Food additives are an essential part of the processed food industry and are used to improve taste, texture and extend shelf life. Recent research reveals that some of these substances may harm the balance of gut microbes, causing health problems that may extend to the brain.
Food additives are substances that are added to foods during the production and packaging stages, in order to improve the taste, color, or texture, or to preserve the product for a longer period. These additives may be natural, such as salt and pepper, or artificial, such as artificial dyes and flavourings.
In a report published by Psychology Today magazine, author Scott C. Anderson said that the US Food and Drug Administration requires conducting a safety study before approving new food additives, but its procedures do not include testing the effects of these substances on intestinal microbes, and this is a major mistake.
The writer considered that we need a new approach to dealing with food additives by testing their effect on beneficial intestinal microbes and ensuring that these substances do not eliminate microbes, or enhance pathogens, which is worse, as he put it.
He added that a number of researchers are currently working to study these negative effects, and the results they have reached are worrying. Among these efforts is a recent study conducted by Professor Li-Yan Chen and colleagues from National Taiwan University, which showed that many emulsifiers, especially synthetic ones, cause changes in the gut microbiome.
Emulsifiers are additives that help oil and water mix, giving food the smooth texture preferred by manufacturers, and are found in a large number of processed foods, including peanut butter, bread, sausage and ice cream.
The author stated that researchers found that emulsions help bacteria invade the mucus layer surrounding the intestines. Mucus is the first line of defense against harmful microbes, and when it is damaged, it becomes easier for these microbes and their toxins to pass through the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream.
Researchers have found evidence that emulsions cause systemic inflammation (the typical biological response after infection and chronic inflammatory disease), as well as an increase in metabolic disorders, including high blood sugar levels and insulin resistance.
The writer added that these results are in line with a previous study conducted by Benoit Chassing and his colleagues at the University of Paris, where they found a similar effect for two industrial emulsifiers, namely “polysorbate 80” and “carboxymethyl cellulose.” These two substances have been proven to be worse than others in affecting the balance of Gut microbiome and promoting inflammation.
Effects on the brain
On the other hand, a recent study conducted by Ping Li and colleagues at Tianjin Medical University found that emulsions may lead to cognitive decline. Specifically, polysorbate 80 disrupted the blood-brain barrier, leading to toxins accumulating in the brain.
This study was conducted on mice, but the researchers noted that it “provides strong evidence that diet-induced disruption of the gut microbiome may be a risk factor for age-related cognitive decline.”
The writer mentioned that there was another study conducted by Chassing and his colleagues, which showed that emulsions affected the behavior of mice. Male mice showed high levels of stress, and females showed a degree of introversion.
Worrying results
A new study – conducted by Jessica Fitzpatrick and colleagues at Australia’s Monash University – found that non-stressed people were able to cope well with emulsions, while stressed people showed an increase in intestinal permeability, similar to that observed in studies on mice.
According to the author, these results are worrying, because intestinal permeability, also known as “leaky gut,” can increase anxiety and stress, which means entering into a vicious cycle between stress and intestinal problems when taking lozenges.
But he explained that the matter does not apply to all emulsifiers, as the industrial ones are the ones that harm the intestines, according to what studies have revealed, but other emulsifiers that have been used in foods for a long time, such as lecithin found in eggs and sunflowers, can be tolerated well.
Avoid these artificial emulsifiers
To avoid the negative impact of emulsions on beneficial microbes and the chronic diseases that this may lead to, such as heart disease, diabetes, dementia, and cancer, the author advises staying away from industrial emulsifiers such as “polysorbate 80” and “carboxymethyl cellulose.”
He emphasizes that it is best to eat more unprocessed foods such as vegetables and fruits, because they contain a large amount of fiber that promotes intestinal health.