My 4 year old neighbor is a sweet child. From the outside he is a normal child, but when you take a look at his eating habits he is already an ADDICT. I mean processed food addiction. Every day his diet consists of colas, some kind of biscuits,cakes,chips,candies etc. He always holds an attractive cover(pre requisite in any processed food to attract kids and adults alike) in his hands atleast three times a day. The worst part is the adults around him do not mind it at all. For me its a horrendous act. He throw tantrums if he does not get them.
I am sure you must have seen many examples like the above everywhere around you. What pains me is, what will happen if he grows up like this and what about his health. If you eat processed foods, you’re consuming a chemical cocktail with each bite. Even seemingly simple foods like bread, processed cheese, salad dressing or pasta sauce are typically loaded with preservatives, emulsifiers, flavorings, colorings and other “enhancers.” So parents who are reading this, look for these toxic chemicals on the food labels.
Artificial Sweetners:
These were supposed to be a safe answer to our sweet cravings, but on the long run they are causing more harm than good to us. Experiments have found that sweet taste, regardless of its caloric content, enhances our appetite, and consuming artificial sweeteners has been shown to lead to even greater weight gain than consuming sugar.
Aspartame, for instance, is a sweet-tasting neurotoxin. As a result of its unnatural structure, our body processes the amino acids found in aspartame very differently from food. The amino acids in aspartame literally attack our cells, even crossing the blood-brain barrier to attack your brain cells, creating a toxic cellular overstimulation, called excitotoxicity, similar to monosodium glutamate (MSG). A 2018 study published in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases also revealed that the artificial sugar, sucralose (otherwise known as Splenda) and maltodextrin, intensifies gut inflammation in mice that carry Crohn’s-like diseases. For more on artificial sweetners check out this link Should we be replacing sugar with artificial sweetners?
Monosodium Glutamate(MSG):
This salt is commonly associated with chinese food, but it is actually present in countless processed food products ranging from frozen dinners and salad dressing to snack chips and meats. It is is added to food to enhance its flavor. It is an excitotoxin, which means it overexcites our cells to the point of damage or death, causing brain dysfunction and damage. The adverse reactions include headaches, nausea and weakness and sometimes experience wheezing, breathing trouble, heart rate changes, and burning sensations. MSG is also one of the top ingredients linked to migraine headaches.
Artificial Colours:
Food dyes are one of the most widely used and dangerous additives. While the European Union has recently placed regulations on labeling food dyes to inform consumers of the health risks, India is yet to follow suit.These dyes are linked to health issues ranging from cancer and hyperactivity to allergy-like reactions — and these results were from studies conducted by the chemical industry itself.
Red # 40, which is the most widely used dye, may accelerate the appearance of immune system tumors in mice, while also triggering hyperactivity in children. Blue # 2, used in candies, beverages, pet foods and more, was linked to brain tumors.
And Yellow 5, used in baked goods, candies, cereal and more, may not only be contaminated with several cancer-causing chemicals, but it’s also linked to hyperactivity, hypersensitivity and other behavioral effects in children.
Bad Fats:
Synthetic trans fats, found in margarine, vegetable shortening, and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, are known to promote inflammation, which is a hallmark of most chronic and/or serious diseases.
These synthetic fats have been linked to stroke, cancer, diabetes, decreased immune function, reproductive problems, heart disease and more.
Sodium Sulphite:
This is a widely used food preservative. People who are sulfite sensitive can experience headaches, breathing problems and rashes.
Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA):
Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) `is a preservative that affects the brain, alters behavior and has the potential to cause cancer. It can be found in breakfast cereal, nut mixes, chewing gum, butter spread, meat, dehydrated potatoes, popcorn, chips and beer, just to name a few.The international cancer agency categorizes it as a possible human carcinogen.
High Fructose Corn Syrup(HFCS):
This is a man-made sweetener that’s nearly identical to sucrose. It is commonly found in processed foods such as cookies, granola bars, salad dressings, sauces and soft drinks. HFCS increases our risk of chronic and deadly health problems, including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, fatty liver and heart disease.
Potassium Bromate:
Remember the controversy in 2016 about the findings of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). It found that many bread, burger and pizza samples it tested contained potassium bromate which is possibly carcinogenic and potassium iodate which could cause thyroid-related problems.
Potassium bromate, or simply called bromate, is an oxidiser used to strengthen dough and enhance its elasticity. Hence it is extensively used in commercial baking products.
Conclusion:
The above listed are just a few chemicals which are rampantly used in processed foods. The number of food additives allowed in food has grown from about 800 to more than 10,000 and the list is growing. The risk assessment done on such chemicals is typically done on individual chemicals in isolation, but mounting research suggests that when we consume multiple additives in combination, the health effects may be more serious than previously imagined.
For a detailed account on Junk food and brain connection visit this link Fast Food-The brain connection
Save our children by shunning processed foods. Are you still not convinced?