Toxic food additives we love to eat

This week I would like to jump onto my soapbox and rant a bit about food. More specifically, toxic food additives we love to eat.

The United States has been a leader in world food production and cutting-edge food science for many years. But when it comes to what we eat, we are not very wise with our chemically enhanced food ingredients.

Recently, Subway announced it would remove azodicarbonamide from its bread recipes. This chemical is also known as ADA and is used to enhance elasticity in yoga mats, among other things. So how have we come to the point where our food production and supply has become so chemically dependant?

With metabolic syndrome, obesity and digestive disorders on the rise and cancer risks that are linked to foods additives and obesity, you would think we would be making this a health priority to correct or minimize these factors.

Let's take a look at the following 10 most notorious food additives we should try to avoid.

* Sodium nitrate: This additive can also cause the formation of nitrosamines in your body, which have known links to cancer.

* MSG: An amino acid widely used in many processed foods as a flavor enhancer. MSG is a known excitotoxin, a substance that can cause cell damage in the human body. Many people have adverse reactions to MSG, and studies have shown that consumption of MSG can lead to anaphylaxis, fatigue, headaches and weight gain.

* High fructose corn syrup (HFCS): This sweetener is used in the vast majority of processed foods. New studies have shown a clear connection between consuming HFCS and the development of diabetes and tissue damage.

* Trans fats: These were developed to help extend the shelf-life of processed food. Trans fats are heavily used in the process of cooking fast foods and in the manufacturing of processed foods. A process called hydrogenation, where corn, vegetable and seed oils are chemically altered from a liquid state into solid shortening state, forms trans fats.

* Potassium Bromate: an additive used to increase volume in some heavily processed refined flour, breads and rolls. Potassium bromate has been linked to cancer, and even small amounts have been shown to cause health issues for humans.

* Artificial food dyes and colorings: Some have been linked to toxicity concerns and may cause behavioral changes in some children. A double-blind study done in Britain and supported by a similar Harvard study showed that removing foods and beverages that contain artificial food coloring helped relieve the symptoms of children diagnosed with ADHD.

Many of these dyes and colors are found in soda, fruit juices, candy and boxed pasta products. In the United States, the FDA's approved list of these food dyes include Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Green No. 3, Red No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5 and Yellow No. 6. A number of these dyes that are approved in the U.S. are banned in a number of European countries.

* Aspartame and Acesulfame-K: Relatively new artificial sweeteners found in many food products. They are considered neuro-toxic chemicals that can lead to nerve damage, dizziness and headaches. It is well understood that aspartame works like a pesticide, as the asparctic acid contained in it is an excitotoxin and can stop an ant problem in its path.

* Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydrozyttoluene (BHT): These are widely used as preservatives, and are found in cereals, meal packs, chips, candy products and vegetable oils. These chemical preservatives have been shown to affect the human neurological system. Both chemicals are considered oxidants, which have been linked development of cancer in the human body.

* Sulfur Dioxide: This additive is toxic and the FDA prohibits its use on raw fruit and vegetables. Sulfur dioxide is still found in many products like dried fruit, soft drinks and wine.

* Bovine Somatotropin (BST): This protein hormone is naturally produced in the pituitary glands of cattle. In 1993, genetically engineered E. coli bacteria developed the recombinant version called rBGH/rBST. There have been a number of studies that have shown an association between dairy consumption and breast cancer in pre-menopausal women. Many products are now marked with "no rBGH" on their packaging.

Every week I try to cover health and fitness areas that will improve your quality of life. I have placed a very high priority on staying active, being mindful and reducing stress in your life. Food and nutrition, however, is the one thing you need to pay the most attention to for a healthy lifestyle. You are what you eat, and food drives all our bodies' systems, so fuel your body with natural whole foods. Read food labels, watch what your children are eating and avoid highly processed foods.

Judd Jones is a director for the Hagadone Corporation.