1. Microwave Popcorn.
Workers
in microwave popcorn factories have actually developed an extremely
rare form of lung cancer from inhaling fumes. If that isn’t enough of a
reason to avoid the stuff, here’s another: the lining of the bags
contains perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a substance that has been linked
to several other forms of cancer and infertility. Plus, so many
microwave popcorns are loaded with bad fats and sodium. Homemade
air-popped popcorn can actually be a health food, believe it or not, so
stick to that for your next movie night.
2. Non-Organic Apples.
Last
year, apples won the dubious honor of being the most pesticide-laden
produce. Because they aren’t very resistant to pests, apples tend to get
sprayed more. They’re also treated with pesticides to extend their
shelf life. If you’re an apple lover, always, always, always buy
organic — or don’t buy ‘em at all. Your body will thank you!
3. Soda.
Several studies
have directly linked soda consumption to higher instances of
cardiovascular disease, cancer, depression, obesity — you name it. Diet
soda isn’t off the hook, either. 9 Disturbing Side Effects of Soda
4. Chips.
Many
brands of chips contain unimaginable amounts of sodium and fat — one
bag can often be more than a day’s worth. But it’s not just the
nutritional concerns to think about here — chips also contain
acrylamide, a chemical that comes with an increased risk of several
forms of cancer and infertility. You can also find the scary stuff in
french fries.
5. Canned Tomatoes.
Aside from being far less delicious than
the real, fresh, thing, canned tomatoes have the added “perk” of
bisphenol-A (BPA) on their cans’ lining. This is the stuff nightmares
are made of: BPA has been linked to fetal abnormalities, heart disease,
obesity, diabetes, thyroid issues, and even cancer. It’s been banned for
use in baby bottles, and overall bans are being considered nationwide.
You can get up to 50 mcg of the stuff from canned tomatoes; the acidity
makes them more difficult to package than most products, so a safe
alternative has been difficult to find. Your best bet, though, is to
avoid them all together. Stick to fresh tomatoes or, if need be,
tomatoes packaged in glass jars.
6. Non-Organic Celery.
Celery is the dirtiest of all vegetables —
the Environmental Working Group has founded dozens upon dozens of
different pesticides on the non-organic stuff. As with apples, go
organic or don’t go at all.
7. Milk with Artificial Hormones.
Many farmers give their cows artificial hormones so they will produce
more milk — good for their bottom line, not so good for our health.
These hormones lead to higher rates of another hormone, IGF-1, which is
thought to increase instances of cancer in humans. Look for milk that is
certified organic, or labelled with either rBGH-free or BST-free
8. Margarine.
If margarine didn’t have any food dye in
it, it’d be a delightful shade of gray. If that isn’t evidence enough,
what is?! Though margarine is often thought of as a healthier version
of butter (there’s no cholesterol, right?) it’s also a wonderfully
terrible source of trans fats — stuff that does, indeed, raise your
cholesterol. Here’s your excuse to go back to the real stuff — or, of
course, olive oil!
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