Preservatives Linked To Weight Achieve and Diabetes

Article overview:

• One study found that consuming propionate, a preservative that is often added to foods, may be linked to an increased risk of obesity and diabetes.
• Propionate is often found in bread, baked goods, canned fruit, and chocolates because it inhibits mold growth.
• The current research serves as a good reminder to be vigilant about our eating habits.

An additive you need to know

As part of a healthy lifestyle, you are undoubtedly trying to be careful about what you eat. You likely choose a lot of fresh foods and carefully read the labels of any packaged food you buy, check the calorie count, and make sure the item doesn't have too much sodium, fat, and sugar. However, you may not be reading the list of ingredients carefully, and even if you do, many people do not know the names of each additive. And according to new research, one of these common additives could contribute to health and weight problems.

And if you just eliminate it from your diet, you can lose weight and avoid diabetes. Read on to find out how.

Study of Propionate Preservatives and Weight Gain

A study carried out at health T.H. The Chan School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts found that consumption of propionate, a preservative often added to foods, may be linked to an increased risk of obesity and diabetes. These results are based on an interesting two-pronged study that included both animal and human subjects to determine the effects of propionate, which is a common ingredient in bread, baked goods, canned fruit, and chocolates (yes, chocolates too) because it helps inhibit the growth of mold.

The first segment of research involved adding propionate to the water given to mice. Immediately after the mice ingested the propionate-laced water, the researchers noticed a significant increase in the hormones glucagon and FABP4, which triggered an increase in glucose production in the liver and a corresponding increase in blood insulin levels. Eventually, the mice that were exposed to propionate for several weeks gained more weight than the mice that were not given propionate, and they also developed insulin resistance, possibly preparing them for diabetes.

As convincing as these results are, we all know that animal studies in humans often do not lead directly to the same results. Because of this, it is very positive that the researchers also included a human component in this investigation. For this research segment, 14 adults in overall good health received a meal, either with a propionate added at a dose equal to the amount obtained from consuming a processed food meal or a placebo. After they finished eating, blood was drawn and the same hormonal response that the mice experienced, the humans experienced, as did the increase in their blood insulin levels.

Weight Gain & Diabetes Results

While the human side of the study was apparently limited by the extremely small size of the population sample, when combined with the animal version of the experiment, it provides some solid evidence of propionate's deleterious effects. Of course, there are a multitude of factors that influence weight gain and the development of diabetes, but these results suggest that regular propionate consumption could be one of them – and an important one.

This is hardly the first time that a preservative added to food has also been linked to health problems. The nitrate preservatives used in processed meats such as bacon and sausage have long been known to be harmful. In fact, a 2010 study at the health School of Public Health showed that people who eat this type of processed meat were at significantly higher risk of developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

How do I avoid preservatives?

Ultimately, the current research serves as a good reminder to be vigilant about our eating habits. While eliminating all preservatives from our diets entirely may not be realistic, we can certainly limit their consumption. That starts with focusing your shopping on the grocery store's perimeter. You can generally find fruits and vegetables along these distant walls. Organic poultry with grass fodder; Fish; and other fresh products that ideally make up the majority of your diet.

As you venture into the indoor aisles, do your best to avoid the electrical corridor to withstand the impulse to buy junk foods like cookies and chips and sugared beverages, and to limit the amount of prepackaged foods you can give your Add to cart. And, just like with today's study, be sure to check the labels on anything you buy for propionate. It can be listed as calcium propionate on food labels and is also known as propanoic acid sodium propionate, calcium salt, and calcium propanoate. Eliminating it from your diet to lose weight and avoid diabetes can be a simple trick.