The Daily News – April 14, 2025

Welcome back to The Daily News. I have a question for you. Could common food additives be harming your health? Well, according to Food and Wine Magazine, artificial emulsifiers, which are found in processed foods like salad dressings, uh, baked goods and flavored drinks, may disrupt gut health leading to inflammation and potentially more serious health issues. Now, emulsifiers are additives that help blend ingredients like oil and water, giving processed foods, their texture and consistency while emulsifiers can be natural or synthetic. Synthetic ones like Polysorbate 80 and Carboxy Methylcellulose, which is quite the mouthful, are permitted for use in foods in Canada under Health Canada regulations. Recent research reported by food and wine suggest they may have unintended consequences for your health. One study highlighted in the report found that these artificial or synthetic emulsifiers can disrupt the gut microbiome promoting inflammation. Now, this imbalance in gut bacteria has been linked to higher blood sugar levels insulin resistance, and an increased risk of chronic diseases like diabetes. Another study suggested they may even affect the blood brain barrier, potentially raising the risk of cognitive decline as we age. Now, one expert on gut health explains that these additives can create an environment in the gut where harmful bacteria thrive. While beneficial microbes are completely diminished, he warns this. This imbalance doesn’t just stay in the gut. It can trigger a chain reaction of health issues including inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. The report also emphasizes the importance of protecting your gut microbiome by limiting ultra processed foods. These heavily altered products often contain manmade emulsifiers and other additives linked to inflammation. So to protect yourself, one practical step is to read food labels carefully. By checking for ingredients like Polysorbate 80 or carboxy Methylcellulose, you can identify and reduce your intake of products that contain these synthetic emulsifiers. This small habit can help you to make more informed choices and ultimately prioritize your gut health. As always, thank you so much for joining us on The Daily News, and if you found this helpful, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit that notification bell and we’ll see you next time.