Obesity is now considered an epidemic, and for good reason. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that it affects about 93.3 million American adults, with a prevalence of 39.8 percent. From heart disease, diabetes to even cancer, obesity is associated with a variety of chronic diseases plaguing modern society. Many health-conscious individuals look toward their diet to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, completely avoiding certain ingredients like trans fats and high-fructose corn syrup. However, there are also a few other ingredients that not many know about that can promote obesity.

New research published in the journal Nature Communications found that three common chemicals used as food preservatives and in other everyday products can promote obesity and act as hormone disruptors on humans. The researchers hailing from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center used a novel method that involved growing hormone-producing tissues from stem cells, which allowed them to observe how being exposed to these chemicals on a regular basis can interfere with the signals sent between the digestive system and brain to let people know they’re full and satisfied.

The chemicals involved included perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and tributyltin (TBT). However, they observed the strongest effect in the third chemical they tested known as butylhydroxytoluene or BHT. This particular antioxidant is commonly found in breakfast cereals throughout the U.S. to protect their nutrients and keep their fats from turning rancid. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permits the safe use of this antioxidant in certain foods, BHT is shown to cause abdominal pain and can cause negative effects on the liver.

Keep away from these harmful chemicals by going organic

Looking for all these ingredients can be quite a lot of work — especially when companies decide to disguise these harmful chemicals under other names so they aren’t immediately obvious to the untrained eye. To make matters simple, you can opt to buy fresh and organic whole foods instead of processed foods. Modern farming methods can involve the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that can leave a negative effect on your overall health.

Why settle with foods laced with toxic chemicals when you can thrive by eating purely organic produce. Below you can find a few reasons why you should go organic:

Organic foods are non-GMO

GMOs are defined as animals or plants that are created by combining the DNA of different species in a way that is impossible to occur in nature or by traditional cross-breeding. A large portion of crops like commercial soy, alfalfa, beets and corn in the United States are considered GMO foods. This genetic engineering can make crops resistant to weather and even pests, with GMO corn producing its own insecticide that destroys the lining of the insect’s digestive tract. However, this same insecticide can also cause cell death in humans, which can damage the intestines and cause leaky gut.

Organic farming is good for the earth

Many organic farmers rely on crop rotation, animal manure and companion planting instead of resorting to using weed killers, pesticides and synthetic fertilizers to maintain soil quality and eliminate pests. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), while chemical fertilizers can provide crops with the phosphorous and nitrogen they need, they aren’t fully utilized by growing plants. This leads to excess nitrogen and phosphorous contaminating nearby waterways, negatively impacting downstream water quality and even air quality. Supporting farmers who maintain their crops responsively can help reduce the damage

By making a conscious effort to eat organic and clean foods, you can go a long way toward reducing your risk of disease and obesity while also lowering your exposure to toxic chemicals. Learn more about these harmful chemicals at Chemicals.news.

Sources:

ScienceDaily.com

CDC.gov

Nature.com

AccessData.FDA.gov

TheGoodHuman.com

MindBodyGreen.com

OnlineLibrary.Wiley.com

EPA.gov