As part of a healthy lifestyle, you undoubtedly try to be careful about what you eat. You probably choose lots of fresh foods and carefully read the labels of any packaged foods you purchase, checking for calorie counts and to make sure the item doesn’t include too much sodium and sugar. But you may not read the ingredient list quite as closely, and even if you do, many people are not familiar with the names of every additive. And according to new research, one of these common additives might be contributing to health and weight problems.
And simply eliminating it from your diet may help you lose weight and avoid diabetes. Read on to find out how.
Study on Propionate Preservative and Weight Gain
A study, which took place at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts, found that consumption of propionate, a preservative frequently added to foods, may be associated with an increased risk of obesity and diabetes. These results are based on an interesting two-pronged investigation that included both animal and human subjects to determine the effects of propionate, which is a common ingredient in bread, baked goods, fruit preserves, and chocolates (yes, chocolates too) because it helps inhibit the growth of mold.
The first segment of the research involved adding propionate to the water fed to mice. Immediately following the mice ingesting the propionate-laced water, the investigators discovered a marked rise in the hormones glucagon and FABP4, which triggered an increase in the production of glucose in the liver and a corresponding increase in blood insulin levels. Eventually, the mice that experienced longer-term exposure to the propionate over several weeks gained more weight than the mice not fed propionate, and they also developed resistance to insulin, potentially setting them up for diabetes.
Now, as compelling as those findings are, we all know that animal studies often do not translate directly to the same results in people. That’s why it is a huge positive that the researchers also included a human component in this investigation. For this segment of the research, 14 adults in overall good health were given a meal, either with a propionate supplement in a dose similar to the amount received by eating a meal of processed foods or a placebo. After they finished eating, blood was drawn and the same hormonal response that took place in the mice occurred in the people, as well as the jump in their blood insulin levels.
Weight Gain & Diabetes Findings
While the human side of the study was obviously limited by the extremely small size of the population sample, when put together with the animal version of the experiment, it provides some solid evidence of the detrimental effects of propionate. Obviously, there are a variety of factors that influence weight gain and the development of diabetes, but these findings strongly suggest that the regular consumption of propionate may be one of them—and an important one at that.
This is hardly the first time a preservative added to food has been linked to health issues, either. The nitrate preservatives used in processed meats (not organic) have long been known to be harmful. In fact, a 2010 study at the Harvard School of Public Health showed that people who eat these kinds of processed meats have a significantly higher risk of developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
How To Avoid Preservatives
Ultimately, the current research serves as a good reminder to be vigilant about our dietary choices. While it is probably not realistic to completely eliminate every preservative from our diets, we can certainly limit their consumption. That begins by focusing your shopping on organic with a heavy focus on fruits and vegetables; meats; fish; and other fresh items that will ideally make up the bulk of your diet.
Limit the amount of prepackaged foods you add to your cart and junk food like cookies and chips and sugared beverages. Be sure and check the labels of anything you buy for propionate. It can be listed as calcium propionate on food labels and is also known as propanoic acid, sodium propionate, calcium salt, and calcium propanoate. Eliminating it from your diet may be a simple trick to help you lose weight and avoid diabetes.
Be sure to browse Whitaker’s Natural Market for lots of excellent organic preservative free food options on your next visit!
Portions of this Health Tip come from Baseline of Health.
