Don’t Compromise With Your Health – 6 Edible Ingredients Harmful For Your Body

We use several ingredients in our life to cook our food. But, did you know there are a few ingredients that can be toxic for your body? Take a look at our article to learn more.

You might have heard that some common ingredients or food are toxic. The good thing is that science supports a majority of these claims. Nevertheless, a few ingredients can be harmful to the consumer, especially when consuming them in larger quantities.

Experts recommend avoiding ingredients that can compromise your health. So, here we are going to list a few toxic food items that are concerning.

1. Trans Fats

One of the unhealthiest items that you can eat is trans-fat. When unsaturated oils and hydrogen combines, it creates this ingredient. However, our body doesn’t process or recognize trans-fat in the same manner as naturally occurring fats.

Naturally, consuming them can lead to serious health issues. Many studies show that trans-fat can lead to heart inflammation and other negative effects. Apart from heart disease, chronic inflammation leads to various other health conditions like obesity and type2 diabetes, and insulin resistance.

So, avoid trans-fat and use healthier fat instead.

2. Refined Vegetable Oils

Refined vegetable oils include safflower, sunflower, cottonseed, and soybean oils. Ages ago, people had a belief that replacing saturated fats with vegetable oils can prevent heart disease and reduce cholesterol.

Nevertheless, as per evidence, these oils cause more harm when you consume them in excess. Vegetable oils are refined products and don’t have any essential nutrients. So, they are empty calories. Also, vegetable oils are high in polyunsaturated omega-6 fats. These might contain multiple double bonds prone to rancidity and damage when exposed to air or light.

Sure, your body needs linoleic acid, but most people these days are eating more than they should. High intake of linoleic acid might increase inflammation that can damage the endothelial cells lining of the arteries. That, in turn, increases the risk of heart disease.

Moreover, cooking with vegetable oil has a harmful effect. When you hear it, the vegetable oil releases harmful compounds that can increase the risk of cancer, heart disease, or inflammatory disease.

3. Coumarin In Cassia Cinnamon

You might already know that cinnamon comes with several health benefits. It can reduce cholesterol levels and lower blood sugar in people who have type2 diabetes. Nevertheless, it contains a compound known as coumarin. It can be toxic if you consume it more than you should.

Ceylon and Cassia are the most common type of cinnamon. Ceylon cinnamon coming from Cinnamomum Zeylanicum’s bark is often called the true cinnamon. However, Cassia cinnamon comes from Cinnamomum Cassia’s bark. That is less expensive than Ceylon. It has higher levels of coumarin that can increase the risk of liver damage and cancer.

You can safely consume 2 grams of cassia cinnamon every day. If it is more than that, it can lead to harmful effects.

4. BPA

BPA or Bisphenol-A is a chemical compound that you will find in a plastic container of beverages and common foods. The primary sources are bottled water, canned items, and packaged foods.

Experts say BPA can leech out of the containers into the beverage or food. It can lead to reproduction issues and increases the risk of breast cancer. So, look for BPA-free containers and bottles. Also, ensure you mostly eat unprocessed foods.

5. Artificial Edible Food Colors

To add to the look of delicious dishes, people globally use artificial food colors. However, research shows that these edible colors may be responsible for hyperactivity in kids and asthma.

Below are some of the most famous edible colors that are harmful to the body:

1. Red: Most popular edible color used globally. The raw material for almost all food dyes, including this one, is collected via petroleum. And petroleum is a carcinogen. Hence, one should avoid using this color at all costs.
2. Blue: Used in baked products, soft drinks, and candy. Scientists argue that the derivative of this color can lead to a brain tumor, damage in the chromosome, and cancer.
3. Citrus Red: Vendors spray this color on oranges. It adds to the look of the orange, hence gets sold easily. However, this dye also leads to cancer and damage in chromosomes.

Some more such food dyes harmful to health are Green, Yellow, Caramel Coloring, Brown HT, Bixin, Norbixin, and Annatto.

6. Added Sugar

Sugar is empty calories. Nevertheless, the harmful effects of sugar can go way beyond. High fructose can lead to severe health conditions like type2 diabetes, obesity, fatty liver disease, and metabolic syndrome. Excess sugar can also cause colon or breast cancer.

While a small amount of sugar intake is natural, a few individuals fail to stop at a small amount. So, consume as little added sugar as you can.

Bottom Line

People claim that the harmful effects of toxins aren’t backed by science. Nevertheless, many say that it might be harmful, particularly when you consume in higher amounts. Be that as it may, reducing your exposure to these ingredients is extremely easy. All you have to do is limit the use of these products and consume single-ingredient food as much as you can.