8 surprisingly toxic foods that almost everyone eats on a daily basis

Modern food production is chock full of chemicals and fillers, neither of which are good for your health. From pesticides and growth hormones to artificial colorings and flavorings, foods these days can often do more harm than good.

Health experts have long touted the dangers of eating a wide variety of non-organic foods, however, there is consistent overlap in foods that they avoid. To boot, since not everyone has access to organic food 24/7, health experts swear by skipping these 8 foods at all costs to reduce short and long-term health risks.

Canned Tomatoes

Resin linings in tin cans contain dangerous bisphenol-A (BPA) or synthetic estrogens that have been directly linked to infertility, diabetes, heart disease and obesity. The interaction of canned tomatoes and tin cans leads to BPA’s being leached into the product.

Instead, opt to buy organic tomatoes from your local farmers market or food store. If you’re looking for long-lasting tomatoes, find tomatoes stores in a glass bottle or Tetra Pak boxes.

Corn-Fed Beef

Cattle farmers feed their animals corn and soybeans to fatten them up. But, corn-fed beef means less nutrients for those consuming them. A study conducted by the USDA found that compared to corn-fed beef, grass-fed beef is consistently higher in beta-carotene, Vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Plus, grass-fed beef is lower in inflammatory omega-6’s and lower in bad saturated fats linked to heart disease.
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Microwave Popcorn

Toxicologists wouldn’t be caught dead eating microwave popcorn. The linking of a bag of microwave popcorn is filled with dangerous chemicals, like perfluorooctanoic acid (a class of compounds that are linked to infertility). To boot, studies show links to liver, testicular and pancreatic cancers. Microwaving these chemicals causes them to vaporize and migrate into the popcorn.

If you’re looking to fill you popcorn fix, try popping organic kernels in a skillet instead!

Non-Organic Potatoes

Root vegetables absorb pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides that leach into the soil. Non-Organic potatoes are often treated with fungicides during the growing process and consistently sprayed with herbicides before harvesting. Plus, after they’re dug up, they’re treated with more chemicals to prevent them from sprouting.

Farm directors know the dangers of this process and swear by organic potatoes. Simply wishing non-organic potatoes will not get rid of the chemicals that have been absorbed into their core.

Milk Produced With Artificial Hormones

Conventional milk producers treat dairy cows with growth hormones (rBGH) to boost their milk production and output. However, this hormone increases cow udder infections that can leach pus into the milk and lead to higher levels of the IGF-1 that has been directly linked to breast, colon, and prostate cancers.

Take cancer researchers’ advice and buy organic milk, produced without artificial hormones – at all costs!

Farmed Salmon

Farmed salmon is fed poultry litter and high-processed soy products to cut costs. Unfortunately, this unnatural diet causes the fish to be lower in Vitamin D, higher carcinogens, and pesticides. Farmed salmon, in addition, is treated with large doses of antibiotics and pesticides to increase their size and amount.

Always opt for wild-caught Alaskan salmon and stay away from marketing traps, like “fresh Atlantic,” as these are simply code for “farmed.”

Apples

Apples’ consistently fall on “Dirty Dozen” lists (the top 12 foods that contain the most pesticides). Apples cannot develop a resistance to farming pests, and therefore, are sprayed with herbicides and pesticides. Across all markets, non-organic apple test positive for a wider variety and concentration of pesticide residues.

Whenever possible, buy organic apples! Your body will thank you.

GMO Unfermented Soy

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are directly associated with health concerns, like DNA manipulation. Fermented and natural soybeans are the only variety of soy fit for human consumption, yet 90% of the soy on the market is genetically modified. GMO soy affects your natural hormone balances and have been linked to increased cancer rates.

When purchasing soy, simply check labels for non-GMO or organic soy products.