This is one of the last posts in the series of ingredients that should be avoided/minimized. Today I'll briefly discuss Brominated Vegetable Oil.
Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO) is an additive created by adding the element bromine with vegetable oil. Bromine is a nonmetallic element that is liquid at room temperature and is considered highly toxic and extremely reactive. Bromine is used in many industrial compounds and cleaners, as well as in water purification, photo chemicals, antiseptic and sanitizing agents, dyes, fumigants, and anti-knock mixtures for automotives. BVO gives the flavoring oils in soda the same density as water and stays suspended in the drink, therefore boosting the flavor in many citric-based fruit and soft drinks. BVO has been shown to cause a significant increase in triglyceride and cholesterol content in both the heart and liver. In lab rat studies, the BVO residues accumulated in the rats' body fat, damaging their heart, liver, thyroid, testicles and kidneys. BVO has been banned in over 100 countries, is a potential carcinogen, and can cause a number of disorders from headaches, fatigue, and weight-gain to cancer, heart and kidney diseases.
Next up: Benzoate Preservatives...
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Wait, are you saying there are things in SODA that can raise cholesterol? Is it banned in the US? *scurred*
ReplyDeleteIn the U.S. it’s use is regulated by the FDA to the extent that it is “PERMITTED IN FOOD OR IN CONTACT WITH FOOD ON AN INTERIM BASIS PENDING ADDITIONAL STUDY.” (http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/fcf180.html). It is kinda scary, isn't it?
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