Preservatives

What are preservatives?

Preservatives are substances used to preserve food so that it can last for a long time without decaying. Preservatives can be natural or chemical based. Natural preservatives include sugar and salt. Common chemical based preservatives are sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite. Preservatives are found in packaged foods and canned food to keep them from spoiling. Dried fruit, processed meats, fruit juice, and wine also contain preservatives. Since preservatives are convenient and allow food to last longer, people use them regularly. However, preservatives have many negative consequences, too.

What are the negative effects of preservatives in canned foods?

Extra sugar and salt are used as natural preservatives in canned foods. Unnecessary sugar can eventually lead to obesity and Diabetes 2 and too much salt is bad for people that have hypertension (high blood pressure). The International Agency for the Research of Cancer (IARC) found that chemical based preservatives in canned foods such as sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite are carcinogenic.

How can extra sugar cause obesity and Diabetes 2?

Eating more sugar than necessary can cause obesity because the extra sugar is converted into fat, which is then secreted into the body’s blood. On top of this, sugar can also affect leptin, which is a hormone secreted by fat cells. The bigger the fat cells get, the more leptin these cells secrete. When our brain senses that there is enough leptin secreted, it gives the body a signal that there is enough fat stored and there is no longer a need to eat for the time being. Excess sugar can cause leptin resistance, which means that our brain can no longer sense the leptin secreted by the fat cells, and therefore, doesn’t send the body the signal that the body has stored enough fat. Consequently, the body thinks you need to continue eating (even though, in reality, you don’t), causing you to eat more and gain weight, leading to obesity. Extra sugar does not directly cause Diabetes 2, but indirectly, it can be a cause for it. This is because extra sugar causes obesity, and obesity causes Diabetes 2 since obesity can lead to insulin resistance.

How can extra salt be harmful to people with hypertension?

The more salt you eat, the higher your blood pressure can get. This is because salt makes your body retain water, which increases your blood pressure. The reason why salt makes your body retain water is that your kidneys use osmosis to remove water. This process is based on a balance of sodium and potassium. Eating salt interferes with the balance of sodium, not allowing the kidneys to remove water as efficiently. The extra water causes a strain on the blood vessels leading to the kidneys, increasing your blood pressure.

Is there any research that proves that preservatives can be carcinogenic?

Yes, according to nih.gov (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5302962/), one study analyzed 60,627 cancer cases, and found that increased dietary nitrate (a type of preservative) intake was linked with an increased risk of developing adult glioma and thyroid cancers. Another study conducted in 2012 (https://www.curetoday.com/publications/cure/2014/fall2014/is-there-a-connection-between-food-preservatives-and-cancer) concluded that American women with the highest dietary nitrate intake have a 31 percent higher chance of developing ovarian cancer than the women with the lowest dietary nitrate intake. Researchers also know that nitrites (another type of preservative) can form nitrosamines, which are known to cause cancer. On top of this, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (http://www.healthfitnessrevolution.com/10-worst-preservatives-avoid/) states that increased exposure to sodium nitrate is linked to an increased risk of brain tumors, leukemia, and nose and throat tumors in children.

How can preservatives be avoided?

Don’t eat canned food and packaged foods as they generally contain preservatives that can be harmful to your health. Eat organic food and fresh fruits and vegetables instead. Don’t eat processed meat. If you are unsure whether a certain food item contains preservatives, check the food labels on the back to identify the preservatives found in the food. Prepare your own meals from scratch rather than buying frozen foods.