It’s been a heck of a year—one with a steep learning curve.
We all now know far more about viruses than we EVER could have imagined a year ago. And we practically have a PH.D. in masking, social distancing, and hand washing at this point.
But we finally seem to be making some progress. COVID-19 cases are down. Vaccinations are up. And people are starting to venture out. I hope that you’re one of them, or will be able to join them soon.
But part of that learning curve I mentioned earlier is knowing just how vital a strong immune system is when you do start going out more. Because in this new world, it’s not just run-of-the-mill colds we’re faced with anymore. We could be threatened by a killer virus too.
That’s why new research revealing how we could be unknowingly undermining our immune system is so disturbing.
Researchers say a common food additive is the culprit. And it’s one used in literally HUNDREDS of packaged foods. And that includes so-called “healthy” stuff like salads.
It appears this additive may SLAM your immune system. And that, in turn, could leave you more exposed to catching infections of all sorts, from the novel new coronavirus to the common cold I mentioned earlier.
Today I’ve got the inside scoop on WHAT this garbage is and WHERE it’s hiding. Plus, I’ll reveal how to avoid it. Because odds are, you’ve been swallowing it yourself… perhaps often… without even realizing it.
The ugly additive lurking in our food supply
It’s one of those words your eyes just glide past when you read a food label.
Unlike other bad news ingredients that you KNOW to look for, like added sugars, it doesn’t raise any alarm bells. And it’s not something you’re actively scanning for if you need to avoid allergens like wheat or soy.
But it’s time to stop ignoring tert-butylhydroquinone (aka TBHQ). In fact, when you see this immune-system slayer listed, put whatever food it’s in right back on the shelf.
Because a new study from the Environmental Working Group finds TBHQ is toxic to immune function. And that disturbing finding showed up in both animal and non-animal experiments, including in vitro toxicology tests.
Even worse, this immune system enemy is hidden EVERYWHERE. It’s in junk that your grandkids probably eat like Pop-Tarts. But it’s also in stuff many adults eat too, often in the mistaken belief that it’s healthy like Special K meal bars.
In fact, TBHQ is so common I can’t even possibly list everywhere it’s found. The potential immune system assassin is in more than 1,200 products, including some…
- pre-made Caesar salad mixes
- instant noodles
- microwave popcorn
- Cheez-Its and some 150 other types of crackers
- Packaged baked goods, including nearly 100 Little Debbie products
- Chips Ahoy and some 100 other types of cookies
- vegetable oils and Crisco products
And that’s just scratching the surface.
Shield your immune system from TBHQ
Given how widespread the use of TBHQ is, it’s a good idea to get used to looking for it on labels. But there’s a catch. And it’s a doozy. TBHQ isn’t always listed on the label.
The creepy synthetic compound HAS to be listed in the ingredients if it’s used in manufacturing. But there’s a loophole. It can also be used in packaging and can then seep out into your food.
And when you eat it, the TBHQ can potentially chip away at your immune system function over time.
So here’s an even better plan. Do your best to avoid as many packaged and ultra-processed foods as you can. Choose fresh whenever possible, including seasoning with fresh herbs and spices.
You won’t just be cutting way back on your TBHQ exposure when you do, either. You will be cutting back on hundreds of other potentially dangerous additives too.
And when you do need to use a packaged product, don’t just look for TBHQ on the label check for these other 5 cancer-linked additives while you’re at it too.
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