"I don't drink or smoke, so why"…An unexpected food that increases the risk of cancer

I can't even enjoy ice cream freely..

I knew it was bad, but...

I also need to find foods that use less emulsifier.

I should make the healthiest ice cream possible for the kids. Ah... ㅠㅠ

 

-------------------------

Frequent consumption of ice cream as a snack during the hot summer months not only causes stomach upset but also increases the risk of developing cancer. Ice cream contains emulsifiers, which are essential for its smooth texture, and these are considered to be the cause.

 

Emulsifiers are additives that prevent oil and water from separating, improving the texture and enhancing the flavor of food. They are added to various foods such as ice cream, baked goods, chocolate bars, and margarine. In particular, for ice cream, it is essential to add emulsifiers because the fat must be well mixed with the other ingredients.

 

The main emollients include glycerin fatty ester, polyglycerin fatty acid ester, sorbitan fatty acid ester, and lecithin.

 

Emulsifiers approved for domestic use are authorized by the Korea Food and Drug Administration and are known as safe food additives. However, recent studies have shown that some emulsifiers can disrupt gut microbiota and increase inflammation risk, potentially leading to cancer.

 

The French Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team (Crees-Eern), composed of researchers from the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE), and Paris 13 University, announced in February a research finding indicating a strong correlation between certain emulsifiers used as food additives and the development of cancer.

 

According to research, people who consume products containing 'glycerol fatty acid esters' have a 15% higher risk of cancer compared to those who consume the least. In particular, the risk of developing breast cancer and prostate cancer was found to be 24% and 46% higher, respectively.

 

Women who consumed a lot of carrageenan, a emulsifier found in seaweed, also had a 32% higher risk of developing breast cancer compared to the group that consumed less.

 

 

The researchers conducted a follow-up study over an average of 7 years on 92,000 adults (average age 45, 79% women) who participated in experiments from 2009 to 2021 and found a correlation between emulsifier intake and cancer development.

 

To avoid the risks associated with emulsifiers, it is advisable to carefully check the nutrition label when purchasing food. Avoid products that list carboxymethyl cellulose, cellulose gum, modified cellulose, carrageenan, or Irish moss.

 

If you cannot avoid emulsifiers, you can also consume natural emulsifier ingredients. Natural emulsifiers extracted from eggs and soybeans, such as lecithin, do not have harmful effects on health.

 

Professor Bernard Srour, who conducted the research, stated, "If these results are replicated in other studies worldwide, it will provide important new insights for re-evaluating regulations on additive use in the food industry to protect consumers."

 

Money Today