Have you ever stumbled upon a nutrition label that you thought could be in a foreign language? Was it ridiculously long with names and numbers you had trouble pronouncing? You’ve most likely encountered a nutrition label containing artificial preservatives. Artificial preservatives or chemical preservatives are chemical substances that get added to food during the manufacturing process. By using preservatives, you can increase the shelf-life of food products and make sure that there is no loss of taste or flavour in the product over time, but it comes at a cost (your health of course)!

Some of the most popular preservatives that we’ve all come into contact with are sodium benzoate, sorbic acid, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). 

- Sodium Benzoate (211) - This is a preservative and a microbial agent that is commonly used in foods such as soda, bottled lemon juice, pickles, jelly, salad dressing, soy sauce, and a range of other condiments. 

- Sorbic Acid - Is a preservative that is most commonly used in wines, cheeses, baked goods, fresh produce, and refrigerated meat and shellfish.

- Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) (320) & Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) (321): These two preservatives are antioxidants added to many processed foods aimed to prevent fats from going bad. They are typically found in margarine, spreads, salad dressings, and instant mashed potatoes. 

 

What’s the harm?

Preliminary studies on these well-known preservatives have found the following possible harmful effects:

• Mood and Behaviour
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Eczema and skin issues
• Hay Fever
• Respiratory Issues
• Sickness after eating
• Nausea
• Headaches
• Weight gain
• Inflammation 

 

Why Nourish’d Chooses to be 100% Preservative Free 

At the end of the day, your health is wealth. Why risk it? At Nourish’d, we don’t believe in using preservatives or fillers. Our menu is 100% preservative-free and gluten-free, meaning no hidden nasties that may leave you feeling sick, weak, tired, or experiencing any of the above symptoms. We’re committed to having no B.S. ingredients in our meals. We keep our food natural, tasty, and real for you! You deserve better, and we want to give you the absolute best - that means knowing exactly what you are eating, which means no numbers or words that you cannot pronounce. 

 

Tips on living a preservative-free life

Small steps are better than no steps at all. If you want to decrease the number of preservatives in your life, we recommend starting to take notice of the ingredients listed on nutrition labels. Go through the nutrition labels of the items in your pantry or the next time you are doing your weekly shop! If you see any labels with words you can’t pronounce or a bunch of numbers, kick it to the curb girl! P.S. We’re always posting food comparisons and the latest preservative information on our Instagram, so make sure to give it a follow! 

Last but certainly not least, try a preservative-free meal delivery service, like Nourish’d, to make the transition easy. With 20 meal options on offer every week, you can guarantee to never run out of options and have peace of mind that what you are consuming is 100% preservative-free. See our delicious menu for what’s on offer this week!