Food dyes like Red 30 or Yellow 5 and 6 are more common than you’d imagine and are in most of the things we consume. In fact, the consumption of artificial food coloring has risen significantly in the last 50 years, even though the dyes are made from petroleum. Although these additives may seem safe, some of them have been shown to have cancer-causing contaminants.

A lot of people love Keurig’s K-Cups, but their plastic coffee pods can actually pose a lot of health risks. Heating the pods can lead to the leaching of chemicals that have been shown to cause hormone disruptions over time.

Some coffee pods also contain furan, which is a toxic substance that can affect your digestion and liver. It’s, therefore, better to skip the plastic pods or simply cut down on your coffee consumption.

A liter of bottled water can contain up to 240,000 microplastics! These plastic fragments can easily pass into the stomach. Over time, they can leach into different areas of the body and cause major health issues. The best way to avoid this is by using reusable bottles that are made of glass, stainless steel, or aluminum.

A lot of the cooking oil that people buy is actually fake and highly processed. They contain a lot of artificial ingredients and cheap additives. It’s better to use single-origin oil because it means that the product would have been made from fresh ingredients.

The sulfates used in shampoos create a lathering effect that helps remove dirt and oil from hair. The problem is that these chemicals can be too strong and exacerbate skin conditions like eczema or dermatitis. The sulfates can also strip the natural oils from your hair and make it more fragile or frizzy.

The sulfates in our laundry detergents are extremely effective in cleaning the dirt from our clothes. The problem is that they’re also strong that they can also affect our skin and overall physical health. It’s better to use detergents that don’t have artificial fragrances and are free from SLS.

It would have been “sweet” if artificial sweeteners weren’t on this list, but they’re often the subject of heavy debate. Although most health authorities consider them to be generally safe, they tend to contain chemicals like Saccharin, Sucralose, and Aspartame.

In a few studies, the sweeteners were found to cause unpleasant symptoms like headaches and, in severe cases, seizures. Saccharin and Sucralose were also shown to decrease healthy gut bacteria in a few instances.

Let’s say you wash your dishes with detergent pods, which means that in many cases, residue from the product may be left on your utensils. This can then enter your system when you eat, drink, or use your dishes. Many dishwashing pods also contain alcohol ethoxylates, which some studies say can disrupt gut health. 

Although there’s not enough evidence backing the claim, it would be better to switch to healthier alternatives. You can look out for dishwashing detergent pods that have plant-derived fragrances and are made from natural ingredients.

A good sunscreen is the best barrier of protection against the sun’s UV rays, but shockingly enough it can also be hiding toxic chemicals. The FDA found that there are 6 questionable substances, namely, Oxybenzone, Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octinoxate, Octocrylene, and Octisalate, which can affect peoples’ hormones, cause skin irritation, and even fertility issues. 

Luckily, there are sunscreens without these chemicals; you’ve just got to spend a bit of time looking for them.

Next time you want to enjoy a healthy plate of sushi, you might think of this. Almost 74% of sushi that’s sold at grocery stores is mislabeled. They often con you into paying higher prices for cheap alternatives. For example, the wild salmon that you think you’re eating is most likely farmed.

Another thing you have to look out for is fake tuna. White tuna is often swapped out for something called Escolar, which can cause intestinal problems. 

Apparently, there is a real and a fake cinnamon. Ceylon cinnamon is the true one and Cassia is the fake product that contains a chemical called coumarin. It’s a substance that’s used in making rat poison! 

The best way to spot the difference between the two is by reading packaging labels. You can also spot Ceylon cinnamon by its tan-brown color and light flaky feel.

Green powders are considered an extremely healthy supplement made from many superfoods, but, in reality, they’re highly unregulated. Because of this, you could end up with products that actually don’t fit your dietary requirements. 

In some cases, the supplements may lead to people consuming more nutrients than their bodies actually need. The best thing to do is to consult a doctor and then only take these supplements.

Seed oils are obtained from plants either by a mechanical or chemical extraction process. Since they are typically very processed and contain high levels of omega-6 fats, it might be healthier to steer clear of such oils.

The wholesome and refreshing tea that you get from tea bags can actually be leaching microplastics into your system. Along with their unsafe plastic fibers, a chemical called epichlorohydrin is added to them in order to keep them from bursting. 

Rather than sticking to your nanoplastic-ridden tea, it might be better to look for loose-leaf tea. You can brew it and then have it after straining it well.

These products often have an ingredient called DEET that can cause skin irritation and a few other adverse reactions after long exposure. It can also cause damage to the environment at very high levels.

Overall, this chemical isn’t considered toxic at normal levels, but it’s better to be safe and avoid ingesting it or applying it over cuts and wounds.

Everyone wants to smell nice which is why most people use different perfumes. These fragrances actually contain many harmful compounds in them that can affect your skin and even cause headaches depending on how frequently you use the product. 

The current FDA laws also do not require perfume companies to disclose fragrance ingredients, which means many harmful chemicals can pass under the radar. The best way to stay safe from this is to check labels and avoid bottles that have no information about the chemicals used in them.

Everyone loves a good cup of coffee to wake them up in the morning, but the pre-ground coffee that we use is actually not so pure. They’re often mixed with a lot of ground up foreign objects like that just look like coffee because people cannot tell the difference. 

Along with that, some brands have also been found to contain unhealthy contaminants like Ochratoxin A, Acrylamide, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Yeast, and Pesticides. The only way to avoid this is by buying whole-bean coffee or getting pre-ground coffee from trusted sources.

Pepper is a beloved spice that can help elevate many dishes. The only problem is that ground black pepper can be “peppered” with a whole host of other ingredients. Sometimes, companies use ground-up papaya seeds because of their low cost as an adulterant for pepper. 

The best way to avoid getting duped by such practices is to get whole peppercorns and grind them yourself.

All truffle oil is fake because they actually use only flavoring without adding any real pieces in it. These additives and artifical ingredients just aren’t as good for the body. Plus, you’ll be stuck paying for grossly overpriced products that aren’t worth it at all.

Apparently, these drinks are highly pasteurized and often contain compounds from many different sources. In some cases, the fruits used are also bad quality and processed in unhealthy conditions. 

Since kids are often the biggest consumers, it is important to be cognizant of what type of juice you’re buying. It’s better to buy juice that’s not from concentrate.

The delicious parmesan that you’re eating might contain sawdust! Two filler ingredients that are found in this cheese are usually rice flour and cellulose. The second ingredient is an anti-clumping agent, which is literally derived from wood pulp.

Rather than getting cheap quality products and sawdust in the name of cheese, it’s better to make sure your parmesan was made in Italy.