Chemicals

   Chemicals are used to change the properties of food and avoid    spoilage. In the old days, there was a need to preserve food    for the long winters and the hardship of travel. Salt was used  to dry out the meat. The  beef used in fast food  restaurants is likely to  contain from 500 to 600  chemicals, additives and  preservatives that can  cause multiple health  problems. Additives,  preservatives and  hormones can have  harmful effects on the  body.

 

   Additives

   Additives are unnatural substances that are added to the food to aid in manufacturing    and to improve or alter it. Additives provide a longer shelf life, better taste, added    minerals, and improved appearance for marketing. Recent studies have found,    however, that many of the additives used in our food can be harmful to our bodies;    even when they are on the list of additives that are permitted. The problem is that    some of the chemicals approved still have harmful    effects, including cancer. The chemicals in our    food are important to the companies making the    food and banning these chemicals would cause    many of the products currently on the market to    be removed from production. One of these    products is the non-fat sugar substitute known    as aspartame or NutraSweet. This chemical was    praised by dieters because it doesn't leave an    aftertaste like many of the other sugar    substitutes, but recent studies show that this    chemical can affect the brain and alter behavior.    It's suggested that you not consume large amounts of it and avoid giving it to    infants. If the baby's metabolism cannot break down its amino acids, excessive    amounts of amino acids remain in the blood making it toxic and this can cause mental    retardation. Many of these chemicals can cause changes in brain functions, heart    problems, ulcers, birth defects, and cancer. We're not saying that you should stop    consuming the foods that taste good, but you should know what is in the food you    eat and limit the amounts of potentially harmful food.

 

   Preservatives

   Preservatives are a type of additive that primarily focuses on the preservation of the    food we eat. Out of all of the different types of additives, preservatives are one of    the most important. Without it, food would spoil much faster and we wouldn't be able    to store foods such as fruits and other delicacies. Fortunately, many of the    chemicals used are harmless, or not enough studies have been performed to verify    any harmful effects. Unfortunately, some of these preservatives do have harmful    effects. Sodium nitrate, commonly known as one of the salts (not table salt), has    been used for preservation and flavoring for generations and it is harmless unless    you consume large amounts of it; then it becomes unhealthy. In fact, anything    consumed in large amounts can be unhealthy.

   Hormones

   The discovery of hormones in our food is most disconcerting. Hormones are chemicals    released by the body to maintain its growth. They tell it    when to initiate certain stages, like puberty, and when to    stop growing. Hormones are the backbone of all our bodily    functions. Instability in this system can cause disruptions    like a full grown male growing breasts. It is extremely    important not to disturb this delicate system. Hormones    in our food are harmful because they disrupt normal    functions. Have you noticed the rate at which some    girls' bodies are now maturing? This rapid growth could be    caused by the hormones in our food. Calves are injected    with hormones and steroids to increase their growth. If    these hormones are in our meat, they have the potential    to affect our own growth rate.