The holistic nutritionist and certified personal trainer emphasized the importance of being aware of the products you consume

When it comes to additives in the food industry, Americans are split into two camps. According to Pew Research Center, just over half of them (51%) believe they can harm one’s health over the years. Others say the amount of additives is too small to have a strong negative effect on people’s well-being.

The research center also revealed that there are over 10,000 additives used in food processing, around 3,000 of which the FDA defines as "generally recognized as safe". They are categorized based on types and application. Some examples of the former include preservatives, sweeteners, and food colorants, among others, while the latter comprises such groups as confectionery, bakery products, beverages, and more.

When it comes to global statistics, the leading types of food additives in market size are thickeners and stabilizers. Thickeners, such as starches or gums, are often found in soups and sauces, while stabilizers are common ingredients in mayonnaise, margarine, or even ice cream.

There are international standards that regulate the usage of food additives. However, different countries might have different policies when it comes to some of them. That is why, as Josh mentioned in his video, certain products that are considered fine in the US can be banned in other countries. It is believed that as much as 80% of processed foods sold in the States wouldn’t make it to the shelves in stores abroad due to specific ingredients.

Some of the foods Josh discussed could be considered healthy, but they are often dangerous nevertheless. “I’m a holistic nutritionist who specializes in gut diseases and even people who eat really healthy can get sick. We mostly understand why junk food is bad, but we rarely understand why 'healthy' foods can be bad,” he told Bored Panda.

“We are still learning so much about our bodies and how our bacteria work. We have more microbes than DNA and we need to take care of them,” he added.

When it comes to the ways of taking care of ourselves and eating healthy, the nutritionist recommended buying local. “The best advice I can give is for people to try to make friends with local farmers and attend farmers markets as best they can. It’s not a perfect system but buying from small, local farms is often a safer bet than mega marts and big food chain suppliers,” Josh said.

Josh’s video encouraged a lot of people to share their thoughts in the comments