I try to make as many fresh, from scratch meals and snacks as possible, but I'm sometimes in too big of a hurry, running late, didn't have time to go the store, too lazy, or just blasted hungry and need something fast! Thankfully there are a lot of great products out there to buy during those moments, but sadly there are far more products out there that are full of hazardous ingredients. I've compiled a list of the main ingredients that I steer clear of and why. Hopefully this will help you make healthier convenient snack purchases.
Ingredients to Avoid and why:
1. Artificial Colors:
It's chemical compounds made from coal-tar derivatives to enhance color (for example: Red #40), and it is linked to allergic reactions, fatigue, asthma, skin rashes, hyperactivity, headaches, and even cancer and tumors.
2. Artificial Flavorings:
They are just cheap chemical mixtures that mimic natural flavors. They are linked to allergic reactions, dermatitis, eczema, hyperactivity and asthma. It can also affect enzymes, RNA and thyroid.
3. Artificial Sweeteners:
They are highly-processed, chemically-derived, zero-calorie sweeteners found in diet foods and diet products to reduce calories per serving (such as Acesulfame-K, Aspartame, Equal, NutraSweet, Saccharin, Sweet-n Low, Sucralose, Splenda, and Sorbitol). These can negatively impact metabolism, and some have been linked to cancer, dizziness, hallucinations, and headaches.
4. Benzoate Preservatives:
Compounds that preserve fats and prevent them from becoming rancid (such as BHT, BHA, & TBHQ). These may result in hyperactivity, angiodema, asthma, rhinitis, dermatitis, tumors and urticaria. They can also affect estrogen balance and levels.
5. High Fructose Corn Syrup:
Cheap alternative to cane sugar that is blended easily into beverages to maintain sweetness, and it also sustains freshness in baked goods. It may predispose the body to turn fructose into fat, increase the risk for Type-2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, and isn't easily metabolized by the liver.
6. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG):
It's a flavor enhancer in restaurant food, salad dressing, chips, frozen entrees, soups and other foods. It may also stimulate appetite and cause headaches, nausea, weakness, wheezing, edema, change in heart rate, burning sensations, and difficulty in breathing.
7. Hydrogenated and Partially Hydrogenated Oils:
They are industrially created fats that are used in more than 40,000 food products in the U.S., and are cheaper than most other oils (such as shortening, palm, soybean, and other oils). They contain high levels of trans fats, and can cause inflammation, heart disease, diabetes, liver disease, birth defects, cancer, and much more.
It's really shocking to me to see how many products out there have these ingredients in them (however, living in England was amazing, because most of these ingredients aren't even allowed there!). I do find that in most cases, organic is better, along with small ingredient lists. Here are just a few of my favorite good quality products that I like to have on hand when I need a quick snack.
They are highly-processed, chemically-derived, zero-calorie sweeteners found in diet foods and diet products to reduce calories per serving (such as Acesulfame-K, Aspartame, Equal, NutraSweet, Saccharin, Sweet-n Low, Sucralose, Splenda, and Sorbitol). These can negatively impact metabolism, and some have been linked to cancer, dizziness, hallucinations, and headaches.
4. Benzoate Preservatives:
Compounds that preserve fats and prevent them from becoming rancid (such as BHT, BHA, & TBHQ). These may result in hyperactivity, angiodema, asthma, rhinitis, dermatitis, tumors and urticaria. They can also affect estrogen balance and levels.
5. High Fructose Corn Syrup:
Cheap alternative to cane sugar that is blended easily into beverages to maintain sweetness, and it also sustains freshness in baked goods. It may predispose the body to turn fructose into fat, increase the risk for Type-2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, and isn't easily metabolized by the liver.
6. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG):
It's a flavor enhancer in restaurant food, salad dressing, chips, frozen entrees, soups and other foods. It may also stimulate appetite and cause headaches, nausea, weakness, wheezing, edema, change in heart rate, burning sensations, and difficulty in breathing.
7. Hydrogenated and Partially Hydrogenated Oils:
They are industrially created fats that are used in more than 40,000 food products in the U.S., and are cheaper than most other oils (such as shortening, palm, soybean, and other oils). They contain high levels of trans fats, and can cause inflammation, heart disease, diabetes, liver disease, birth defects, cancer, and much more.
It's really shocking to me to see how many products out there have these ingredients in them (however, living in England was amazing, because most of these ingredients aren't even allowed there!). I do find that in most cases, organic is better, along with small ingredient lists. Here are just a few of my favorite good quality products that I like to have on hand when I need a quick snack.
4. Spry Gum
Vitacost is also my supplier for the majority of these items, because of the low prices and quick deliveries! If you've never purchased anything from Vitacost before but would now like to, just copy and paste the link below into a new browser, and find yourself a great coupon. :)
http://goo.gl/4j5UO2
http://goo.gl/4j5UO2
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