Have you ever stopped to think about what’s really in the food you eat? While that juicy apple or crunchy chip may look harmless, the truth is, many of the foods we consume are loaded with chemicals we rarely think twice about. From preservatives and artificial flavors to pesticides and additives, these hidden substances can have a significant impact on your health.
Pesticides may harm your brain:
Exposure to some widely used pesticides-diphenyl, paraquat and maneb-can damage nerve cells and deplete your brain’s supply of the feel-good chemical dopamine. This may lead to Parkinson’s disease, according to a recent British study review.
Pesticides lower your sperm count:
Nearly 100 different pesticides are thought to disrupt your body’s hormonal balance, which could reduce fertility, say British scientists.
Pesticides lower your immunity:
Certain pesticides may inhibit the growth of immune cells, a recent Italian study found. This weakens your body’s ability to fightoffinvaders, and may also allow cancer cells to proliferate unchecked, the study says.
Agricultural chemicals could be making you fat:
Synthetic chemicals may cause obesity in adults by altering hormone levels or by changing the way certain genes work, according to a recent French study. Plus, it’s a vicious circle: The more fat your body has, the more toxins you store.
Pesticides may cause allergies:
Certain agricultural chemicals, like insecticide chlorpyrifos, may cause your immune system to overreact to harmless antigens. This may trigger an allergic reaction, Italian researchers say.
Small doses of chemicals can be just as dangerous as large doses: Doctors and scientists are finding out that even small doses-especially over time- can be just as toxic as large ones.