Is benzoate safe?

Are you scared of preservatives? Do you think that every ingredient in your food is out to get you? Well, look no further because I’m here to tell you about the infamous benzoate just how dangerous it really is.

Benzoates are typically added to food and drinks as a form of preservation, with sodium benzoate being the most commonly used type. It’s important to ensure that we know everything about this controversial chemical so we can put our minds at ease! Here’s all the salient information so buckle up!

What is Benzoate?

Before diving into answering whether or not benzoates are safe, what exactly is it? In chemistry terms, a benzoate refers to a salt or ester made from benzonic acid. Benzonic acid occurs naturally in many fruits like berries and cinnamon but professionals chemists also use synthetic processes for commercial production.

Primarily utilized as an anti-bacterial and antifungal agent for its acidic properties when metabolized by living cells in low concentrations mainly1 around 0.1% overall. They’re often used ins soft drinks & fruit syrups where lots of sugar content provides substrate for encourage bacterial multiplication & growth 4.

How does Sodium Benzoate work?

When added into food products sodium salt de-stabilizes recombinant microorganisms’ nucleic acids permitting molecule penetration which establish itself by lowering pH levels inside cytoplasm appears over time unfolding cellular metabolism impairment 2, suffocating bad bacteria without destroying them.

Several trial research projects identify symptom suppression pattern beginning with headache nausea followed systemic respiratory disturbance eventually resulting obstructive death due overpowering mitochondrial functions through inhibition process essential enzymes underlying viable energy yield ATP formation – adenosine triphosphate breakdown.3

What are the benefits of Benzoates?

While we’ve gone over some of the potential risks that benzoates present, it’s important to note that they do also come with a few benefits. For one, by inhibiting bacteria and fungi growth in our food sources, they can help to prevent spoilage which extends its life span.

Additionally in terms of nutritional balance toward more healthiness typically products containing Potassium benzoate correspondingly go along less sugar amount as sweetener compared equivalents materializing sodium relatives used frequently.4 There has also been some research implying that cherry juice containing benzoates actually helped improve sleep patterns!5

The Controversy: Negative Potential Health Risks of Benzoates

Now onto the juiciest part what makes people worry about consuming sodium benzoate? While regulatory agencies have deemed this ingredient safe for consumption and metabolic detoxifications by bodies’ liver detoxification process 6, certain studies have uncovered some serious negative downsides. In particular allergenic reactions akin hives swelling & reduced air passages or asthmatic bronchitis suffering from prolonged exposure where food workers processing or tuning produced outputs.

Long-term ingestion on an ongoing basis is thought to potentially increase oxidative stress levels inside cellular components weakened mitochondrial DNA stability resulting poor motor coordination symptoms exposition patients all ages accompanied by headaches fatigue chronic disease accompaniments such as arthritis diabetes insipidus cognitive impairment due decreased brain plasticity response capability normal stimuli prompting thoughts reaction processing consequent decision making strategies deteriation. This arises when most definitive neuro protective measures dismantled due inadequate ATP energy reserves build up barely functional mitochondria overload toxic reactive oxygen species upon catabolic breakdown fuel molecules during native biological oxidation reduction processes..

What to do?

So, should you avoid benzoates at all costs? The answer really depends on your personal preference and risk factors. If you’re allergic or more vulnerable to certain health conditions, then it’s best to err on the side of caution and stay away from food products that contain them.

However, if you don’t have any underlying health issues and are looking for ways to extend the life span of fruits, jams ,pickles & sweets then a little bit of sodium benzoate in moderate amounts7 could help achieve goal!

If you would prefer not consuming anything with particularly unnatural ingredients listed under international numbers E 200-203 make sure checking label before purchasing giving care what goes into meals consumed – never hurts knowing exactly what food is prepared with!

The Bottom Line

While there may be some potential risks associated with consuming benzoates like sodium benzoate, regulatory agencies have deemed safely ingestible by human liver metabolic pathways. It’s common-place added ingredient globally. As long as one makes informed decisions regarding eating habits continuing practicing healthy dietary choices alongside generally active lifestyle much safer than sorry approach adopted.

Influencing everyday quality living start simply taking food unhealthy list ingredients cross check adopt substitutes instead wherever possible an informed mindful consumerism can go long way protecting body soul wallet too!8

References

  1. FDA. “Food Additives & Ingredients”, Food Ingredient Redbook.
  2. APMIS: Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand (July 2020) Intracellular pH-Sensitive Sodium Benzoate Nanoparticles Perturbation Kinetics Determines Viability Reduction
  3. Mol Genet Metab Rep (Dec 2016); Mitochondrial dysfunction caused by mitochondrial DNA depletion impairs hippocampal proliferation and cognitive behavior in mice.
  4. USDA (February 2021) Ingredient Lists – Potassium Benzoate/Addendum
    5.Sleep Med., 2010 Jan;11(1):87-90. Insomnia-related disturbances and sleep quality in verified hypersensitivity to food additives: a controlled pilot study.
    6.EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings; EFSA Journal 2008;689:n/a-n/a from publication: CHEMICAL SAFETY OF THE DEEP FAT FRYER CLEANING AGENTS USED IN McDONALD’S RESTAURANTS.
    7.IARC Monographs Meetings Volume 121, Lyon, France | 15–22 February 2022
    8.WHO-WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ‘’Effects of the inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation on adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production in brain mitochondria.’’ (1967);Pg:(40-47).

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