Today in supermarkets you can find a huge number of diverse products in which it is easy enough to get confused. Vivid packaging, seductive pictures, shiny labels, plus all this is complemented by promotional price tags, and we make a purchase. Stop, first you need to carefully study the packaging, namely the composition of this product. The less different incomprehensible words in it, the better. For example, GOST condensed milk contains only natural milk and sugar, but the same product, but produced according to TU, has a completely different composition. It contains stabilizers and emulsifiers, as well as various substances labeled E. Today we’ll talk about them: everyone should have a table of harmful food additives at hand to prevent them from being eaten.
What are the various nutritional supplements used for?
First of all, you should be wary of the "E" markings - they denote food additives that are used worldwide as preservatives and stabilizers, flavor and aroma enhancers, thickeners and disintegrants. All this is necessary to improve the appearance and nutritional properties of the product, as well as increase its shelf life.
Why do we need a table of harmful food additives and are all substances labeled "E" harmful? No, there are neutral, harmful and even dangerous ones, and therefore it is important for each of us to know them and be able to distinguish them. After all, the quality and duration of our lives strongly depend on what we eat. The more vitamins and minerals in the diet and the less “chemistry”, the better.
Natural or artificial
Despite the assurances of the manufacturers, almost all additives are artificial, which means they are potentially dangerous. These are chemicals of synthetic origin. If we consider that even the safest of them sometimes cause a reaction in especially sensitive people, then it is clear that the table of harmful food additives should be known to everyone. However, there is one more subtlety: far from all manufacturers warn you that additives with an index "E" are present in their product. Often dispensed with general phrases like "does not contain artificial colors and flavors." Others note the presence of stabilizers and thickeners, but do not indicate which additives were used. In this case, there is only one way out: to refuse the purchase and choose a more honest manufacturer. This is especially important if the product is imported, because no one will guarantee that there are no prohibited products in its composition. Perhaps this will allow you to take a different look at goods in supermarkets, because, despite the attractive appearance, almost all of them contain preservatives.
What does the numeric code next to the letter "E" mean
Below we will consider what the table of harmful food additives includes, but for now let's look at what these mysterious numbers mean. If the code starts with one, then you have a dye. All preservatives begin at 2, the number 3 stands for antioxidants - they are used to slow down or prevent product damage. All 4 are stabilizers, substances that help maintain the consistency of the product in the required form. The number 5 indicates emulsifiers, they work in conjunction with stabilizers and preserve the structure of the product. Amplifiers of taste and aroma, which create notes and shades so beloved by us, start at 6. Special products that prevent foaming are added to some products, they are marked with the number 9. If you have a four-digit index in front of you, this indicates the presence of sweeteners in the composition. Realities of life show that one needs to know unhealthy nutritional supplements ("E"). The table will help you in time to identify foods that are not worth consuming.
Such different food additives "E"
Behind this marking can be hidden quite harmless and even useful substances, for example, plant extracts. This is all known acetic acid (E260). Relatively safe additives of E can be considered baking soda (E500), calcium carbonate or ordinary chalk (E170) and many others.
However, there are many more harmful substances than useful ones. You are mistaken if you think that they include only artificial additives, natural ones also sin with a negative effect on the body. Moreover, the more often they are used, the stronger and more pronounced their impact will be.
Healthy supplements
You should not immediately return the goods to the shelf just because it contains E. It is necessary to look and analyze what substance is hidden behind it. The following table of harmful and healthy nutritional supplements will help you make the right choice. For example, the most common apple contains pectin, ascorbic acid and riboflavin, that is, E300, E440, E101, but it can not be called harmful.
The most common beneficial additives are curcumin, or E100 - these substances help control weight and are actively used in the manufacture of fitness products. E101 is an ordinary vitamin B2, which is famous for synthesizing hemoglobin and participating in the metabolism. E160d is lycopene, it helps strengthen immunity. E270 is a powerful antioxidant that is widely used in pharmacology. To enrich the products with iodine, the additive E916, that is, calcium iodate, is used. Do not forget about lecithin E322 - this supplement supports the immune system and improves blood formation.
Relatively harmless supplements
Today the topic of our conversation is “Table of food additives“ E. Useful and harmful, they are everywhere present in the most common food products. In this group, we should mention the dyes that are used by the most famous confectionery firms to give an attractive appearance to creams and cakes. This is chlorofirol , or E140, a green dye, Betanin is also known, that is, a red dye, which is obtained from the most common beets, the juice of which makes tints of cream excellent at home.
