chemicals in your food making you fat/unhealthy

My understanding is FSSAI does very little in preventing the use of additives in India. We must know what these bad food additives are and just avoid them. Sharing as received from a friend. Even more important for those who have kids.

1. Monosodium glutamate (MSG)

MSG is added to food items to improve taste and cut down the cost of adding natural flavours. But this one is a harmful excitotoxin. As we belong to the 21st century and the market is flooded with processed and packaged foods we cannot avoid them in a long run. However, we can cut down on its intake to once a week. Since this particular ingredient is found in most of the processed foods and acts as an appetite stimulant, consumers should read labels carefully and make sure that their intake is not more than 1 gram in a week as the excitotoxin released may harm brain cells to a greater extent.

2. Aspartame

To replace natural sugars, aspartame is used. So the products that claim that they contain less or zero sugar make use of aspartame to give the sweet taste. This chemical disturbs the stomach bacteria which triggers weight gain. Phenylalanine and aspartic acid, the two components of this chemical stimulate insulin and leptons. As a result, the body stores energy in the form of either glycogens or fat. If given a chance this particular product should be erased from the market as it can be more harmful than white sugar. Loaded with artificial/synthetic substances it acts as a burden on the liver to eliminate its end products. There are various studies which have shown its side effects on the human body such as heart diseases, weight gain etc. Gestational diabetic mothers should especially avoid it for the side effects it has on the developing fetus. When one is craving for sweet, fruits are the best and healthiest option one can go for.

3. Bisphenol-A
BPA is found in canned or plastic containers of food. Now these foods are stored in the containers for a long period of time due to which the chemical slips into the food and eventually enters our body. This chemical fosters the growth of fat cells in our body. BPA escapes the body easily but over consumption of it can increase risk of low metabolism. BPA cannot be totally avoided but we can definitely switch over to other options such as making use of glass, porcelain or stainless steel containers particularly for hot food or liquids whenever it is possible. Since babies are most vulnerable to the side effects of bisphenol-A, one should make sure to use baby bottles that are BPA free. One should not microwave it or eliminate the use of canned products as much as possible to reduce its side effects on the body.

4. Mercury
This one is usually found in farm fishes and high-fructose corn syrups. Mercury is a highly toxic chemical which if consumed regularly can lead to substantial weight gain over time. This happens due to the fact that mercury slows down metabolism significantly. As a result, you end up gaining weight. The highest concentration of mercury is found in sea fishes. When talking about its usage in other food products it can still be avoided as it affects brain health and functioning. One cannot avoid fish, however, can choose the ones which have low mercuric levels such as shrimp, salmon, tuna etc. For people who reside in areas where mercury poisoning is common and found in seafood, one should get mercury test done at regular intervals. more