Read the Product's Label and Avoid These Unhealthy Additives

Has it ever occurred to you that your headache maybe caused by the hotdog that you so voraciously eaten during breakfast? Or that your increasing memory loss is due to the cheese that you so deliciously consumed everyday?

Indeed, many of us are unaware that various daily foods which we consider safe and healthy are actually the causes of some of our illnesses.

Here are five food additives that you should avoid:

1. NITRITES

Nitrites in the form of sodium nitrite, has a property of imparting a fresh red color to meat. It also prevents food from spoiling by its antibacterial action. Because of this, meat processors use it to preserve meat and meat products. Nitrites are added to several meat products like hotdogs, bacon, tocino, ham and many more, to preserve them and lengthen their freshness.

Nitrite however is found to be toxic to humans at increased concentrations and through a period of time. It is also carcinogenic because it causes cancer when it reacts with certain physiologic substances in vitro and in vivo. (inside and outside the body).

2. POTASSIUM SORBATE

This is an organic, polar compound which when combined with water will produce sorbic acid. The sorbic acid is added commonly to dairy products like cheese, margarine, mayonnaise, queso de bola, yogurt, bread, cakes, icings, alcoholic drinks, certain beverages, like citrus drinks and many more; to prevent the cultivation and growth of microorganisms that may cause spoilage. Although the side effects of potassium sorbate are not as dramatic as the rest, it is still a complication we would not want. It exacerbates asthma attacks and respiratory diseases. It is a skin irritant and has been proven to cause hyperactivity in children. The allowable concentration to be placed in food should be not more than 1,000 (PPM) parts per million.

3. ASPARTAME

This is a component of several dieting products. It acts as a substitute for sugar without the calories. At first, this was great news for dieters as they can have their coffees sweeter without worrying about the added calories.

Aspartame however, has been discovered, to have very harmful side effects. The substance causes bouts of memory losses and with long term use will cause necrosis (death) of the neurons (brain cells) which may lead to cancer of the brain.

4. TARTRAZINE

This is a yellow food dye used commonly in children's foods like some candies, some ice cream, artificially colored drinks, cakes, pasta, certain cereals, and even certain marshmallows, are not free from this color additive; some alcoholic drinks too have tartrazine.

Just like sorbic acid it causes hyperactivity in children, exacerbates asthma and respiratory conditions, causes atopic dermatitis and may result, in some instances, to thyroid cancers.

5. CITRUS RED 2

This is a food coloring used for fruits, like oranges, to let them appear fresh. The FDA allowed its use on the assumption that people do not eat the skin of the fruit; and that, the dye could not penetrate the skin to the fruit's flesh. This was untrue however as some people are turning the skin into fruit jams. These substances are carcinogenic (causes cancer) and can cause malignant tumors in the bladder and other body organs. Just like the other food colorings it causes also hyperactivity in children.

There are no tested alternative substances for nitrite and sorbic acid, except that people should be aware of the source of the meat that they buy. They should buy from trusted sources.

They should also know how to preserve the meat properly. Apportioning them into pieces and keeping them at frozen temperatures can prevent bacterial growth. The frozen meat should be cut into slices in such a way that one piece is good for one cooking. This is to avoid repeated thawing and freezing which may produce unwanted toxins.

When a meat is thawed, it should be cooked and no longer returned to the freezer. This way there is assurance that everything is safe to eat.

For Aspartame, there are no better alternatives. The only solution is to have self control and discipline when it comes to eating sweets and sugar containing foods.

For food dyes, a better alternative is beta carotene. This imparts an orange yellow color. Although it does not have a lasting effect like citrus red 2 and tartrazine with regards to coloring food; it is a health food, and is neither carcinogenic nor detrimental to the body.

Read the labels of your grocery foods before buying them. Do not buy anything that contains the above mentioned substances in amounts that are not allowable by the FDA.

Be aware, read the products' contents label and buy wisely!