Social Media Post
5 of the Web's Most Hated Ingredients
Key Takeaway
Today's health landscape has painted countless ingredients in a less-than-favorable light. However, the FDA regularly continues to approve these ingredients, deeming them safe for consumption. Are these ingredients truly safe, and if so, where is the disconnect?
Digging Deeper into These Ingredients
High Fructose Corn Syrup has gained a worse reputation when compared to traditional cane sugar. This is partly because High Fructose Corn Syrup is commonly used in processed foods. However, studies have shown little difference in how the body processes High Fructose Corn Syrup in comparison to cane sugar.
Source: Nebraska Medicine
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Red 40 Dye
Red 40 Dye has received a negative reputation because of perceived side effects. In recent years, Red 40 has been found to increase hyperactivity in children with ADHD. Additionally, studies have been completed suggesting a causal link between cancer, DNA damage, and the dye. Red 40 may also trigger allergic reactions in some.
Sources: Cleveland Clinic and National Library of Medicine
MSG has been thought to cause headaches, tingling, and palpitations in some individuals. However, in controlled studies, researchers have found no provable link between these side effects and MSG. Some people may experience a reaction to foods containing MSG, but there is no large-scale evidence proving that MSG causes those reactions.
Source: Maryland Primary Care Physicians and Harvard
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
Seed oils have recently received negative publicity, being blamed for increased obesity. However, seed oils are primarily comprised of unsaturated fats. Because of this, researchers have consistently found a lower risk of high cholesterol and other health issues in individuals who choose such oils.
Source: Standford Medicine
Seed Oils
Aspartame has been studied for a potential link to certain cancer types. Because of this potential link, aspartame has become one of the most studied sweeteners on the market. The FDA has consistently found no evidence to support a link between Aspartame and other health issues. These repetitive findings have given scientists the confidence to continue approving the product.
Source: FDA
Aspartame
Takeaways
Understand the Facts
Conduct Your Research
Make Educated Decisions
Like so many other areas in today's health market, ingredients have become a polarizing topic. Before making decisions, check the source to see if bias or emotion is influencing the information presented.
The research above provides a neutral context and explains conceptions surrounding key ingredients. We hope this information is useful for you, but we also hope it empowers you to conduct deeper research if you feel you need to.
Today's health environment is so often littered with personal opinions and theories. We challenge you to remove personal opinions and truly research the patterns, lifestyle, and ingredients that support your family's well-being.