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Posted: 31 Mar 2013 09:08 AM PDT

Top 10 Food Additives to Avoid photo

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There is no doubt that most of the packaged food we buy at the grocery store is full of harmful additives, preservatives, and artificial flavors and colors, but once in a while you come across some innocent sounding names that may not sound so suspiscious but upon investigation you find out that they are quite harmful.

The most exposed victims to the dire consequences of additives are families that enjoy consuming mainly processed foods. Because some are more toxic than others, next time you are heading to the supermarket to shop for groceries, watch out for the Top 10 following additives:

1. Artificial colors.

Artificial colors are actually made from coal, as in the stuff they burn to generate heat and electricity. It was not ever meant as food to start with, and should never be added in food now. It makes it to No.1 on this top 10 list of ingredients to avoid because of recent studies linking artificial colors to ADD and ADHD in children and connecting it to cancer. Many European countries have taken the most extreme actions by banned artificial colors that are most popularly used in North America. Now its time for Americas to do the same.

2. Artificial Sweetener

Research has found that the artificial sweetener is a popular contaminant in waste water, surface water, and ground water. Recent tests have taken water samples from 19 U.S. drinking water treatment plants serving more than 28 million people to be examined for sucralose. The sweetener was found to be present in: The source water of 15 out of 19 of drinking water treatment plants tested and the finished water of 13 out of 17 plants, and in whopping 8 out of 12 water distribution systems.

Don’t let any brand name or slogan fool you. Sucralose is not just any magical calorie-free sugar, despite Splenda’s famous slogan, “Made from sugar, so it tastes like sugar.” It is a chlorinated artificial sweetener cooked up in a factory, and scores of consumers have testified to its devastating effects. It does start off as a sugar molecule—to which three chlorine molecules are usually added. At the end of the whole process, the chemical composition of the sugar has been altered to the point that it’s actually not sugar.

This type of “sugar” molecule does not occur anywhere in nature, and therefore your body cannot metabolize it. This is why Splenda is advertised as having “zero calories”—because your body does not digest or metabolize it. The item passes right through you. But now studies show that between 11-27 percent of sucraloseis are absorbed into your digestive system and is also absorbed into your fat cells.

3. Trans Fats:

Have you ever walked in Taco Bell and on their menu board it says we only utilize Trans Fat oils. Don’t be conned by the signs, it is not good news for your diet, in fact it means the opposite.

Trans fat increases LDL cholesterol levels while decreasing HDL ("good") cholesterol, increases the risk of heart attacks, heart disease and strokes, and contributes to increased inflammation, diabetes and other health problems. Products, such as margarine, chips and crackers, are cooked in trans fat oils.

But not all trans fats are bad. Milk is a an excellent example and does have some naturally occurring trans fats, but these don't seem to be as harmful as manmade trans fats. Before purchasing any products with trans fats I would read into it and do a lot of research to find out the health risks.

What is trans fats? Trans fatty acids (trans fats) are a third form of fatty acids (others being saturated and unsaturated). While trans fats do occur in tiny amounts in some foods (particularly foods from animals), almost all the trans fats that are now in our diets come from an industrial process that partially hydrogenates (adds hydrogen to) unsaturated fatty acids. Trans fats can be best described as a form of processed vegetable oils.

4. Caffeine:

Caffeine can be naturally found in tea, coffee, and cocoa. It can equally be added to many soft drinks. It is one of the few drugs — a stimulant — added to foods. Caffeine is dangerous as it promotes stomach-acid secretion, raised blood pressure (temporarily), and dialates some blood vessels while constricting others. Excessive caffeine intake results in a syndrome called “caffeinism,” with symptoms ranging from nervousness to insomnia. These problems already affect children who drink between 2 to 7 cans of soda a day. No wonder most school boards in North America banned them.

Caffeine can be addictive, which is why some people have migraines when they stop drinking it. While small amounts of caffeine don’t pose a problem for everyone, avoid it if you are trying to become or are pregnant. And try to keep caffeine out of you child’s diet.

Note: Caffeine can be ingested in cases of severe migraine headaches to quickly relieve pain. A physician should be contacted if the disease is persistent.

5. Sodium Sulphite:

According to the FDA, approximately one in 100 people are allergic or have a sensitivity to sulfites in food. Individuals who are sulfite sensitive may suffer from asthma, headaches, breathing problems and rashes.

The substance is usually present in wine and dry fruits and is primarily used in the pulp and paper industry.

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