12 Dangerous Food Additives:

(NOTE: if you go to the actual link of the article there’s a free ebook to download regarding all this as well)

The “Dirty Dozen” Food Additives You Really Need to be Aware Of
by www.SixWise.com

http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/06/04/05/food-additives.htm

In the United States, more than 3,000 substances can be added to
foods for the purpose of preservation, coloring, texture, increasing
flavor and more. While each of these substances is legal to use (at
least here in the States), whether or not they are all something you
want to be consuming is another story all together.

The food colorings that make candy pretty colors have been linked to
cancer and tumors of the brain, thyroid, adrenal gland and kidney in
animal studies.

With any processed food you run the risk of coming across additives,
and reading through ingredient labels can be like trying to decode a
puzzle.

Of course, eating largely fresh, whole foods is the best way to stay
away from unsavory additives, but, assuming you do include some
processed foods in your diet, the following additives are ones you
surely want to stay away from. Look for them on ingredient labels and
if one turns up, take a pass.

Propyl Gallate

This preservative, used to prevent fats and oils from spoiling, might
cause cancer. It’s used in vegetable oil, meat products, potato
sticks, chicken soup base and chewing gum, and is often used with BHA
and BHT (see below).

BHA and BHT

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are
used similarly to propyl gallate — to keep fats and oils from going
rancid. Used commonly in cereals, chewing gum, vegetable oil and
potato chips (and also in some food packaging to preserve freshness),
these additives have been found by some studies to cause cancer in
rats. If a brand you commonly buy uses these additives, look for a
different variety, as not all manufacturers use these preservatives.

Food Additives and Your Brain:
Free e-Book

If you want to know more about the effects of food additives on your
brain, check out this FREE 300+-page e-book “Neurotoxicity:
Identifying and Controlling Poisons of the Nervous System.”

Some food additives are neurotoxic, which means they’re capable of
altering the normal activity of the nervous system — and even
killing neurons. Symptoms include:

* Limb weakness or numbness
* Loss of memory, vision, and intellect
* Headache
* Cognitive and behavioral problems
* Sexual dysfunction

See and Download “Neurotoxicity: Identifying and Controlling Poisons
of the Nervous System.” Now

Potassium Bromate

This additive is used in breads and rolls to increase the volume and
produce a fine crumb structure. Although most bromate breaks down
into bromide, which is harmless, the bromate that does remain causes
cancer in animals. Bromate has been banned throughout the world,
except for in the United States and Japan. In California, a cancer
warning would likely be required if it were used, which is why it is
rarely used in that state.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG)

MSG is used as a flavor enhancer in many packaged foods, including
soups, salad dressings, sausages, hot dogs, canned tuna, potato chips
and many more. According to Dr. Russell Blaylock, an author and
neurosurgeon, there is a link between sudden cardiac death,
particularly in athletes, and excitotoxic damage caused by food
additives like MSG and artificial sweeteners. Excitotoxins are,
according to Dr. Blaylock, “A group of excitatory amino acids that
can cause sensitive neurons to die.”

Many consumers have also personally experienced the ill effects of
MSG, which leave them with a headache, nausea or vomiting after
eating MSG-containing foods. To find out more about the side effects
associated with MSG, as well as a complete list of which foods
contain it, see our past article MSG: If it’s Safe: Why do They
Disguise it on the Labels?

Aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet)

This artificial sweetener is found in Equal and NutraSweet, along
with products that contain them (diet sodas and other low-cal and
diet foods). This sweetener has been found to cause brain tumors in
rats as far back as the 1970s, however a more recent study in 2005
found that even small doses increase the incidence of lymphomas and
leukemia in rats, along with brain tumors.

People who are sensitive to aspartame may also suffer from headaches,
dizziness and hallucinations after consuming it.

Acesulfame-K

Acesulfame-K is an artificial sweetener that’s about 200 times
sweeter than sugar. It’s used in baked goods, chewing gum, gelatin
desserts and soft drinks. Two rat studies have found that this
substance may cause cancer, and other studies to reliably prove this
additive’s safety have not been conducted. Acesulfame-K also breaks
down into acetoacetamide, which has been found to affect the thyroid
in rats, rabbits and dogs.

Olestra

Olestra is a fat substitute used in crackers and potato chips,
marketed under the brand name Olean. This synthetic fat is not
absorbed by the body (instead it goes right through it), so it can
cause diarrhea, loose stools, abdominal cramps and flatulence, along
with other effects. Further, olestra reduces the body’s ability to
absorb beneficial fat-soluble nutrients, including lycopene, lutein
and beta-carotene.

Sodium Nitrite (Sodium Nitrate)

Like diet soda? The aspartame that’s used to sweeten it increases
lymphomas, leukemia and brain tumors in rats — even in small doses.

Sodium nitrite (or sodium nitrate) is used as a preservative,
coloring and flavoring in bacon, ham, hot dogs, luncheon meats,
corned beef, smoked fish and other processed meats. These additives
can lead to the formation of cancer-causing chemicals called
nitrosamines.

Some studies have found a link between consuming cured meats and
nitrite and cancer in humans.

Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil

The process used to make hydrogenated vegetable oil (or partially
hydrogenated vegetable oil) creates trans fats, which promote heart
disease and diabetes. The Institute of Medicine has advised that
consumers should eat as little trans fat as possible. You should
avoid anything with these ingredients on the label, which includes
some margarine, vegetable shortening, crackers, cookies, baked goods,
salad dressings, bread and more. It’s used because it reduces cost
and increases the shelf life and flavor stability of foods.

Blue 1 and Blue 2

Blue 1, used to color candy, beverages and baked goods, may cause
cancer. Blue 2, found in pet food, candy and beverages, has caused
brain tumors in mice.

Red 3

This food coloring is used in cherries (in fruit cocktails), baked
goods and candy. It causes thyroid tumors in rats, and may cause them
in humans as well.

Yellow 6

As the third most often used food coloring, yellow 6 is found in many
products, including backed goods, candy, gelatin and sausages. It has
been found to cause adrenal gland and kidney tumors, and contains
small amounts of many carcinogens.