16 of the most dangerous food additives

1. Artificial sweeteners – Popular varieties include aspartame and saccharin; aspartame is a neurotoxin  linked to lower IQ, brain tumors, MS, fatigue and fibromyalgia; saccharin is  linked to weight gain and bladder tumors in rats.
2. Potassium  bromate – Increases volume in baked goods; known to cause cancer in animals;  small amount may be dangerous to humans; banned in Europe, Canada and  China.
3. Olestra – Fat substitute; causes diarrhea and interferes  with the body’s ability to absorb vital nutrients; banned in the UK and  Canada.
4. Brominated vegetable oil – Helps retains flavor in  soda; accumulates in the body and causes memory and nerve problems; banned in 100 countries
5.  Caramel coloring – Coloring agent; sometimes made with ammonia;  classified as “known to cause cancer” in California.
6. Monosodium  glutamate (MSG) – Flavor enhancer; linked to headaches, nausea and  obesity.
7. High fructose corn syrup – Sweetener; number one  source of calories in the US; raises LDL and contributes to diabetes.
8.  Parabens – Used to prevent yeast and mold; may disrupt hormonal balance;  linked to lower sperm count and testosterone production in rats; found in breast  cancer tissue.
9. Sulfer dioxide – Preservative; destroys vitamins  B1 and E; linked to bronchial problems.
10. Butylated hydroxyanisole  (BHA) and butylated hydrozyttoluene (BHT) – Preservatives; form  cancer-causing compounds once inside the body; banned in parts of Europe and  Japan.
11. Sodium nitrate/sodium nitrite – Preservatives; highly  carcinogenic once inside the body; particularly toxic to the liver and  pancreas.
12. Sodium sulfite – Preservative; linked to asthma,  headaches, breathing problems and rashes.
13. Partially hydrogenated  vegetable oil – Multipurpose preservative and solidifying agent; lowers good  cholesterol, increases bad cholesterol and the risk for heart attack, stroke and  diabetes.
14. Azodicarbonamide – Flour bleaching agent; linked to  asthma; banned in Australia, the U.K. and Europe.
15. Food dyes -  Varieties include Blue #1 and #2, Red #3 and #40 and Yellow #6; linked to  behavioral problems and lower IQ in children and cancer in animal  studies
16. Indirect food  additives – Substances not directly added to food that still end up in  the final product; plastics and other packaging that come into contact with  food; substances in animal feed including pesticides, antibiotics and heavy  metals (including arsenic) and synthetic hormones injected into  animals. (NaturalNews)
Sources for this article include:
http://www.fda.gov
http://www.nlm.nih.gov
http://foodmatters.tv
http://eatthis.menshealth.com
http://www.sustainabletable.org
http://www.chemicalbodyburden.org
About the  author: See more health news articles by John  McKiernan at The Holistic  Truth