Foods that can be toxic

Despite their “label” of being super-healthy foods, some of our everyday foods can be unhealthy and even toxic. This may be an opportunity for us to rethink what we place in our shopping bags.

Sunflower Oil

It looks as if Sunflower Oil looks as if it was a super-healthy option due to its content of polyunsaturated (i.e. good) fat and being cholesterol-free. However, foods that have a ‘fried in sunflower oil’ label on them should not be your first choice. The refining process exposes it to potentially harmful chemicals:

·         Strong solvents are used to extract the oil from the seed and then degum, deodorant and bleach it.

Alternative:

·         Good-quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil

·         Cold-pressed Rapeseed Oil

·         Butter in small quantities

Non-organic grapes

It looks like these delicious fruit is not one of the get-well foods after all. Non-organic grapes consistently come up as having pesticide residues levels above those deemed safe: 26 instead of 11

Alternative:

·         Organic grapes

Tinned soup

It seems to be one of the healthiest options, yet the coating of many soup cans contains a hormone-like material called Bisphenol A (BPA). The full effect of the hormone is not known as yet, however, some studies show* that it could possibly “alter your body’s insulin production, increasing the risk of diabetes, obesity and heart disease”

*According to Professor Andrew Watterson from Stirling University

Alternative:

·         Freshly made soups

·         Soups in cartons

·         Make your own