Additives such as monosodium glutamate, nitrates and sulfites have been linked to serious health concerns in the U.S. population -- including cancer, asthma and obesity, according to Real Age. Research from the Center for Science in the Public Interest as well as university-sponsored studies suggest that some food additives may have a negative social impact, in that they diminish the quality of life and health for Americans who consume them regularly. While nutrition ultimately remains a personal choice, certain food additives may be best left out of your diet altogether.
Obesity
As of 2010, 34 percent of American adults and 17 percent of American children carried dangerously high levels of excess weight, according to the "New York Times." A 2008 study conducted by University of North Carolina researchers and published in the journal "Obesity" suggested that the common food additive monosodium glutamate may promote obesity in those who ingest it regularly. Of the 752 women who participated in the study, the incidence of obesity was markedly higher in the women who ate monosodium glutamate every day.
Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome refers to a cluster of symptoms understood to significantly increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes and cancer, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. These risk factors include high blood glucose, high cholesterol, insulin resistance, fatty liver and increased visceral fat. A 2010 study conducted by Norwegian researchers and published in the journal "Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism" saw a correlation between soft drink intake and manifestation of metabolic syndrome. Soft drinks often contain significant levels of food additives, most notably sugars and sweeteners.
Cancer
Numerous food additives have been linked to certain cancers, including stomach and breast cancers, according to Real Age. Authors Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MD and Rebecca J. Stahl, MA recommend the avoidance of the following additives: artificial sweeteners such as acesulfame K, saccharine and aspartame, and preservatives such as BHA/BHT and nitrates. A 2003 study conducted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Research Laboratory of Public Health and published in the "Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan" saw a link between consumption of food additives and the proliferation of breast cancer cells.
Asthma
Carson-DeWitt and Stahl also recommend the avoidance of certain food additives such as sulfites and monosodium glutamate. These additives have been shown to cause asthma attacks or in extreme cases anaphylactic shock in certain populations, according to data compiled by the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
References
- Real Age: Food Additives: Friends or Foes; Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MD, et al.
- New York Times: Obesity Rates Hit Plateau in U.S., Data Suggest
- Obesity: Association of Monosodium Glutamate Intake with Overweight in Chinese Adults: The INTERMAP Study
- Harvard School of Public Health: Scientists Discover Molecular "Switch" That Contributes to Cellular Aging Process
- Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism: The Oslo Health Study: Soft Drink Intake is Associated with the Metabolic Syndrome
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