Introduction
If you’re looking to improve your gut health, you may want to take a closer look at your diet. A new study has found that a common ingredient found in many processed foods could be wreaking havoc on your gut health. This ingredient is often used as a preservative, but it could be doing more harm than good. In this article, we’ll discuss the findings of the study and provide some tips on what to eat instead. So, if you’re looking to improve your gut health, read on to find out how to make the right dietary choices.
This Common Ingredient Could Be Wrecking Your Gut Health, New Study Says — Eat This Not That
A new study has revealed that a common ingredient found in many processed foods could be wreaking havoc on your gut health. The ingredient, emulsifiers, are used to improve texture and extend shelf life, but the study found that they can also disrupt the balance of bacteria in the gut, leading to inflammation and other health issues.
The study, conducted by researchers at Georgia State University, looked at the effects of two common emulsifiers, polysorbate-80 and carboxymethylcellulose, on mice. The researchers found that the emulsifiers caused changes in the gut microbiome, leading to inflammation and metabolic disorders. The mice also developed colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease.
The researchers believe that the emulsifiers are disrupting the balance of bacteria in the gut, leading to inflammation and other health issues. They suggest that people should avoid processed foods that contain emulsifiers, and instead opt for whole, unprocessed foods.
The study is the latest in a growing body of research that suggests that processed foods can have a negative impact on our health. Previous studies have linked processed foods to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. This new study adds to the evidence that processed foods can also have a negative impact on our gut health.
If you want to protect your gut health, it’s best to avoid processed foods and opt for whole, unprocessed foods instead. Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can help keep your gut healthy and your body functioning optimally.
If you cook at home with whole ingredients, you have a much better sense of what’s in your food than if you order takeout from the fast-food restaurant on the corner or buy a packaged snack at the convenience store down the block. Though scientists are still learning how the chemicals in these foods impact your health, it’s becoming clear that some of them can do some real harm.
Now, new research suggests that an additive called carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), which acts as an emulsifier, can impact an otherwise healthy microbiome for the worse. These effects could contribute to unhealthy levels of gut inflammation and other dangerous health outcomes. (RELATED: The 100 Unhealthiest Foods On the Planet)
In the study, which was accepted into the journal Gastroenterology, the official medical journal of the American Gastroenterological Association, researchers examined 16 healthy adults, nine of whom ate an emulsifier-free diet and seven of whom ate 15 grams of CMC each day. Those who ate the additive were more likely to feel discomfort in their abdomen after meals and endure negative changes to their gut microbiota.
“I think the main message of our work on CMC and other synthetic emulsifiers (such as polysorbate 80) is that they may promote chronic inflammatory diseases. Therefore, more extensive human studies are needed,” study co-author Andrew Gerwitz, PhD, told Eat This, Not That! in an interview. “Meanwhile, I suggest those concerned about their health minimize consumption of highly processed foods, especially those containing CMC and polysorbate 80.”
RELATED: Unhealthy Drinks Dietitians Say You Should Stop Sipping Right Now
Gerwitz believes eating foods that contain these additives “once in a while” is unlikely to do any major damage. So while it’s helpful to cut back, you don’t necessarily need to shut your favorite processed foods out of your life completely.
According to James N. BeMiller’s Carbohydrate Chemistry for Food Scientists (Third Edition), excerpted in ScienceDirect, CMC can most commonly be found in ice cream and other frozen desserts. It also appears in baked goods, cheese spreads, dressings, hot chocolate mixes, sauces, syrups, and yogurts, among other foods.
It’s worth noting that the Gastroenterology study only looked at 16 adults, and this research is still in its early days. It’s too soon to say with any certainty exactly how this emulsifier will affect your gut health. Thus, you probably don’t want to immediately cut out foods like yogurt that are otherwise a healthy and nourishing part of your diet.
For more on the little-known, hard-to-pronounce food additives that could be taking a toll on your health, check out The 23 Worst Food Additives in America. And to get all of the latest news delivered straight to your email inbox every day, don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter!