Common food preservatives linked to higher risk of type 2 diabetes

[Tazdevl]

Seems like some pretty common preservatives are linked to T2D. While I make a lot of things fresh... you can hardly buy food without preservatives, unless you go for the more expensive biological food.

Common food preservatives linked to higher risk of type 2 diabetes

Foods that rely heavily on preservatives may be doing more than extending shelf life. In a large study spanning more than a decade, people with the highest intake of preservative additives were far more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. The increased risk appeared across many commonly used...

www.sciencedaily.com

Diabetes Cases and Risk Increases

Over the study period, 1,131 cases of type 2 diabetes were identified among the 108,723 participants.

Compared with people who consumed the lowest levels of preservatives, those with higher intake showed a markedly increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Overall preservative consumption was linked to a 47% higher risk. Non-antioxidant preservatives were associated with a 49% increase, while antioxidant additives were linked to a 40% higher risk.

Specific Preservatives Associated With Risk

Among the 17 preservatives examined individually, higher intake of 12 was associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. These included widely used non-antioxidant preservatives (potassium sorbate (E202), potassium metabisulphite (E224), sodium nitrite (E250), acetic acid (E260), sodium acetates (E262) and calcium propionate (E282)) as well as antioxidant additives (sodium ascorbate (E301), alpha-tocopherol (E307), sodium erythorbate (E316), citric acid (E330), phosphoric acid (E338) and rosemary extracts (E392)).

 

[lovinglife]

I think it’s a given that highly processed foods with lots of preservatives are not good for anyone full stop & are probably linked to numerous conditions.

I agree it’s difficult to get food without preservatives “off the shelf” but keeping them to a minimum is probably best. Some are natural, it’s more expensive to get the alternatives though

I’ve noticed M&S have started a minimal ingredient range - not minimal prices though, less ingredients more expensive

Inside our minimal ingredient range

Dive into our range of everyday essentials, that are stripping it back to basics, made with minimal ingredients. See how to use these food staples with our clever recipe ideas.

www.marksandspencer.com

 

[Tazdevl]

Silly enough I don't really regard cured meats (salami or ham for instance) as highly processed food. But they contain a number of these E numbers. It's almost impossible to get store bought food without preservatives. Even food marketed as biological has some of these E numbers

 

[lovinglife]

I know, I do agree about the cured meats etc, but if they are made the modern way in a factory then they are highly processed foods I’m afraid. The only way you’ll get things like that without E numbers usually nitrates, is to buy those that are made completely the traditional way which is very expensive & hard to find

They’re hard to avoid totally but I suppose we have a choice to eat them or not, and if we do how often. I buy butchers ham, bacon etc from my local butchers, I have 2 great local butchers who have their own farms, one who only does rare & old breeds like short horn etc, They don’t have a shop, you go to the farm to buy, their meat is much more expensive, so occasional treat, but boy can you tell he difference. Especially the bacon!

 

[Outlier]

I have similar. It's expensive, but we have to factor in that we are paying for good health. And there are lots of things I don't buy - I don't go on holiday for instance, and that pays for a lot of top-quality food.