Have you ever wondered what’s really in the food you eat? Today, a whopping 73% of foods in the U.S. are ultra-processed. Unlike natural foods that grow from the earth, these items are made in factories with ingredients you might not even recognize.
This is why functional medicine encourages and teaches how to eat food that supports health, avoid foods that are known to cause health problems, and ask questions about the unknowns of newly added ingredients we don’t know enough about.
What’s Added to Our Food?
From preservatives to colors and flavors, our food is filled with additives. But it doesn’t stop there. We also have stabilizers, emulsifiers, and all sorts of agents to make food taste and feel better.
The FDA has a list of nearly 4,000 substances that can be added to what we eat.
Why So Many Additives?
People love tasty, convenient food. In the past, simple methods like using salt and vinegar were enough to keep food fresh.
Now, we rely on factory-made foods that last longer on shelves. Nutritional scientist say that only recently have we started paying attention to these additives.
Are These Additives Safe?
The FDA checks the safety of food additives through scientific reviews and tests. If they’re considered safe, they get added to our food. Many additives are “generally recognized as safe” or GRAS, which means they’ve been used for a long time without known problems.
But here’s the catch: there’s often no limit on how much can be added to food, and it’s up to manufacturers to decide how much is too much.
A notable example of a “GRAS” substance that has been overused in food is high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). High-fructose corn syrup is extensively utilized as a sweetener in numerous processed foods and beverages due to its cost-effectiveness and ability to enhance flavor and texture. However, its pervasive presence in the food industry has raised concerns about its potential health impacts, such as contributing to obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes
Today, you’ll see more and more food labels mention “no high-fructose corn syrup”, but as just one of over 4,000 additives the question remains: which others are being used too much or improperly?
Changing Times, Changing Diets
Back in the 1970s, when many additives got the green light, life was different. More meals were cooked at home with natural ingredients. Today, with so many ultra-processed foods, we’re eating way more additives than anyone expected.
Health Concerns on the Rise
Numerous studies have established a strong connection between the intake of ultra-processed foods and a range of serious health issues, including heart disease, mental disorders, and cancer.
For instance, an extensive review of multiple meta-analyses has demonstrated that diets high in ultra-processed foods are significantly associated with increased risks of cardiovascular disease, mental health disorders like anxiety and depression, and various forms of cancer.
Additionally, a systematic review found that a mere 10% increase in the consumption of ultra-processed foods is linked to a 14% higher risk of mortality, underscoring the severe health implications of these dietary choices.
This alarming evidence points to the critical need for public health measures aimed at reducing the consumption of ultra-processed foods to improve population health outcomes.
Phosphate Additives: A Closer Look
Phosphates are everywhere in processed foods. They do a lot, from improving texture to preserving color. But our bodies absorb them quickly, which can lead to health problems like bone loss and kidney issues.
Emulsifiers: Not as Harmless as Thought
Emulsifiers make food textures better, but they can mess with our gut health and even lead to inflammation. Some studies show that these additives could contribute to chronic diseases.
Long-Term Effects: What We Don’t Know Might Hurt Us
It’s not just about eating additives once in a while; it’s the large amounts over time that may cause harm. And when different additives mix, we don’t fully understand the potential risks.
Making Mindful Choices
Functional medicine providers agree: we’re not built to eat so many processed foods. It’s important to choose less processed options and balance them with natural foods like fruits and veggies.
In today’s world, finding real, unprocessed food is getting tougher. It seems like we’re all part of a big experiment with food additives. But by being aware and making smarter choices, functional medicine tools and resources can help us take control of what we eat and, hopefully, protect our health in the process.
Our licensed naturopathic doctor and experienced functional medicine practitioner offers comprehensive functional medicine consultations in Meridian / Boise, Idaho. Free discovery calls are available!
