How often do you hear your parents saying “Don’t eat this, it is all junk food”? Very often right, yes we all are crazy about finger licking fast food that is available in the markets. It has lots of sauces, spices, fried food, oils and many other things. But usually people do not know that these fast foods also contain a lot of toxic substances or ingredients in them that makes it so tasty. Exactly, it is not the food or vegetables, etc in it that is making you go crazy about junk food, it is actually presence of harmful compounds that stick to your taste buds in such a way that you want to have it again. Today we will tell you about 5 of these ingredients you must avoid.
Junk Food Nutrition
We all know somewhere down the line that junk food is not nutritious or health for our body but we still eat it. We spoke to Ms. Shilpa Singh, Clinical Nutritionist from Fatima Hospital, Lucknow to know about fast foods. She told that most of the fast foods contain high calorie fat, cholesterol, sodium, sugar and carbs that have various side effects on the body. Eating these foods actually cause weight gain, heart disease, diabetes and depression, etc. It also has some secret ingredients that nobody tells you about that create the big damage to your health.
5 Toxic Ingredients in Fast Food
1. Potassium Bromate
This is an additive that is tossed up in a lot of recipes. It looks like flour and hence nobody knows that you are mixing potassium bromated into the products. This compound is used in baking products such as cakes, breads and other bakery items. When used in small amount, it cannot be distinguished and gives out a very appropriate taste. This can cause cancer, and there have been many cases that people have ended with mouth, esophageal or stomach cancer. Food administrative department has banned the use of it in food products in many states.
2. Propylene Glycol
It is a colorless compound that does not occur in the naturally. This is banned by food departments for use in caking products or baking items. However it is used widely in soft drinks, marinades, dressings, seasoning, baked goods, frosting and frozen dairy products. This is not as high risk products but contains high toxicity but it can also result to potential health complications. People taking in this compound have kidney issues and food poisoning as most occurring health issues. This ingredient is also used in making cosmetics, anti-freeze agents and non-food products.
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3. TBHQ in Food
Full form of TBHQ is tertiary butylhydroquinone which is used to stop spoiling of oils and fats. This is used on a big scale in most of the fast food items and in restaurants to preserve food for longer usage. Fast foods usually have this in their food for the food to last long and earn more profits. This causes a number of health complications. It affects your gut health, breaks your immune response and alters the positive effects of probiotic in the diet.
4. Use of calcium Sulfate
This is another type of anti-caking agent that is used in making dough of the baked items. This is a colorless ingredient that is used in rolls, bakery products and other things to make it more fluffy and attractive. It strengthens that dough that prevents them from having it in excessive amounts. Consuming large amount of sulfate in your diet can actually affect your digestive system on a long term. This same compound is actually used in construction work such as tiles and plaster. Just think about the side-effects of eating this compound in your diet.
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5. Phosphate Additives
It is used in soda, flavored water, packaged meat, processed cheese and chicken fried dishes to make it tastier. Just adding some additives in the food can make the food taste delicious which attracts more customers to it. However it is very bad for your health and can cause kidney disorders, affect bones and put negative effect on heart health. High intake of this substance while having such drinks and fried chicken can cause serve complications on your health.
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