Caramel Color"Though the research revealing the potential carcinogenicity of caramel color was done using animals, I still think it’s better to play it safe and avoid any products with this ingredient." —Joy Bauer, MS, RD, the nutrition and health expert for NBC’s TODAY Show and Founder of NourishSnacks CarrageenanBrooke Alpert, MS, R.D., founder of B Nutritious “It’s a thickener that’s often found in dairy and milk products, and I’m not convinced on its safety yet. So until it’s proven safe, it’s something I avoid.” — Artificial Sweeteners “Yes, artificial sweeteners are void of calories—but their negatives surely outweigh their ‘zero-calorie’ claim to fame. The unfortunate truth is that these processed sweeteners have been linked with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and increased caloric intake throughout the day. Artificial sweeteners and sugar substitutes are up to 700 times sweeter than natural sugar and only make you crave more, while loading you up with chemicals.” —Keri Glassman MORE: Do Artificial Sweeteners Really Cause Diabetes? Trans Fats “These are artificial unsaturated fats that are added to processed foods to increase shelf life. Unfortunately, they also increase your risk for heart disease.” —Michelle Davenport, PhD, RD, a Silicon Valley nutritionist (Check out these 4 Surprising Sources of Trans Fats.) High-Fructose Corn SyrupKeri Glassman “High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a good indication that the food is highly processed with lots of added sugars. HFCS is not limited to sodas and sugary drinks, so don’t be fooled! HFCS is often in many multigrain breads, muffins, ketchup, and salad dressings.” — Sugar “If it’s in the first three ingredients—in any form—I won’t buy the product.” —Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, RD, a wellness manager at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) “I don’t love the very high sodium content that goes along with this ingredient.” —Keri Gans, RD, author of The Small Change Diet This article 7 Ingredients Nutritionists Always Avoid originally ran on WomensHealthMag.com MORE: 7 Ways Consuming Too Much Salt Affects Your Body
