Page 74 - The Autoimmune Protocol

The Autoimmune Protocol

in large quantities. This is a problem, because many people eat processed foods daily,
sometimes for every meal.

The high amounts of preservatives consumed are correlated with the development of high
blood pressure, heart issues, and even cancer. Not all preservatives are bad. Sometimes,
opting for frozen foods can reduce your chances of purchasing a food filled with
preservatives. That said, it is still best to read labels and understand what to look for in
food. The following preservatives have been shown to affect the body negatively: sulfites,
trans fats, partially hydrogenated oils, sodium nitrates, and butylated hydroxyanisole.

Preservatives called sulfites may worsen autoimmune issues and have been shown to
trigger asthma. The FDA banned the use of sulfites on fresh fruits and vegetables, but that
doesn’t mean they aren’t in a wide array of other foods. When reading labels, look for
terms like sulfur dioxide, potassium bisulfite, sodium bisulfite or sodium sulfite. These
are all types of sulfites.

Trans fats have already been mentioned, and thankfully these damaging substances have
been banned in the United States after they were shown to be strongly linked to heart
disease. The same goes for partially hydrogenated oils.

Sodium nitrate is added to meat to enhance the color, as well as the flavor. Nitrates are
particularly dangerous when they are heated. This poses a problem when nitrates hit your
stomach acid. Stomach acid is strong and interacts with the sodium nitrate to create a
dangerous substance called nitrosamines. These nitrosamines have been linked to the
development of colon and pancreatic cancer.

Butylated hydroxyanisole is also referred to as BHA. It is a solid that has been used to help
preserve lard, meat, and butter. It is supposed to help prevent food from going rancid,
and while it may do this, it may also be a carcinogen. More studies need to be conducted
to prove this, but in the meantime, it may be best to avoid or seriously limit BHA. BHA is
also found in chips, cereals, cookies, and vegetable oils.

A great way to avoid potentially dangerous preservatives that harm the body and possibly
trigger autoimmune issues is to buy non-packaged/boxed foods. Also, reading labels and
educating yourself on dangerous ingredients is important. Try shopping local, opting to

buy your foods at farmer’s markets as well.

Food Coloring
Food coloring may seem harmless, but many food colorings are linked to a number of
serious autoimmune and health issues. Each color contains different chemicals that affect
different areas of the body. Research is continuing to emerge showing the dangers of food
coloring.

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