Harmful Substances in Processed Food: A Must-Read List

Sugar, salt, food coloring, margarine, and spicy seasonings are just some of the harmful additives hiding in processed foods. Here are the details.

The substances listed below are commonly found in processed food products, foods that are easy to store, carry, and eat. These convenient items fill the shelves of nearly every home in the Western world. They stay fresh for long periods because they’re packed with preservatives, and their taste and appearance are enhanced with a mix of chemicals.

Unfortunately, all these benefits come with a high cost. These additives often contain large amounts of salt, fat, and sugar, which can lead to serious health problems such as food allergies, headaches, digestive issues, weight gain, heart conditions, cancer, and blocked absorption of vital vitamins and minerals.

Sugar
Too much sugar especially refined, processed sugar, damages the body in many ways. It leads to illnesses like diabetes, fungal infections, and tooth decay. It causes weight gain and increases the risk of heart disease and even the growth of cancerous cells.

Processed sugar is also highly addictive. Because it is absorbed quickly into the blood, it gives a short burst of energy. But when blood sugar levels drop again, it leaves us feeling tired, weak, irritable, even depressed and craving more sugar. This leads to a cycle that is hard to break.

Food companies often add extra sugar to processed foods and drinks on purpose, so consumers will get used to the taste, crave more, and keep buying. Be careful!

Salt
Too much salt is a leading cause of high blood pressure, which increases the risk of heart disease. When the body takes in too much sodium, the kidneys can’t filter it out quickly enough. This makes the body retain fluids, which increases blood volume, reduces flexibility in the blood vessels, and makes the heart work harder.

Excess salt is also linked to kidney disease, kidney stones, stroke, stomach cancer, osteoporosis, and worsened asthma symptoms. It dehydrates the body and speeds up the aging of cells and tissues.

The recommended daily salt intake is about 5 grams (of which only 2 grams should be sodium). For those at risk, the recommended limit is 4 grams (1.5 grams sodium). Surprisingly, most of the salt we eat doesn’t come from the salt shaker—, comes from processed food, where salt is used not just for flavor but to preserve the food and make it bulkier.

For better health, try to reduce processed food and eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, which help balance the body’s salt levels.

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
MSG is a chemical that enhances flavor but can harm your health. It affects glutamate receptors in the brain, which help control important body functions. MSG can overstimulate and kill sensitive nerve cells.

People who react to MSG may experience headaches, dizziness, tingling skin, breathing problems, and digestive or heart symptoms.

Food Colorings
These are synthetic chemicals, not found in nature often made from coal. Some even contain harmful substances like lead or arsenic (once used as a powerful pesticide). Yet, they are still allowed in many products.

Artificial food dyes have been linked to allergic reactions, attention and learning problems in children, vision issues, and harm to the nervous system.

BHA and BHT
These chemicals are added to cooking oils to prevent spoilage. They’ve been linked to problems with sleep and appetite, liver and kidney issues, hair loss, behavior changes, cancer risk, and slower growth in children.

Sodium Nitrate and Nitrite
These are preservatives used in processed meats like hot dogs and cold cuts. Inside the stomach, they can turn into cancer-causing chemicals. They may also cause headaches, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.

Olestra
A fat substitute used in some low-calorie chips and snacks. While it’s calorie-free, it blocks the body from absorbing important vitamins and nutrients. It can also lead to diarrhea and unwanted bowel issues.

Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO)
Used in soft drinks to keep the flavor from separating. Over time, BVO builds up in fat tissues and has been linked to fertility problems and birth defects.

Margarine and Trans Fats
Margarine is made through a chemical process that turns healthy oils into harmful trans fats. These fats increase the risk of heart disease, cancer, and clogged arteries. They raise bad cholesterol, damage blood vessels, and fill the body with dangerous free radicals.

Margarine and trans fats are hidden in many everyday foods like crackers, cookies, pastries, and baked goods.

Pesticides
Each year, over a billion pounds of pesticides are added to our food in the United States. That’s about five pounds per person! Many of these chemicals are known to cause cancer. Pesticides build up in the body and weaken the immune system, harm fertility, and may lead to miscarriages or birth complications.

Spicy Spices
While some spices are healthy, overly spicy seasonings can irritate the digestive tract and harm the protective lining of the stomach and intestines. This can lead to long-term imbalances in the body.