Today, there is confusion on which foods are healthy, and which are not. Even though much of the food available in supermarkets are safe, not all of them are healthy so it is up to the consumers to identify if the food they'll buy would benefit their body or not.
Yahoo Health and Eat This, Not That! Magazine have identified some innocent foods that should be eradicated from the diet.
Though popcorn may be considered healthy due to its fiber content, the microwavable ones are in fact unhealthy. The bags of these popcorns are lined with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), the same material found in Teflon pots. This compound is now being questioned because it may cause infertility and learning impairment. Furthermore, the flavoring found inside these bags contains diacetyl (DA). DA has been found to destroy the layers of the cells that protect the brain.
Next, colorful candies might release the kid in you but not all candies are created equal. Of course, many parents know that candies might cause unhealthy effects to the children like oral cavities and obesity. However, the more colorful ones may cause serious harm. A few years back, studies discovered that food colorings Yellow no. 5 and Yellow no. 6 may cause ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in children. Also, some food colorings may also provoke allergy bouts.
Who does not love their jam and jellies? But those products with added sugars may actually do harm to the body. Added sugars, no matter how much they are, may lead to many diseases including diabetes and obesity. Eating raw raspberries or strawberries are better because they contain natural antioxidants that ward off free radicals and diseases.
Diet sodas or sodas claiming they contain artificial sweeteners actually contain BPA or synthetic estrogen. Well, this can also be found in flame retardants. This is used to soften the plastic lines in cans and has been claimed to be a human carcinogen.
Cereals have always been thought to be healthy for kids. They are given for breakfast and are dubbed as energizers in the morning. Cereals today are fortified with sugar and are loaded with flavorings. Also, their colors are caused by Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) or BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole), which are banned in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan due to them being carcinogenic.
Drinking coffee is better with the creamer. However, aside from creamer containing empty calories, it also contains titanium dioxide, an ultraviolet radiation blocker that doubles as a whitening agent. This is the main ingredient found in sun block creams. This compound has been proven to cause liver damage in mice.
Lastly, with the fast paced life today, many people resort to processed meats such as sausages, hot dogs and bacon. They can be fattening and can increase the risk for diabetes.