Food Preservatives & Rapid Aging, What You Need to Know

 I am sure everyone who is reading this has heard of food preservatives, and we may even know they are bad for us, but do we know exactly what food preservatives are, and how they are affecting our health and aging process?

Food preservatives are exactly that, they are substances that are added to foods to preserve the longevity of the food. They are found in so many of the foods that we eat on a daily basis, and we usually don’t give a thought to it. Preservatives work to preserve food in a few different ways. Some prevent the growth of bacteria and mold. Others prevent delicate fats from going rancid. Foods that contain preservatives are generally highly processed, and less nutritious than natural whole foods.

Some of the preservatives used in processed foods are salt and nitrates which are commonly found in processed meats, such as luncheon meats, and bacon. Nitrates aren’t necessarily bad for you, but when cooked at high heat, nitrates produce nitrosamines which are very bad for you. Nitrosamines in low, limited exposure can also cause diabetes, fatty liver disease and obesity. They have also been linked to Parkinson's disease. Nitrosamines can cause DNA damage, cell death and have been associated with insulin resistance.

Food preservatives also contain BHA and BHT food additives which could be cancer causing. BHT is used in cereals and fats while BHA could be present in potatoes, meats and other baked goods.

Eating preservatives over time will wreak havoc on the body. Over time food preservatives can cause asthma, and or bronchitis. In children, hyperactivity is a huge issue caused by food preservatives. Many times just by eliminating or at least cutting back on food preservatives will bring a child back into a less hyperactive state, and that can be all that was needed to correct the behavioral problem. No medicine necessary! Always look to the obvious, before resorting to taking a pill to mask just mask the problem not eliminate it.

Even very health conscious individuals who are well aware of the food preservatives that are being consumed on a daily basis may choose to ignore the food labels on the box, bag, or wrapping. It’s just so easy to ignore, and we know they are bad for us, but in our fast-paced lifestyle sometimes it’s just so easy to have food that has been prepared and preserved in a factory that can be taken out of the freezer or refrigerator and put on the table in less than 15 or 20 minutes. But there is a price for that convenience, and you have to decide if the convenience is worth the price of your health and accelerating the aging process. Let’s take a look.

Red meat has high level of carnitine which can harden vascular walls, causing skin to crease prematurely, not to mention what it does to the heart. Charring red meat serves as a carcinogenic. Luncheon meats and hot dogs are pro- inflammatory. The inflammatory reactions can trigger conditions such as rosacea, or make the skin look ruddy in some areas and shallow in others.

Salt can have a bloating effect when consumed in excess, and that excess salt consumption can increase puffiness around the eyes as well as wrinkles in areas of the body that have thinner layers of skin. Salt’s dehydrating effects negatively impact the appearance of skin anywhere on the body. Avoiding adding salt to foods and reducing processed foods can go a long way in reducing its impact.

The old saying “You are what you eat” is truly is 100% correct. The way we eat, and what we eat will impact our bodies and our minds in so many ways. Eat trans fats, food preservatives, salty processed foods and over time you will see the effect it takes on the body. Processed foods and unhealthy diet and lifestyle will impact organs, bones, connective tissues, fat stores and muscle. Eaten on a regular basis over time seem to accelerate the aging process.

The body no longer has the energy and zest it once had because the body is being drained of its energy to help rid it of the toxins. The body has to work very hard to detox, and yet we keep adding more and more in which makes the body work harder, and hence you are always tired and the mind has difficulty remaining focused and is not longer able to problem solve as quickly as it used to. The reason is that the toxins are stagnant in the body and draining all of its resources. Plaque is forming and that’s the start of dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.

The opposite is also true. Nourish your body with whole foods that are loaded with natural vitamins, proteins, healthy fats, and fiber and the body will operate at optimal health and wellness. Food is our energy source needed in order for us to run efficiently every day. We do this by adding the best fuel process to keep us running at optimal capacity with great ease. We all deserve the right to be healthy, and a very big part of staying healthy is in our own hands, and we can improve and heal with the right tools and guidance.

For anyone having trouble getting started on their health journey in need of some advice and encouragement, I am here for you. For a limited time, I am offering a free 30-minute health assessment. If after the assessment I feel it is in my scope of practice to help you, I am offering the next 3 Health Coaching Sessions free with no obligation to continue after that.