Increase The Risk Of Developing Cancer
If you are also a typical American, stoking up your pantry with all the processed and prepackaged foods, you might be worried about the safety factor of food additives. Quite obvious, it is!
Over the years, safety issues of food additives have become a cause of concern. Starting from trans fats to food dyes, there is a question raised over the use of these additives – can any of these cause cancer?
While cancer specialists might not be able to give you a conclusive response, it is true that most additives have carcinogenic properties.
A scare over all these food additives has started lingering in the kinds of people for long after doctors and researchers determined that there is every reason to fear. It may take years, or may be a few decades, to actually dig out the truth. But, dubious thoughts and speculations have led to a fear that does not subside.
Artificial food coloring, also called food dyes or chemical dyes are used for coloring foods and beverages. There are many variations of processed foods, condiments, and beverages giving artificial colors in them.
These foods are increasingly controversial because of worsening symptoms like hyperactivity in kids and asthma. Cancer specialists recommend that it would be best to avoid food colors to the maximum, though it is not possible to eliminate it completely.
Corn syrup containing high amount of fructose is basically a sweetener derived from corn. It is sweeper and usually cheaper than regular sucrose, which is sugar derived from sugar cane. It is used as an additive in many processed foods, not only sweets. Most of the non-diet beverages or soft drinks are sweetened using high fructose corn syrup.
Aspartame is also a commonly used artificial sweetener that is known by several brand names, including NutraSweet and Equal. It is mainly used as an additive for sweetening diet drinks.
Various concerns are raised about this additive since the time it was introduced in the market in 1981. Recently, it is suspected to be a cause of cancer. There are reports revealing that aspartame can cause headaches, seizures, reduced mental awareness and mood swings.
MSG looks like crystals of sugar or salt. It is a naturally occurring chemical glutamate that does not have any flavor, but is used to enhance tastes, having a savory flavor. Soybeans, tomatoes, and seaweed are some of the common examples of foods containing natural glutamate. MSG is commonly used as an additive in various foods. MSG is a controversial additive because it tends to have a bad reaction leading to allergies and cancers of the stomach.
Sodium benzoate is added to foods in the form of a preservative. It is used in foods as well as drinks. Apart from the fact that it adds artificial color to the food, it may also increase hyperactivity in children. Sodium benzoate used in soft drinks can react with vitamin C to create benzene, which is a carcinogenic compound. With so many researches and studies to prove the harmful effects of food additives, cancer specialists hold that it is best to avoid additives and go for all natural and whole foods.