Sodium Benzoate

                                                               



                              
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Sodium benzoate is a type of salt that may occur naturally in some foods but is more likely to be chemically produced and added as a preservative to foods.

Like corn syrup it's everywhere. What was shocking to me is that this chemical is used in fireworks. While we are watching those beautiful fireworks display on the 4th of july. Little do we know it's in most of the foods we've already eaten/drinked earlier that day. It's used in sodas, processed foods, salad dressings, and even some vitamins that most of us take on a daily basis. Soda is banned from my refrigerator. I stopped drinking them a looooong time ago.

 

There's always two sides to a story and boy oh boy there's alot of debate about this. Especially, when it comes to the side affects among kids. Some experts say that it cause ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder). While others say there is no reliable proof of that. All I know is, I don't want what is used in fireworks to be in the foods that I eat. I don't want to explode.



Some foods naturally contain sodium benzoate like apples, plums, and cranberries. Since they are in their natural state there's no real side effects. However, if I'm eating an apple and drink it down with a glass of OJ then that's when it becomes a serious health issue. Based on what I've read so far, when sodium benzoate is mixed with ascorbic acid(vitamin C) it forms a cancer causing chemical called benzene. This is really an eye opener. All the more reasons to read those labels and go organic. I'm working on that big time. I think I need to stop reading these articles they keep scaring the ISH out of me. But knowing is better than not knowing. The journey continues.....

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