Additives, Preservatives and Fillers

In our society over the last few years it seems that there has been some sort of a Health Food Craze, and for good reason. With all the diseases that seem to be appearing, and with everyone knowing at least one person who has cancer, it seems there are more discoveries of these cancers being linked to chemicals that have been added to the foods that we eat.

Additives, Preservatives and Fillers, three forms of chemicals that are added to our foods for multiple purposes, that for the most part, we don’t even realize could be harmful to us.

Additives are added to foods to preserve flavour or improve its taste and appearance. As stated by Health Canada, any chemical substance that is added to food during preparation or storage and either becomes a part of the food or affects its characteristics, for the purpose of achieving a particular technical affect, is considered an additive.

``Preservatives can be natural or synthetic substances, chemicals that are added to food to prevent decomposition by microbial growth or by undesired chemical changes, as well, to avoid spoilage during transportation time.``(http://www.foodadditivesworld.com/preservatives.html)

``Fillers are additives that help bulk up the weight of food with less expensive ingredients which helps keep the price down. `` (http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/food-fillers-101.htm)

``Some of the immediate effects of chemicals and additives in your food may cause headaches or alter your energy level, or they may affect your mental concentration, behaviour, or immune response. Those with long-term effects could increase your risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and other degenerative conditions. Avoiding additives in your diet is an important step toward enhancing your health and lowering your risk of disease. `` Says Eve V. Allen, Ph.D., N.D.c in her article ``How Food Additives Affect our Health. ``

Some of the worst food additives include: Aspartame –which may cause brain damage in phenylketonurics; may cause central nervous system disturbances, menstrual difficulties; may affect brain development in an unborn fetus. As well as; Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils - associated with heart disease, breast and colon cancer, atherosclerosis, elevated cholesterol. (For a Full List check out: http://www.healthyeatingadvisor.com/food-labels.html)

As a student intern at Sunshine Farms I was surprised to learn that all their pickles are Additive, Preservative and Filler free! Who would have thought there could actually be food in existence with such credentials? The first time I tried the products, it felt nice knowing that I was eating a product that was good for me, and didn’t contain harmful chemicals. It was a product I felt safe giving to my family, if only there were more products like it.

~ Pickle Blogger

Sound Off! What are your thoughts on all the additives that are in our foods today? Have you found other products that are Additive, Preservative and Filler free?