Acesulfame potassium is a zero-calorie sweetener that is added to many sugar-free…
Sodium Nitrate
Sodium Nitrate
Sodium Nitrate
What is it:
Sodium nitrate is a chemical compound with the formula NaNO3. It is a white, crystalline powder that is commonly used as a food preservative and color fixative. Sodium nitrate is often added to processed meats such as bacon, ham, and hot dogs to prevent the growth of bacteria and extend their shelf life. Sodium nitrate is naturally occurring in soil and is present in many vegetables. Commercially, sodium nitrate can be synthesized through a process of extracting nitrate-rich minerals such as saltpeter from the ground and treating them with sodium hydroxide. The resulting sodium nitrate is then purified through crystallization and filtration. Nitrates can break down into nitrites through digestion.
Rating:
While nitrates are naturally occurring in many vegetables and may actually contribute to health, when they are heated to high temperatures along with protein, compounds called nitrosamines can form under the acidic environment of the stomach which may be carcinogenic. This may be the reason that processed meats that are cured with nitrates have been linked to cancer more than other uncured meats.
Resources:
- Dietary nitrosamines in processed meats may be associated with stomach cancer (prospective cohort study)
- The process of curing with nitrates and carcinogenic formation of nitrosamines (review)
- General information and carcinogenicity of nitrosamines
- Nitrosamine and nitrite intake associated with increased gastric cancer risk (systematic review of epidemiological evidence)
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)
Top Ingredients To Avoid
Almond extract is a concentrated liquid flavoring derived from almonds, commonly used…
Recent Articles
Not all flavors, or oils are created equal!
The Food Showdown: Popcorners flavors
Ingredient Rating: Canola oil – is it bad for you?
Clean Consuming: Nourishment for your
Is It Clean 2023 Recap + Our top 3 Tips for a Healthier 2024
We have accomplished so much in just 1 year since our launch in March of 2023! We now have 10,000
Food Showdown: Nacho Chips
The Nacho Chip Food Showdown, is Tapioca Starch safe in food? and a must-see documentary on America’s food system.