1. Flavoring

It can be natural or artificial, and neither is truly good for you. The only real distinction between these two food ingredients you should avoid is their price tag. Natural flavors are costlier than artificial ones because they sound healthier and require more physical work to obtain. Regardless, it’s still the exact same compound either way. These flavors usually aren’t too harmful on their own, but their presence raises a crucial question: why are they needed in the first place? Chances are they are simply masking something harmful and bitter on the ingredient list.

2. Coloring

Have you ever imagined what food would look like if it wasn’t dyed? Processing food often strips it of color, hence the widespread use of petroleum derivatives like Blue No. 1, Red No. 40, and more. According to research published by the National Institutes of Health, artificial dyes can be linked to behavioral issues and allergies. Also, be wary of a coloring known as carmine: it’s actually a bug powder used to make food red. Personally, I would prefer to avoid both of these options entirely! These artificial colorings are often paired with natural or artificial flavoring to mask the taste of highly processed foods.

3. Palm Oil

Many have heard about the dangers of trans fats, but don’t forget about the others! Just because it ends with "oil" doesn’t mean these compounds are better than the feared trans fat. Palm oil is particularly deceptive because it’s used as a trans fat substitute, but studies have shown that it can be just as bad for your cardiovascular health. Furthermore, palm tree deforestation has become a critical global concern, prompting organizations like the World Wildlife Fund to campaign heavily for sustainable sourcing. Numerous species have become threatened or worse due to the high demand for the oil palms that make this product.

4. Any Zero-Calorie Sweetener

Each of these possibly cancer-causing sweeteners has a story to tell, and none of them involve long-term weight loss. That’s because a sweet taste with zero nutrition causes the body to crave carbohydrates, promote fat storage, and disrupt metabolic health. Aspartame, for example, is metabolized into formaldehyde, which is the same chemical used to embalm dead things. Sucralose is another interesting compound because research shows that it is accumulating in our waters and fish. This happens to many ingredients we can’t metabolize, which might hurt us later on.

Some of the most common zero-calorie sweeteners you will find in processed products include:

5. Mechanically Separated Meat

Everyone has seen that picture on the internet, the one that looks like strawberry soft serve but is actually processed beef or poultry. While many institutions responded to the initial public outcry and refrained from its usage, many products still contain this frightening meat derivative. Think about the shape of normal meat. Now look at hot dogs or that frozen packet of dinosaur-shaped nuggets. These items were mechanically separated and then molded into unnatural shapes. When you are grocery shopping, choosing healthy packaged foods that list whole, unprocessed meats is always a safer and cleaner choice.

6. Sodium Benzoate

This chemical is commonly found in fizzy drinks and fruit juices. It’s used as a preservative, which sounds good in theory, right? However, preservatives keep food fresh by killing the resident lifeforms. Sodium benzoate is a preservative that can shut down energy production in cells. Also, the body breaks it down into benzene, a compound found in gasoline that can cause cancer. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) limits its concentration in beverages to ensure basic safety, but it's still best avoided whenever possible.

7. Dimethylpolysiloxane

I saved this one for last because it’s absolutely comical. This complex chemical compound has various industrial uses, including acting as a breast-implant filler. Surprisingly, fast food joints use this as an anti-foaming agent for frying chicken. To be fair, it’s used in frying oils to prevent splattering, but there’s a significant ick factor to consider. I know it’s supposed to be chicken breast, but isn’t the use of implant filler taking it too far? This synthetic compound is frequently added to frying oil for fast food chicken nuggets, which often also feature mechanically separated meat.

With the majority of our foods containing 40 ingredients or more, it’s hard to avoid every toxic ingredient out there. Just don’t give up trying! If you are looking for simple ways to begin cleaning up your diet, check out these easy ways to detox your body and reset your system. To keep your shopping simple, try to keep these three golden rules in mind:

Has anyone else heard of any strange food ingredients that we should avoid? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!