HOW PRESERVATIVES MAY BE HARMING YOUR HEALTH
Following on from my article on how to increase your energy without caffeine - also on the blog - I was curious about the impact of the preservatives 220 and 223 that are often found in the off the shelf lemon juices and a host of other products we would usually consider to be ‘healthy’ choices.
In that article I spoke about adding bicarbonate soda to your morning routine of lemon water to increase your resistance to illness and infection by increasing the oxygen delivery and energetic charge of every cell of your body. But what if you’re using off the shelf lemon juice that includes preservative 220, or 223?
As it turns out, sulphites, have been used as preservatives since Roman times to protect against oxidisation and bacterial spoilage. They are naturally occurring minerals found in wine as a result of the fermentation process and added to many foods, beverages and medications to prevent the growth of bacteria, yeast
and mould, reducing spoilage, enhancing the shelf life of products and preserving flavours and colours.
One of the most common preservatives, sulphites, are most often found in: beer, wine, dried fruit, pickled vegetables, vinegar, sauces, soft drinks, bread, meat and medications.
WHAT TYPES OF ADVERSE REACTIONS ARE CAUSED BY SULFITES?
Although they are a natural and commonly used preservative, sulphites have been proven to induce a range of adverse reactions. Sulphite exposure is known to cause allergy like reactions, with symptoms such as flushing, fast heartbeat, wheezing, hives, dizziness, stomach upset and diarrhoea, collapse, tingling and difficulty swallowing. In very rare cases sulphides may also cause anaphylaxis.
The sulphites - or 200’s - to avoid, are: 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 226, 227 and 228.
While we’re focusing on sulphites, there are also benzoates 210, 211, 212, 213; and nitrates: 249, 250, 251, 252; in the 200 range of preservatives that should be avoided as well.
TIPS TO AVOIDING THE 200s
Preservatives can be hard to avoid as they're added into a wide variety of products, so following these tips can help:
Purchase fresh, whole foods and prepare your own meals
Carefully read ingredient labels on packaged foods before purchasing
Avoid processed foods and processed and cured meats such as sausages, bacon and ham, as much as possible
Look for nitrate-free meats
Choose foods with natural preservatives, such as citric acid
Choose certified organic products, which are free of synthetic and ascorbic acid preservatives
Look for preservative-free products, or make your own!