Acesulfame potassium is a zero-calorie sweetener that is added to many sugar-free…
Parabens
Parabens
Parabens
What is it:
Parabens are a class of synthetic chemicals commonly used as preservatives in various personal care products, pharmaceuticals, and some foods. They are produced through a chemical synthesis process that typically involves the esterification of para-hydroxybenzoic acid (a compound naturally occurring in many fruits and vegetables) with an alcohol. This reaction results in different forms of parabens, such as methyl-paraben, ethyl-paraben, propyl-paraben, and butyl-paraben. To extend shelf life, parabens are added to products to inhibit the growth of bacteria, yeast, and molds.
Rating:
Parabens have demonstrated evidence of endocrine disruption, primarily through animal and in vitro studies. While certain parabens are banned in cosmetic products in the E.U. and various Asian countries, parabens are considered GRAS in the U.S. up to specified amounts. However, many food and cosmetic manufacturers are removing parabens from their formulations due to public concern. While human clinical trials are lacking, evidence of environmental exposure to parabens and in vitro results warrants caution, as certain parabens appear to affect negatively affect estrogen which could be implicated in the pathogenesis of breast cancer.
Resources:
- Parabens as possible endocrine disruptors (review)
- Epidemiological review of the effect of parabens on adiposity-related measures (review)
- EFSA safety advisory on parabens
- High levels of environmental paraben exposure in the U.S. and E.U. (review)
- EFSA evaluation of parabens and toxicity of various types in animals
- Safety assessment of parabens (review)
- Parabens as estrogen receptor binding chemicals (review)
- Safety assessment of parabens in animals and humans (review)
- Controversies surrounding paraben toxicity (review)
- Paraben exposure and breast cancer (review)
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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