I've been trying to keep up with tracking my servings of eat food group, drinking 64 oz of water a day, eating healthier snacks, and eating foods that give me natural energy for the past couple weeks and as a result i'm feeling way more refreshed, hydrated, energized, and most of all HEALTHIER. But I know there is more I can do to improve my health and feel better. This week I decided to explore the ingredients in food I typically eat. I try to buy foods with natural ingredients and don't have additives or preservatives but these foods are hard to find since so many foods in stores contain preservatives and additives. I know foods like fruits, vegetables, plain meat, plain fish, certain cheeses do not contain preservatives and additives but I can't have that be the only foods in my diet. That would get tiring quickly!!
Therefore this week I decided to research which "unnatural" ingredients (preservatives/additives) are considered "safe" to eat and which "unnatural" ingredients should be avoided. In this search I discovered that there are more 3,000 additives that exist so it was going to be hard to research all of them but I did come across an articles that listed the 8 most dangerous ingredients to ones health. These ingredients are BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), parabens, partially hydrogenated oil, sodium nitrate, carmel coloring, castoreum, food dyes (especially Yellow 6, Red 40, Red 3), and hydrolyzed vegetable protein. These ingredients are considered dangerous because many of these ingredients contain carcinogenic compounds.
Therefore this week I decided to research which "unnatural" ingredients (preservatives/additives) are considered "safe" to eat and which "unnatural" ingredients should be avoided. In this search I discovered that there are more 3,000 additives that exist so it was going to be hard to research all of them but I did come across an articles that listed the 8 most dangerous ingredients to ones health. These ingredients are BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), parabens, partially hydrogenated oil, sodium nitrate, carmel coloring, castoreum, food dyes (especially Yellow 6, Red 40, Red 3), and hydrolyzed vegetable protein. These ingredients are considered dangerous because many of these ingredients contain carcinogenic compounds.
Next I went through all of my food items to see if any contain these ingredients. To my surprise, I found that 4 of my food items contain some of these ingredients!!! These foods were cupcake icing, BBQ sauce, stir fry marinade, and granola bars. The cupcake icing contained partially hydrogenated oil, the BBQ sauce contained food dye Red 40, and the stir fry marinade/ granola bars contained carmel color!! I wasn't too surprised that the icing, BBQ sauce, and stir fry marinade contained unhealthy ingredients but I was surprised that the granola bars contained an unhealthy ingredient.
Immediately I trashed these items!! I am no longer going to buy these items and when I am at the store I am going to make sure any food item I buy does not contain these ingredients.
To read the article I found on this check out my pin...
Immediately I trashed these items!! I am no longer going to buy these items and when I am at the store I am going to make sure any food item I buy does not contain these ingredients.
To read the article I found on this check out my pin...