Ingredients to Watch Out For at the Grocery Store
Reading the ingredient list on food packaging should be the NUMBER ONE habit we all adopt, because our health literally depends on it.
Around 95% of food products at the grocery store (even a large amount of those in "healthy" grocery stores) contain chemicals, fillers, and toxic ingredients that are detrimental to our health.
Next time you pick up a simple product like chipotle mayo, take a look at the ingredient list. See how many items you can't even recognize. Chipotle mayo should only contain eggs, olive oil, vinegar, and chipotle spice. But nowadays, you'll often find a 20-ingredient list filled with chemical additives.
This is why I advocate so strongly for making your own food at home—because store-bought food is literally harming us. Some store-bought products are fine, but most aren’t.
Common Ingredients to Watch Out For:
Natural Flavors: These are one of the biggest tricks because they're not truly natural at all. They're chemical flavorings, but companies can label them as "natural" because there are no standards or regulations for that word! "Natural" doesn't have to mean anything, there are no rules.
Citric Acid: Citric acid used to come from citrus fruits, but now it's often made from mold (which is toxic, even in small amounts) because it is cheaper. Most food companies opt for this cheaper, synthetic version. And, as we know, food companies prioritize profit over health, so they go for what's cheapest.
Sodium Benzoate: A preservative that can cause issues like allergic reactions and other health concerns. When mixed with citrus, it creates carcinogenic compounds (which cause cancer) and ironically enough you’ll find this ingredient in most items that have citrus added to them.
Canola Oil/Vegetable Oil/Sunflower Oil: These highly processed oils that use chemicals to make them, plus they are inflammatory as they’re high in omega-6 fats, and when exposed to heat create carcinogenic compounds (again, which cause cancer).
High Fructose Corn Syrup/Cane Sugar: These are highly processed/refined sugars that spike blood sugar levels and contribute to weight gain, diabetes, hormone imbalances, and other health issues.
Food Colorings: Artificial food colourings are chemicals that cause inflammation, weaken the immune system, and are even linked to cancer. They also cause behavioral issues in children like ADHD and allergic reactions.
While this list doesn't cover all harmful ingredients commonly found in food products (there are many more), these are some of the most common offenders that can show up even in products that appear "healthy."