This group includes calcium carbonate (E170) and ordinary baking soda. Despite the fact that these substances do not pose a threat to life, in large quantities they can upset the acid-base balance in the body. E290 is ordinary carbon dioxide, all carbonated drinks are produced with its help. Each kitchen should have a table of food additives E. Useful and harmful, today they are presented in such a large amount that it is very difficult to remember what a particular substance means.
Supplements to Avoid
Today, the table contains 11 groups of additives, among which are dangerous, prohibited, harmful to the skin and blood pressure-violating substances. Since each person needs to avoid products containing dangerous "E-shki", we will consider each group separately. Do not neglect your health and rely on the manufacturer. Many of them are guided only by momentary profit and do not think about reputation. Moreover, it is much easier to periodically close production and open it under a different name, releasing products with new labels. That is why you should know the unhealthy "E" dietary supplement. The table will help you navigate and not forget what this or that code means. So let's get started.
Hazardous Supplements
This group includes many dyes, so if you see confectionery products painted in bright colors, think about whether it is worth taking them to your children. Be sure to study the harmful "E" food additives: the table is periodically adjusted, so you need to update the printout, which is better to keep next to the kitchen table.
This includes E102, namely tartrazine. It causes asthma attacks and is banned in several countries. E110 is a yellow dye that is banned in many countries because it causes an allergic reaction and nausea. E120 - carmine acid (until the study has proven harm, but doctors strongly recommend avoiding it). Red dyes E124, E127 and E129 are banned in a number of countries because they are carcinogens. This also includes E155 (brown dye) and E180 (ruby ritol).
E220 - Sulfur Dioscide - should be used with caution in people with kidney failure. Feel free to postpone products containing E220, E222, E223, E224, E228, E233, E242. Dangerous recognized E400, E401, E402.
Very dangerous
If the previous group of additives is dangerous or potentially dangerous, then representatives of this category should be treated more than carefully. The fact is that the supplement table gives you only code names, behind which are substances that stimulate the growth of cancer cells. To completely avoid contact with them, you will have to abandon most of the confectionery products and seriously reconsider your view of the diet. The simpler, the better, so bran cookies, cereals and fruits are the safest choice.
But back to our conversation. The table of the most dangerous additives "E" includes dyes such as E123 (amaranth). It is prohibited throughout the world, as it causes developmental pathologies in the fetus. In addition, this group includes E510, E513E, E527.
Prohibited Substances: Table of the Most Harmful Food Additives “E”
It should be noted that Russia has very soft rules for manufacturing companies. Only 5 supplements are officially banned, although worldwide they are much higher. This is E952 - cyclic acid and its sodium, potassium and calcium salts. This is a sugar substitute that has been discontinued because it has been found to be a powerful carcinogen. E-216 - para-hydroxybenzoic acid propyl ether - is also prohibited in Russia. But this is not all harmful nutritional supplements ("E"). The table refers to the indicated group a number of dyes - these are E152, E130, E125, E126, E121, E111.
Substances that cause skin rashes
Everyone imagines the effect of carcinogens on the body, so you need to do everything necessary to exclude products containing the most harmful food additives from the menu. The table at hand will help you stop in time and not make an unnecessary purchase. Women should especially think about it, because many conditionally safe supplements cause deterioration of the skin condition. This is E151 (black, shiny BN) - in some countries it is generally banned. The second on the list is E231 (orthophenylphenol) and E232 (calcium orthophenylphenol). Aspartame, or E951 - a sugar substitute beloved by many - also has a number of side effects and is not recommended for use without any particular reason.
To summarize
You may find this table useful every day. A food supplement, the harmful effects of which have not been fully understood, should be excluded from the diet. This group includes a lot of different "E" - these are E124, E122, E141, E150, E171, E173, E247, E471. To optimize your diet and eat as little synthetic additives as possible, study the product packaging before you buy it. The less in the composition of various components and incomprehensible terms, the better. Do not purchase unfamiliar products, as well as those on whose packaging there is no composition, and give preference to well-known manufacturers.
Avoid products of bright unnatural colors. They may contain too many dyes and preservatives. Give preference to natural products, grains, dairy, as well as vegetables and fruits. It is such a diet that is guaranteed to not contain harmful and dangerous substances. To maintain health for the longest possible time, try to avoid foods that use harmful food additives ("E"). A table including the main ones will become your reliable assistant.