由 home-healthhaven 
Eating food should be a delightful experience, not a risky venture. However, some common food additives can jeopardize our health. In their book, “Rich Food, Poor Food,” Dr. Jayson Calton and certified nutritionist Mira Calton shed light on some of these harmful substances:
1. **Artificial Food Dye**: These dyes make our food look appealing but can hinder nerve-cell development.
**Found in**: Cake mixes, sports drinks, cheese, candy, and even macaroni and cheese.
**Why it’s dangerous**: Made from petroleum chemicals (also used in gasoline and tar), these dyes are linked to brain cancer, nerve damage, and hyperactivity in kids.
**Banned in**: Norway, Finland, Austria, France, and the U.K.
**Solution**: Opt for natural alternatives available in health food stores, which use natural sweeteners and colors.
2. **Olestra (or Olean)**: Reduces calories but can cause vitamin loss and digestive issues.
**Found in**: Fat-free potato chips, corn chips, and French fries.
**Why it’s dangerous**: This chemical by Procter & Gamble hinders vitamin absorption and may cause cramps and bowel leakage.
**Banned in**: The U.K. and Canada.
**Solution**: Avoid it entirely.
3. **Brominated Vegetable Oil**: Keeps food dyes mixed in liquids but is harmful.
**Found in**: Sports drinks and citrus-flavored sodas.
**Why it’s dangerous**: Bromine, also used in fire-retardants, is linked to organ damage, birth defects, and hearing loss.
**Banned in**: Over 100 countries.
**Solution**: Choose organic drinks like coffee and tea.
4. **Potassium Bromate (or Bromated Flour)**: Speeds up baking but harms kidneys and the nervous system.
**Found in**: Bread, rolls, flatbreads, and bagel chips.
**Why it’s dangerous**: Like brominated oil, it’s linked to cancer and serious organ damage.
**Banned in**: Europe, Canada, and China.
**Solution**: Purchase organic bread from health food stores.
5. **Azodicarbonamide**: Whitens flour and plastics, and can cause asthma.
**Found in**: Breads, frozen dinners, and packaged baked goods.
**Why it’s dangerous**: Used in both food and plastic products; it can trigger asthma.
**Banned in**: Australia, the U.K., and most of Europe.
**Solution**: Seek out organic products from brands like Amy’s and Morningstar Farms.
6. **BHA & BHT**: Preservatives that can cause cancer.
**Found in**: Cereal, gum, butter, meat, and dehydrated potatoes.
**Why it’s dangerous**: They prevent food from becoming rancid but are carcinogenic.
**Banned in**: The U.K., Japan, and other European nations.
**Solution**: Look for natural alternatives at health food stores.
7. **Synthetic Growth Hormones (rBGH and rBST)**: Harm cows and may cause tumors in humans.
**Found in**: Milk and dairy products.
**Why it’s dangerous**: These hormones can cause infertility, discourage muscle growth, and lead to various cancers.
**Banned in**: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, and the EU.
**Solution**: Try milk alternatives like soy, almond, or hemp milk, or choose organic, hormone-free milk.
8. **Arsenic**: A slow-acting poison used in poultry.
**Found in**: Chicken feed, making the meat look fresher.
**Why it’s dangerous**: Arsenic can kill if consumed over time.
**Banned in**: The EU.
**Solution**: Explore chicken alternatives or buy organic chicken from health food stores. Plant-based options are also a great choice—they’re affordable, easy to prepare, and taste like chicken.
By making more informed choices, we can avoid these harmful substances and enjoy healthier, safer foods.