Acesulfame potassium is a zero-calorie sweetener that is added to many sugar-free…
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Carrageenan
Carrageenan
Carrageenan
What is it:
Carrageenan is a stabilizer and thickening agent used in many prepared foods, often as a vegan substitute for gelatin. Though carrageenan is derived from natural sources (seaweeds), its use in food manufacturing relies on a treatment and extraction process that alters its chemistry, transforming it into a highly processed, synthetic ingredient.
Rating:
Carrageenan has been associated with ulcers, tumors, intestinal inflammation, and diabetes in various animal studies. Even though researchers, health advocates, and scientists have called for the banning of Carrageenan, the FDA hasn’t done so yet.
Resources:
- Carrageenan may be linked to Intestinal Inflammation (review)
- USDA review of carrageenan safety and various health implications
- Cornucopia Report on Carrageenan
- The association between carrageenan and colorectal carcinogenesis in rats (animal study)
- Carrageenan linked to ulcerative colitis in guinea pigs (animal study)
- Carrageenan causes impaired glucose metabolism and insulin resistance mice and human cells (in vivo animal and in vitro human study)
How we rate ingredients
Health is like a bank account, certain ingredients make a deposit into your health bank, meaning they add to
your health. Certain ingredients withdraw from your health bank. We want health promoting ingredients in our diet. To keep things simple, we rate ingredients on a green, yellow, red scale:
Clean
It is naturally occurring in food and has no harmful effects on the body. It is real food. It is health promoting.
Caution
It goes into one or more of the below categories
- It is not naturally occurring in food but doesn’t have data showing it has a harmful effect on the body (additives like Gellan Gum)
- It is naturally occurring but can have some harmful effects on the body (added sugars, oils, gums etc.)
We Avoid
It is known to have a harmful effect on the body (ex. All food colorings, Natural Flavors, MSG, Potassium bromate, aspartame, artificial flavors)
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