| Anything that doesn't occur naturally in a particular | | | | additives?Not unless you have identified a specific |
| food is considered an additive. Many of these | | | | allergy or sensitivity. Many people believe they are |
| substances occur naturally in one food but become | | | | sensitive to MSG, and you can avoid it if you wish. |
| additives when used in the manufacture of another | | | | Most additives are used in such small amounts that |
| food. You might find sodium propionate in the list of | | | | they have no significance in your diet unless you |
| ingredients in a loaf of bread, but if you buy Swiss | | | | consume huge quantities of a single food.You should |
| cheese, you'll be eating ten times as much sodium | | | | be more concerned about what's taken out of your |
| propionate. It won't be listed on the label, because it is a | | | | food than what's added in. "Enriched" means vitamins, |
| natural component of the cheese.Why are additives | | | | minerals, other nutrients and fiber were been removed |
| put in food?They have a variety of functions. Additives | | | | during processing, and what is added back may be |
| are used to replace nutrients lost in processing (for | | | | only a small part of what was taken away. When |
| example, all white flour must have thiamine, riboflavin, | | | | fiber is removed, you are the loser. Extracted oils give |
| niacin and folate put in to replace what is lost when the | | | | you lots of calories and little of the nutrients that were |
| wheat germ is removed), or to add nutrients (i.e., | | | | in the original plants.If your diet consists primarily of |
| vitamins in breakfast cereals). Some additives are | | | | fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans, you don't |
| used as preservatives to retard spoilage, such as BHA | | | | give food processors the chance to remove the good |
| and BHT, or antioxidants that keep fat from turning | | | | parts that nature provides and you won't need to |
| rancid. Others are used to improve the texture or | | | | worry about what's added behind your back.Dr. Gabe |
| consistency by making the product thicker, smoother, | | | | Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years |
| or more free-flowing, or to keep ingredients from | | | | and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is |
| separating. Flavorings and colorings are considered | | | | board certified in four specialties, including sports |
| additives, whether they are the relatively benign spices, | | | | medicine. Read or listen to hundreds of his fitness and |
| salt and pepper, or the ominous-sounding "artificial | | | | health reports at weekly newsletter on fitness, health, |
| flavors", dyes and bleaches.Should you try to avoid | | | | and nutrition. |