Common Food Additives Trigger Anxiety
Have you ever felt tense without knowing why?
It wasn’t that you were under some kind of stress. Or were worried about the pandemic or something else.
For some unknown reason, you just felt anxious.
A new study may explain why.
Feeling Anxious? It Might Be Something You Ate
Emulsifiers are processed food additives. They are used to make foods more appealing in various ways. They improve texture and shelf life. They keep ingredients from separating, such as the oil and water in mayonnaise.[i]
Researchers have discovered they have strange effects on the people who consume them.
Professor Geert de Vries and his associates at Georgia State University looked at how emulsifiers affect the brain.
They added two common emulsifiers, polysorbate 80 and carboxymethylcellulose, to the drinking water of mice.
Polysorbate 80 is often added to ice cream. It helps ice cream hold its texture as it melts. Carboxymethylcellulose is also known as cellulose gum. It is a thickener commonly used in baked goods, cheese, icing, and candies.[ii] [iii]
After 12 weeks of consuming these additives, male mice displayed anxiety-like behavior. Females became less social.
The team believes the emulsifiers cause inflammation in the gut. This triggers immune cells to signal molecules that affect the brain. The end result is anxiety.
Professor de Vries said the study confirms that gut and brain health are intertwined.
Keep Emulsifiers Out of Your Diet
We’ve warned you before about emulsifiers.[iv]
Besides anxiety, they are linked to metabolic syndrome and obesity. On top of everything else, they’ve also been found to promote colon cancer.
Read labels closely to avoid them. They are often hidden in small print. Or they are labeled under the general term “emulsifier.” Your best defense is to avoid processed foods altogether. Processed meats are especially dangerous.
Try to eat fresh, organic produce with every meal. It feeds the “good” bacteria in your gut, which reduce inflammation. Onions, garlic, and leeks are particularly beneficial.
During the COVID crisis many of us are already suffering extra stress. Don’t add to it by eating processed foods with emulsifiers.
Editor’s Note: Unlike much of the mainstream media, we don’t accept advertising from Big Pharma. That’s why you can count on us for unbiased medical information. Our only motivation is your good health.
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[i] http://www.chemistryindustry.biz/emulsifiers.html
[ii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polysorbate_80
[iii] http://www.befoodsmart.com/ingredients/carboxymethyl-cellulose.php
[iv] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-36890-3