Most of the food we consume today as well as the products we have in our houses are unfortunately laced with chemicals that are added to improve the product’s appearance, texture, freshness, and appeal. Read on to learn about the five most common additives that can make you and your family very sick.
Unbeknownst to most people, a vast number of chemically treated products have made their way into houses today in the form of things like reusable plastic water bottles, frozen pizzas, canned beans, and disinfectants. Chemical additives are used to achieve a long list of purposes like keeping food fresh for longer, making bath soaps and body lotions smell pleasant, preserving food so that it lasts longer, and making meat look fresh. While the idea of using artificial methods to achieve the benefits mentioned above did seem to work well at first, we do not realize the long-term implications of ingesting chemically treated food and being exposed to products laden with harmful chemicals day in and day out.
We have put together a list of the five most harmful chemicals and the products that they are added to so that you know what to avoid picking up the next time you go grocery shopping.
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BPA – There has been quite a furor about this particular additive lately especially since it causes infertility amongst women. Also known as Bisphenols, this class of additives have far-reaching health consequences that include low immunity, nervous system ailments, and body fat retention in addition to disorders related to the female reproductive system. BPA is usually found on the inside of cans that hold food and beverages as well as in the plastic used to make bottles.
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Perchlorate – This chemical is attributed with the ability to cause damage to the thyroid gland as well as deteriorate the rate at which the brain develops with age. Alarmingly, despite the above harmful effects, perchlorates are still added to bottled water and packaging that is used to hold dry food items.
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Nitrates and Nitrites – Have you ever wondered why some of the meat at your local grocery store looks so unnaturally fresh? Chemicals like nitrates and nitrites are added to meat and other processed food to make them look pink and healthy for an extended period. These artificial substances can cause thyroid problems as well as hamper the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood.
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Phthalates – These are the most commonly used chemicals that are present in almost every other seemingly innocuous household item. From perfumes to body lotions and hair-related products, phthalates creep into nearly everything. These additives are detrimental to the health of the male reproductive system as well as the body’s cardiovascular system.
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Synthetic Dyes – Those vibrantly hued candies that make their way into houses during Halloween and Christmas are more often than not artificially colored and can be extremely dangerous especially for children. Health warnings about such synthetic dyes and their ability to trigger ADHD in children and adults alike have been doing the rounds for quite some time now.
Knowing how harmful these artificial ingredients can be, it is better to steer clear from buying products that contain them. Make a conscious decision to buy fresh produce instead of packaged and processed food and carefully examine the labels on items to ascertain the absence of toxins.
