From a very early age, individuals are exposed too many kinds of foods. However, some should have never worked their way into our diet in the first place, carrying harmful ingredients associated with accelerated aging and chronic inflammation.
It can be difficult to size up which foods are considered a danger to good health, so we’ve compiled a list of the most common offenders hiding out on your supermarket shelves. Learn more about the 8 food ingredients you should never eat.
1. Sugar – In excess, sugar can cause undue strain on the liver, manifesting in many metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. Sugar is cleverly hidden in many popular food items, and it can disrupt the collagen making process, causing our skin to prematurely wrinkle and become dry.
2. Grains – There are many forms of grains, but all of them metabolize into sugar. The body has a limited capacity to store excess carbohydrates and, to adjust for the rise in blood glucose, the body secretes insulin and the rest is added to your waistline – sad but true.
3. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) – Commonly used in soups, salad dressings, and meats as a flavor enhancer, monosodium glutamate is a type of excitotoxin, meaning it has the ability to excite your cells to the point of damage. Overconsumption of MSG can lead to headaches, fatigue, obesity, depression, numbness, and rapid heart rate. According to studies, over 40 percent of the US population is intolerant to MSG.
4. Trans Fats – When vegetable oil is hardened into shortening or margarine, you get trans fatty acids. Found in fast foods, donuts, pastries, fried chicken, and french fries, trans fats increase levels of bad cholesterol(LDL), causing an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other cardiovascular diseases.
5. Artificial Coloring – Food dyes, such as blue #1, yellow #5, and red #3, are completely toxic to the human body. Linked to cancer, bladder infections, and allergy-like symptoms, artificial colors mask the bland, unappetizing nature of most processed foods.
6. Processed Meats – Preserved by smoking, curing, or salting, processed meats contain added chemicals. Common examples are processed deli meats, hot dogs, and sausages. Nitrates, added for flavor and coloring purposes, convert to nitrosamines. Nitrosamines are associated with cancer. When these meats are cooked at a high temperatures, even more chemicals are leeched into the food.
7. Artificial Sweeteners – Manmade sweeteners are found in most carbonated sodas, sugar-free foods, and even chewing gum, and they can cause gut dysbiosis, glucose intolerance and insulin sensitivity. Artificial sweeteners actually trick the brain into thinking your body will receive actual calories, however, they end up causing extreme carb cravings and unnecessary weight gain.
8. Preservatives – Prolonging shelf life and profits, food manufacturers use preservatives at the expense of the consumer, causing hyperactivity in children, neurological impairment in adults, and a wide range of cancers. Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), hydrozyttoluene (BHT), and tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) are all classic examples of chemical food preservatives.
With the help of this list, you can sustain good health by choosing whole, organic foods that provide high-quality nutrients for yourself and your family.
