are constantly trying to find ways to get away with dangerous ingredients. How often do you find yourself wondering what that ingredient means? You know the ones – the 20-character-long words that sound like they belong in a science textbook. Well, wonder no more. Here are some of the meanings behind common ingredients and what effect they have on your health. Partially Hydrogenated Oil This is the type of oil that is classified as “trans-fat”. Chances are, you’ve heard about the damaging health effects of trans fats, like artery clogs, inflammation and heart disease – but did you know that processed foods can be labeled as “trans-fat-free” as long as they contain less than half a gram per serving? Food manufacturers will cunningly reduce the serving size so the amount falls under this threshold. To make sure your food isn’t hiding trans fats, check the list for the word “hydrogenated”. If it’s on there, skip it. Sucralose, Saccharine, Aspartame, Acesulfame Potassium These are all chemical-based artificial sweeteners, found in diet soft drinks and other “diet” products. If you think you’re being healthier by replacing sugar with any of these, think again. These have all been shown to stimulate your appetite and cause weight gain and individually, they have their own unique side effects. Aspartame, for example, is actually a carcinogen (causes cancer) and neurotoxin that kills off brain cells and sucralose destroys healthy stomach bacteria which is essential for a strong immune system. Keep these off your shopping list! Monosodium Glutamate You probably know this one better as MSG, most famous for its presence in Chinese food but you’ll be surprised to know that intakes of MSG have been shown to be higher in the Western diet than in Asia. It can reactions including headaches, nausea, flushing, and fatigue. It also goes by the code 621 and is sometimes stated as “flavour enhancer”. Sodium Nitrite/Sodium Nitrate Though their names are one letter different, these chemicals are equally bad for you. They’re used as preservatives, usually in meat and have evidence to indicate that they increase cancer risk. One study found that they can also interact with medications so be extra careful to avoid them especially if you’re on medication. High-Fructose Corn Syrup/Corn Sweetener This ingredient is used to sweeten a lot of packaged foods and it’s even worse than sugar because it hits the bloodstream much faster, spiking insulin and taxing the liver. Eating it sends signals to the body to store fat, so most of these calories will end up directly on your waistline. These ingredients are all commonly found in processed food, so be on the lookout for them when you’re browsing through packages in the grocery aisle. The best way to avoid these ingredients is to eat primarily fresh foods, especially fruits and vegetables, whole foods like unprocessed or minimally processed grains, and foods containing five ingredients or less. Eating clean keeps your body healthy and your mind happy – so even if it’s hard to break the processed food habit, it’s worth it! For more natural health tips visit our blog at: http://www.alkalife.com.au/blog
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