1. Smoked products, ready-to-eat meat and fish
Many food additives and preservatives that extend the shelf life and give an attractive color (!) Meat and fish “delicacies” make them unsuitable for sane people to eat, even if you do not take into account ethical, but only dietary aspects. If you or someone from your family, for whom you are forced to buy and cook, eats such dubious goodies, give preference to small producers – farm products.
2. Canned food, including fish
Tin cans are made using either aluminum or plastic, which contains the infamous chemical compound BPA (Bisphenol-A). This problem is especially acute in the case of canned foods containing liquid, such as tomato sauce or oils, such as canned fish, seaweed salad and even canned vegetables. Unfortunately, there is a high chance that the chemicals will seep into the contents of such a jar, that is, into your food. And someone else still thinks that canned tuna is a product of increased utility …
It is better to buy not canned food, but fresh or frozen products. At worst, when buying canned food, always look for the label “BPA-free” (does not contain bisphenol-A).
3. Oily fish
From a nutritional point of view, oily fish is considered to be healthy, because. contains a number of valuable amino acids. However, in recent decades, scientists have found that the levels of lead and aluminum in large fish (such as tuna) are off the charts. Moreover, heavy metals accumulate precisely in fish oil, which was previously given according to medical recommendations to children and patients. Large fish are at the top of the food chain, reaching for algae, which are highly susceptible to pollution problems. By eating small fish, large fish accumulate a large amount of heavy metals (and plastic fibers) in adipose tissue. Another reason why fish is not healthy! Moreover, this is a problem not only of wild fish (caught in the sea), but also grown in artificial conditions. Salmon and trout are the least dangerous in this sense.
4. Heavily processed, “industrial” vegetarian foods
Switched to a vegetarian diet? This is not a guarantee that you do not use chemicals. Unfortunately, many ready-to-eat foods and convenience foods from the supermarket shelves (including those that are formally 100% vegetarian) can contain harmful food additives. And these are not only all kinds of sweets, but also soy products.
5. Ready-made “fresh” seasonings
Many ready-made vegetarian seasonings are not useful, because. may contain sulfur dioxide (it is used to preserve freshness), as well as sugar and salt in large quantities. Seasonings such as fresh garlic, chili, ginger should not be bought ready-made, in the form of canned food or cuts: storing such “fresh” products often involves the use of chemicals. When buying other natural spices, you should also not lower your vigilance; you must carefully read the composition on the package. For example, sugar and ethanol are often added to vanilla extract.
6. Sauces
In ketchup, mayonnaise, salad dressings, mustard, all kinds of marinades and spicy preparations, manufacturers usually add sugar, salt and chemicals to preserve freshness and color, as well as vegetable (formally – vegan!) oil of the lowest quality. It is best to prepare sauces and seasonings at home whenever possible.
7. Dried fruits
Choose those dried fruits that look really dry. And the most “beautiful” “leave to the enemy”: they are most likely generously treated with sulfur dioxide. The best of dried fruits are sweetened with apple juice, dry, shriveled and opaque in appearance.
8. Margarine “light” butter
Many spreads – including “vegan” ones – contain a whole rainbow of not vitamins, but dyes, chemical flavors, emulsifiers and preservatives. By the sum of the components, such products are far from being healthy, although formally they do not contain animal components. In addition, margarine and similar spreads – and so most often containing indecently many carbohydrates – often add low-quality vegetable oil. Most margarine is made with the addition of artificially condensed vegetable oil, which contains trans fats, which are harmful.
9. Sweeteners
Nowadays it is fashionable to give up sugar. But at the same time, many alternatives to sugar can hardly be called healthy. Such “healthy” and “elite” sweeteners, like agave and stevia juice, as well as honey, in fact, often turn out to be heavily chemically processed, and not at all natural products. Solution? Choose reliable manufacturers and suppliers of sugar substitutes, look for organic, natural, etc. labels. Alternatively, use sweet fruits or honey from a trusted beekeeper as sweeteners – for example, for smoothies.
10. Carrageenan (E407)
This is a nutritional supplement that is obtained in a purely natural way, from seaweed. Later it is used to thicken low-fat products such as coconut and almond milk, and it is also found in sweets. By the sum of these factors, she, of course, is positioned as healthy. However, recently there is information about the harmfulness of carrageenan. So far, scientists do not have comprehensive information on this issue, but preliminary evidence suggests that carrageenan consumption is associated with digestive and other problems. Check the label and avoid this supplement if possible.