PRESERVATIVES - THE SAVIOR AND THE DEVASTATOR

Hey guys hello!! welcome to HEALTHISTA.

We all consume snacks, processed foods,tinned foods, jams,ketchup,potato chips,drinks,soft drinks,bread, etc. Have you ever looked at the ingredients the product contains apart from the main ingredient? I am speaking about the colouring agents, flavoring agents and yes preservatives. Have you ever thought that how harmful these agents are to your health and body?  

Here in this blog I will be discussing about the preservatives and also their harmful effects to the human body. so lets start.  

    

What are preservatives?

Preservatives are typically used to preserve food items. They are substances added to the food items which increases the shelf life of the products and makes sure there's no loss of taste or flavour upon storage over a period of time. Preservatives are basically of two types :- 

NATURAL PRESERVATIVES :-

 Naturally occurring preservatives include :- oil , sugar and salt. Do you know the reason behind pickles lasting long? the reason is simple pickles contain potent combination of salt and oil that acts as natural preservative for vegetable chunks.There are also several methods that are used to preserve foods some of them include  Curing, freezing, dehydrating, canning, jellying and fermentation.

ARTIFICIAL PRESERVATIVES :-

 These preservatives are also used to delay spoilage and contamination in foods, but these are artificially produced or synthetic in nature. Often these are also called ‘additives’ on food labels – so read the label carefully before you make the purchase. Ketchups, packed juices, baked goodies and spreads and jams could contain artificial preservatives.

So till now you guys might have a clear idea about what  preservatives actually are. Now let me first give you a brief view about the side effects of preservatives added to the food items on your health and human body.

1. One of the possible harmful effects of preservatives could be a trigger for breathing problems asthma , bronchitis.

2. Preservatives can cause problem within young children like hyperactive behavior . This problem is also measured by parental and objective reporting.

3. Sustained and excessive consumption of artificial preservatives can weaken heart tissues which is dangerous especially for the aged people.

4.They could contain BHA and BHT food additives which could be cancer causing. BHT is used in cereals and fats while BHA could be present in potatoes , meats and other baked goods.

5. Preservatives could cause obesity in some as it contains fatty acids especially in processed foods.
   

Here are some of the chemical preservatives which are usually added to the food items along with their harmful effect on human body.

Nitrates and Nitrites

Sodium nitrate and nitrite are food preservatives often used in meat products. They help to prevent oxidation of meats, keeping them red in color and preventing bacterial growth. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes that consumption of nitrates may be linked to an increased risk of cancers, such as leukemia, brain tumors and nasopharyngeal tumors. Nitrates and nitrites may also increase risk for diabetes, diarrhea and respiratory tract infections in children. Ingesting a large amount of these preservatives at one time may cause you to experiences abdominal pain, muscle weakness, bloody stools and fainting, according to the EPA. You'll find nitrates and nitrites in bacon, lunch meat, hot dogs, sausage, smoked fish, ham and corned beef.

Sulfites

Sulfites in dried fruit, wine, shrimp and processed potato foods are preservatives that prevent discoloration in food. They also destroy vitamin B-1 content, however, and may cause adverse health impacts. If you are sensitive to sulfites, you may experience skin irritations, hives, flushing, hypotension, abdominal pain, diarrhea and asthmatic breathing after eating them, according to a study published in November 2009 in the journal "Clinical and Experimental Allergy." The U.S. Food and Drug Administration continues to allow the use of sulfites in food, and the preservative appears on the "Generally Recognized as Safe" list.

Sodium Benzoate

Sodium benzoate, or benzoic acid, is another preservative used to prevent bacterial growth in foods. The Center for Science in the Public Interest notes that people who are sensitive to sodium benzoate may experience hives, asthma or allergic reactions after consuming it. When combined with vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, sodium benzoate may pose a small risk of cancer, including leukemia. According to the World Health Organization, animal studies reveal that high doses of the preservative may cause damage to the heart, spleen, liver, kidneys, brain and adrenal glands. But human studies and studies with lower consumption rates are limited.

Antioxidant Preservatives

Propyl gallate and tert-butylhydroquinone are antioxidant preservatives that help prevent the spoilage of fats and oils. They're found in processed foods, vegetable oils and meat products. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, animal studies reveal that low doses of propyl gallate may increase risk of cancer. Tert-butylhydroquinone increases the incidence of tumors in studies conducted on rats. More research is needed to determine the impacts of these preservatives on human health, however.

Oh my god!!!! the tasty and delicious processed foods, canned foods , snacks , drinks , soft drinks , jams , ketchup , and what not every item contains large quantities of these harmful chemical preservatives. so try to avoid these preservatives in your diet. I  guess by now each one of you want to avoid these harmful preservatives. so let me help you in this. Here are some ways to avoid harmful preservatives :-

Cutting preservatives completely from your diet is difficult but reducing isn’t. One should try to intake less preservatives as it causes chronic health conditions. One can incorporate fresh fruits, vegetables, juices, fresh lean meats and low fat dairy in your diet rather than switching to too many packaged food items.

 
Lastly read the labels on the products carefully before buying it for you and your family.
                    
  Hope you guys found my blog informative. Do implement this information in your daily life and  dont forget to share this information with your family, friends and anyone who can benefit. 

                           -SABA MEHBOOB KHATOON