19 Grocery Items Containing More Chemicals Than Nutrients
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When you go grocery shopping, you’re shopping for fuel to power you through day-to-day. This doesn’t mean that everything on the shelves is made with your health in mind. Worse, some are chock full of artificial additives, preservatives, and synthetic ingredients that you question…’ is this even still food?’.
Nearly 60% of the American diet comes from ultra-processed foods, according to a 2020 study published in the medical journal The BMJ. Here are 19 grocery items that you might want to avoid, as they contain more chemicals than nutrients. After reading this—spoiler alert —you may need to check your pantry.
Processed Cheese Slices
Processed cheese slices may melt beautifully on a burger, but they’re far from natural. Some varieties barely qualify as cheese; they are packed with phosphates, emulsifiers, and artificial colors.
Even more shockingly, as little as 51% of the content is actual cheese! Try swapping this out for a slice of fresh cheddar or mozzarella.
Soda
In fact, soda could be called liquid candy. This drink is more chemical than refreshing, thanks to high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, and phosphoric acid
Oh, and that caffeine and sugar combo? Bad for your body. Instead, opt for fizzy water infused with fresh fruits. It’s just as fizzy, just a lot better for you!
Energy Drinks
Energy drinks are loaded with caffeine, taurine, guarana, and artificial sweeteners – but they’re not really performance enhancers; they’re chemical cocktails.
One can also have as much caffeine as three cups of coffee! Try green tea or a handful of nuts for natural energy when you need a boost.
Bottled Smoothies
Bottled smoothies look healthy, but they aren’t. For instance, many brands use lots of sugar, preservatives, and synthetic colorants.
Make your own with real fruits, veggies, and a blender: It’s healthier, fresh, simple, and you can control the level of sweetness.
Fruit Snacks
Some of these very colorful, gummy treats might have smiling fruits pictured on the package, but the ‘fruit’ inside may be M.I.A.
Instead, you’ll find artificially flavored and dyed gelatin. Trade them in for some real fruit slices or homemade dried fruit for a snack you can trust.
Microwave Popcorn
And while there’s something soothing about the popping sounds, most microwave popcorn comes with its own bag of chemicals. Diacetyl is a common compound that’s linked to respiratory problems and gives the buttery flavor.
They may also be loaded with PFOA, a chemical you don’t want in your food or your lungs. If you’d like to reduce calories a bit, try using an air popper.
Packaged Cookies
While those chocolate chip cookies in shiny packages may be tempting, they are jam-packed with artificial flavors, preservatives, and trans fats. Need a fix? Make your own cookies from home with natural ingredients; the buttery smell alone will be worth it.
Snack Bars
While most are marketed as healthy and convenient, many snack bars are anything but. They are often loaded with artificial sweeteners, gelatin, and preservatives such as potassium sorbate, and they also contain more ingredients than you can pronounce.
Choose bars made with whole-food ingredients, or try to make your energy bites at home.
Non-Dairy Whipped Toppings
A lot of times, the pillowy texture of whipped toppings is a result of hydrogenated oils and synthetic emulsifiers, not cream. Try whipping down coconut cream or stick to simple, real whipped cream for something equally delicious.
Flavored Yogurts
Yogurts with flavors are a sweet trap. They’re loaded with high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, stabilizers — and carbs.
To save calories, start with plain yogurt and mix in honey, fresh fruit, or a dusting of cinnamon — they add flavor without taking away good nutrition.
Processed Meats
Think of hot dogs, sausages, and deli meats. Sodium nitrate and nitrite are used to preserve these, and high-heat cooking is known to form harmful compounds called nitrosamines.
The World Health Organization even considers processed meat a Group 1 carcinogen. Try to stick with fresh cuts of chicken or turkey or any plant-based protein like lentils or black beans.
Artificial Creamers
Bear in mind that non-dairy creamers are essentially a synthetic park of play at the hands of hydrogenated oils and various chemical flavors. If you are dairy-free, then almond, oat, or soy milk are more wholesome ways to lighten your coffee.
Instant Noodles
Sold as an easy, dorm-room hero, instant noodles are nutritional nightmares—packed with sodium and MSG and an ingredient equally yucky: tertiary-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), a preservative derived from petroleum.
For a healthier dash, replace them with whole-grain or buckwheat noodles.
Frozen Dinners
Long shelf life means sacrificing nutrition in frozen dinners. Often, they are loaded with preservatives and sodium, leaving you bloated and not satisfied.
It’s way better to meal-prep homemade foods and freeze them.
Canned Soups
Convenient? Yes. Healthy? Not so much. Many canned soups come loaded with sodium, MSG, and even BPA from the lining of the can.
Make a fresh batch at home with whole ingredients.
Store-Bought Salad Dressings
Know what that creamy concoction on your salad is? It probably has high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, and preservatives such as sodium benzoate.
And you can whip up a simple vinaigrette with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and herbs—it’s tastier and better for you, too.
Margarine
The star of the world of ‘healthy’ butter swaps, margarine, is now infamous for its supply of trans fats, artificial colors, and emulsifiers. A much cleaner alternative would be real butter, avocado, or olive oil spreads.
Breakfast Cereals
Kids’ cereals are brightly colored and contain high sugar, artificial dyes, and flavors, but not much else. A better way to kickstart your day is by having whole-grain oatmeal with fresh fruit.
Boxed Macaroni and Cheese
That vibrant orange powder? Artificial dyes are what really take the spotlight here; it’s more science experiment than cheese.
Make your homemade mac and cheese using real cheese and pasta for a dish that tastes better, and that’s better for you.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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