We’ve been told pretty much our whole lives that we need to read food labels, but the thing about food labels is they work in really long words that don’t really mean a whole lot to us, then, if you’re anything like us, you just kinda shrug it all off. But today we’re going to break down some of those long-winded ingredients you should be avoiding. Let’s get started!
Aspartame, Sucralose, and Saccharin
These are the names of artificial sweeteners that you’ll spot in lower-caloric foods and especially beverages. The problem with these ingredients is that they tell your brain that you’re not consuming very many calories and because of the fewer calories consumed, your brain thinks it’s totally okay to eat more of it, making it really hard on your metabolic system. These artificial sweeteners are best avoided, but if you must, consume very little.
Carrageenan
This emulsifying agent is found in a ton of food products and is extracted from seaweed and processed with alkaline substances. This ingredient is known to cause bloating, IBD (irritable bowel disorder), and inflammation. While this has been approved by the FDA, whether or not it’s actually safe to consume is an ongoing debate.
Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Benzoate
These ingredients are found in foods that require an extended shelf life. While food companies love them, sodium benzoate and potassium benzoate tend to mess with our thyroid levels. If you’re young, you probably haven’t thought much about your thyroid levels, but as you age, you’ll quickly learn this is something closely monitored so be on the lookout for these on your nutrition labels.
Isomalto-oligosaccharides (IMOs)
First of all, don’t you dare ask us to say this out loud. IMO is a mixture of a number of short-chain carbs and these little guys often lead to big digestive issues as well as blood-sugar spikes.
Xanthan Gum
There is a really good chance you’ve come across this ingredient; it’s a popular additive that acts as a thickening agent. It’s so popular in fact that it’s also used in insecticides, toilet bowl cleaners, and adhesives in wallpaper. Just let that sink in for a minute. Because xanthan gum is lab-made it’s nearly impossible for our bodies to break this down which causes digestive issues and gut bacteria.
BHA
You may also see this ingredient listed as butylated hydroxyanisole, and it keeps our food from going bad, essentially. On one hand, the Department of Health and Human Services has said it’s a carcinogen, but on the other, the FDA has yet to ban the stuff, so what are we to do? That’s a great question because the thing is, this ingredient has been known to cause cancer in the forestomach of animals, humans, however, don’t have that.