10 Common Food Chemicals to Avoid for Better Gut Health & Natural Energy
Let’s talk about something simple that can completely shift your health:
If you can’t find it on the grocery store shelf, even if you can pronounce it — don’t eat it.
No, I’m not just calling out charcuterie boards (though we should probably talk about those processed meats..).
This one rule can change your digestion, your hormones, your skin, and your energy — because what we don’t eat matters just as much as what we do.
Your Body Recognizes Food, Not Chemicals
Here’s the thing: your body isn’t designed to process chemicals. It’s designed to use nutrients as information.
Every meal you eat sends signals to your hormones, gut, and metabolism. Real food tells your body to energize, repair, and detox naturally. Processed, chemical-laden food? That just confuses your system — and over time, leads to inflammation, cravings, bloating, and burnout.
That’s why it’s time to look at what’s really hiding behind those “healthy-looking” labels.
Top 10 Chemicals Commonly Added to Food
(And none of these are ingredients you can actually buy at the grocery store.)
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Sodium Benzoate – A preservative used in drinks and packaged foods. When combined with vitamin C, it can form benzene, a known carcinogen.
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High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) – A cheap sweetener that spikes blood sugar and is linked to insulin resistance and fatty liver.
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Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) – Enhances flavor but can cause headaches, fatigue, and bloating in sensitive individuals.
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Artificial Food Dyes (Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1) – Add color but may trigger hyperactivity and allergic reactions.
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Sodium Nitrate/Nitrite – Found in bacon and deli meats; can form nitrosamines, which are linked to cancer.
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Partially Hydrogenated Oils (Trans Fats) – Raise bad cholesterol, lower good cholesterol, and increase inflammation.
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Potassium Sorbate – A preservative in baked goods and drinks that can cause digestive irritation.
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Carrageenan – A “natural” thickener used in dairy-free milks and yogurts that may inflame the gut lining.
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Artificial Sweeteners (Aspartame, Sucralose, Acesulfame K) – Disrupt gut bacteria and increase sugar cravings.
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BHA & BHT – Found in chips and cereals to prevent spoilage but linked to hormone disruption and potential carcinogenic effects.
What You Can Buy — and Should Focus On
Clean eating doesn’t mean complicated eating. You just want foods your body recognizes.
-Sea salt
-Raw honey
-Olive oil
-Coconut sugar
-Rolled oats
-Butter or ghee
-Lemons and apple cider vinegar
-Fresh herbs and spices
-Organic produce and grass-fed meats
If you can buy it as a single ingredient, it’s real food. If you can’t… it’s likely not serving your health.
Why This Matters for Hormones, Energy, and Gut Health
When you cut back on food additives and chemicals, your body finally gets a break. Your liver can detox more effectively, your gut can heal, your blood sugar stabilizes — and your energy soars.
Most women don’t realize their fatigue, mood swings, or bloating aren’t from aging — they’re from overload. The good news? You can reverse that.
When you start fueling your body with clean, recognizable foods, you naturally:
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Reduce inflammation
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Balance hormones
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Support natural detox pathways
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Improve gut health
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Boost energy and mood
It’s the foundation of holistic health — and it’s where true healing begins.
My Simple Rule: If Your Grandma Wouldn’t Recognize It, Your Cells Won’t Either
Healthy eating doesn’t need to be trendy or complicated. It just needs to be real.
If your grandma wouldn’t know what it is, skip it. Your cells — and your energy levels — will thank you.
Ready to Learn How to Eat and Live the Natural Way?
If you’re tired of feeling sluggish, bloated, or “off,” it’s not you — it’s your food (and your stress, and your environment… but we’ll get to that)
In my Integrative Health Coaching Program- Restored and Revitalized, I help women reset their bodies naturally by focusing on the root causes— not just the symptoms.
You’ll learn how to:
- Rebuild your metabolism and gut health
- Support your hormones naturally
- Regain sustainable, natural energy
- Create meals that fuel your body and fit your lifestyle
If you’re ready to ditch the overwhelm and finally feel like you again, this is your next step.
Apply for Integrative Health Coaching
Because when you nourish your body with real food, everything else — your energy, your mood, your confidence — falls into place.
