13 Dangerous Toxins To Avoid In Your Food
You can’t reach for a fork these days without hearing about one toxic food trouble or another. To take a significant bite out of the potential dangers on our dinner plates and avoid toxins in food, try reading labels, understanding food sources, and keeping the kitchen clear of the following unsavory ingredients. This is especially important for kids’ plates; pound for pound they take in more than adults do.
Here are some toxins to avoid:
1. Pesticides
Used to raise and treat produce and other products, these poisons often leave behind residues. They've been linked to everything from cancer to birth defects.
Solution: Organic foods are required to be synthetic pesticide-free.
2. BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole) & BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene)
These common processed food preservatives have been declared carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. They’re also accused of disrupting hormones and impacting male fertility.
Solution: Check ingredient lists to avoid.
3. Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH/rBST)
Given to cows to increase milk production, rGBH produces elevated levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in dairy products. IGF-1 is a significant factor in breast, prostate and colon cancers.
Solution: Choose organic or rBGH-free dairy products.
4. Sodium Aluminum Sulphate and Potassium Aluminum Sulphate
Used in processed cheese products, baked goods, and microwave popcorn, among other packaged goods, these ingredients are linked to adverse reproductive, neurological, behavioral, and developmental effects.
Solution: Read ingredient lists to avoid this toxin.
