Preservatives
Preservatives: They Make Products Last Longer…
The food (used lightly) industry adds preservatives so their products stay “fresh” on the shelf for months or years. The downside? Many of these chemicals destroy beneficial bacteria, damage your gut, increase inflammation, and feed things you don’t want in your body (like parasites and bad bacteria).
Here’s a simple breakdown of the most common preservatives, their codes, where they hide, and what they can do:
Sodium Benzoate (E211) - antimicrobial agent, and flavoring adjuvant
Hidden in: sodas, fruit juices, salad dressings, pickles, condiments
What it does: Linked to hyperactivity (adhd) symptoms, oxidative stress and inflammation, disrupts good gut bacteria and has an awesome Safety Warning: ‘can form small amounts of benzene—a known carcinogen—when combined with ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), particularly when exposed to heat or light.’
Potassium Sorbate (E202) - used to inhibit mold, yeast, and fungi
Hidden in: bread, cheese, wine, dried fruits, yogurt
What it does: Irritates the gut and harms beneficial bacteria.
BHA (E320) and BHT (E321) -
Hidden in: cereals, chips, vegetable oils, chewing gum, packaged snacks
What it does: Synthetic antioxidants linked to hormone disruption and stress in the body.
Safety Status: While GRAS, BHA is classified as "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen" by some bodies, though both remain permitted in the US.
Sodium Nitrite (E250) & Nitrate (E251) - used to prevent botulism and maintain a pink color
Hidden in: bacon, ham, hot dogs, deli meats, sausage
What it does: Can form ‘cancer’-linked compounds and increase inflammation.
Sulfites - used to prevent enzymatic and non-enzymatic browning
Hidden in: dried fruits, wine, beer, processed potatoes, shrimp
What it does: Known to trigger headaches, breathing issues, and damage the gut lining.
E220: Sulfur dioxide ° E221: Sodium sulfite ° E222: Sodium bisulfite (Sodium hydrogen sulfite) ° E223: Sodium metabisulfite ° E224: Potassium metabisulfite ° E225: Potassium sulfite ° E226: Calcium sulfite ° E227: Calcium hydrogen sulfite ° E228: Potassium hydrogen sulfite
Calcium Propionate (E282) - used as a mold inhibitor
Hidden in: bread, tortillas, most baked goods
What it does: Often linked to irritability and throws off gut balance.
Parabens - Methylparaben (E218), Ethylparaben (E214), and Propylparaben (E216)
Hidden in: some tortillas, pastries, and baked goods
What it does: Acts as a hormone disruptor.
Propyl Gallate (E310) - synthetic antioxidant
Hidden in: fats, oils, shortening, chewing gum
What it does: Increases oxidative stress, is an endocrine disruptor, and may cause skin or stomach irritation.
EDTA - a.k.a. Calcium Disodium EDTA (E385) and Disodium EDTA (E386)
Hidden in: salad dressings, sauces, canned foods
What it does: Can bind to important minerals and remove them from your body.
The Simple Rule: If the ingredient list is long, has words you can’t easily pronounce or numbers you have to look up, it’s not real food — it’s full of preservatives.
What to Do Instead
Choose single-ingredient real foods as much as possible:
Fresh vegetables and fruits - from local growers & farmer’s markets
Pasture-raised meat, eggs, and organs - from the farm!
Raw milk! cheeses, yogurts, butters
Raw nuts and seeds to snack on
Garlic, ginger, turmeric, and cloves are great flavors to add to any meal
Homemade ferments like sauerkraut rebuild gut bacteria
Easy Swaps to Start Today
Packaged snacks → pumpkin seeds or fresh berries
Deli meats → roast your own chicken or beef
Bottled sauces → fresh garlic, herbs, olive oil + lemon
Cereal → eggs + spinach + avocado
Bottom Line! Preservatives keep food from spoiling, but they make your body more acidic and inflamed. Cutting them out (or cutting way back) is often one of the quickest ways people notice better digestion and more steady energy.
Start with one swap this week. Small changes add up fast.