Most of us don't think of the food we eat as poisonous, but some ingredients commonly found in processed foods may be considered toxic. By “toxic,” I mean chemicals or highly processed ingredients that are bad for you or may be harmful to your health. We’re talking refined grains, trans fats, high fructose corn syrup, and all the other man-made crap you can’t even read on the ingredient list. Any food that is canned, dehydrated or has added chemicals is processed food, and these foods make up about 60% of the average person's diet.
palm oil
When a regular fat like corn, soy or palm oil is blasted with hydrogen and turned into a solid, it becomes trans fat. These harmful anti-nutrients help packaged foods stay fresh, meaning they can sit on supermarket shelves for years without spoiling or rotting. Eating junk food containing trans fats raises "bad" LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and lowers "good" HDL cholesterol. These fats also increase the risk of blood clots and heart attacks. Say goodbye to fried foods, too, since they're usually fried in one of those weird trans-fat oils.
shortening
Give up anything that contains shortening or partially hydrogenated oils as ingredients, as these are also harmful trans fats. In addition to clogging arteries and causing obesity, they can increase the risk of metabolic syndrome. Choose healthier monounsaturated fats, such as olive, peanut and canola oils, and foods containing unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids.
White flour, rice, pasta and bread
When whole grains are refined, most of their nutrients are stripped away to extend their shelf life. The bran and germ are removed, so all the fiber, vitamins and minerals are also removed. Since these refined grains are devoid of fiber and other nutrients, they are also too easy to digest. They can cause your blood sugar and insulin to spike, which can cause all kinds of problems. Replace processed grains with whole grains, such as brown or wild rice, whole wheat bread and pasta, barley, and oatmeal.
high fructose corn syrup
The evil king of all refined grains is High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). The amount of refined sugar we consume has declined over the past 40 years, but our consumption of HFCS has increased almost 20 times. More calories are consumed in HFCS than any other source. It's in almost everything. It increases triglycerides, increases fat-storing hormones, and promotes overeating and weight gain. Adopt my zero tolerance policy and stay away from this sweet "poison."
artificial sweeteners
Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal), saccharin (Sweet'N Low, SugarTwin), and sucralose (Splenda) may be worse for our metabolic systems than regular sugar. These supposedly diet-friendly sweeteners may actually be doing more harm than good! Research shows that artificial sweeteners trick the brain into forgetting that sweetness means extra calories, making people more likely to continue eating sweets. Nip it in the bud. Scan ingredient labels and ban all artificial sweeteners from your mouth.
Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Benzoate
These preservatives are sometimes added to soda to prevent mold growth, but benzene is a known carcinogen and has also been linked to severe thyroid damage. When plastic bottles of soda are heated or when preservatives are mixed with vitamin C, benzene levels can reach dangerous levels.
Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA)
BHA is another preservative that may cause cancer, but the FDA considers it safe. It works to help prevent spoilage and food poisoning, but it's a major endocrine disruptor that can seriously mess with your hormones. BHA is found in hundreds of foods. It is also found in food packaging and cosmetics. BHA has many aliases. You can check it out. Or you could follow the advice and give up processed foods entirely.
Sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite
These two different preservatives are found in processed meats like bacon, luncheon meats, and hot dogs. They can cause colon cancer and metabolic syndrome, which can lead to diabetes. Choose fresh, organic meat to protect your health.
artificial colouring
Artificial colors blue 1 and 2, green 3, red 3 and yellow 6 have been linked to thyroid, adrenal adenocarcinoma, bladder, kidney and brain cancer. Look for foods with the least amount of artificial chemicals, especially for children, look for colorless medicines and natural foods that don’t contain such artificial colors.
MSG
MSG is a processed "flavor enhancer". Although glutamate is found in some natural foods, such as meat and cheese, the glutamate utilized by the processed food industry is separated from its host protein through hydrolysis. The jury is still out on just how harmful MSG is, but high levels of free glutamate have been shown to wreak havoc on brain chemistry. Don't fall victim to chemical flavor enhancers.
