Food Additivies and Obesity

Food additives, such as food colorings and preservatives, may have many negative health effects, including increasing intestinal permeability and the probability of proteins inappropriately entering the bloodstream. When this happens, an immune response is mounted, and symptoms occur. 

Another risk of food additives is obesity. Many food additives are excitotoxins. Excitotoxins drive overconsumption because they 1) alter the microbiome balance to favor more pathogenic microbes that may influence food cravings, and 2) change the taste and consistency of food to make it more irresistible. Both these factors can encourage overeating that has nothing to do with natural hunger. Just one more reason why it is good to cook at home with real whole-food ingredients that don’t contain additives!

Here is a chart from the Environmental Working Group with a few food additives and the health concerns they cause. Food Additives and Health Concerns