1) Palm oil is a thing: So, for you guys who haven't heard about the whole palm oil industry abomination, the process is absolutely wrecking Indonesian forests. Sure, some of you might not care about a far away place, but at the end of the day we have one planet. So you can run, but you sure as hell can’t hide. Back to the issue, not only are we talking about the physical environment, but the animals that come along with it. Indonesia actually has the world’s largest share of endangered mammals. Think about what is at risk, and for what? A chocolate softener that causes acne and weight gain? No thanks.

Not only is palm oil bad for the environment, but it turns out it’s pretty horrific for your body too. The Center for Science and Public Interest (I didn’t even know that existed! How awesome does that place sound?!) considers it worse than canola oil, and have research showing that it could promote heart diseases. It is often referred to as “tropical grease,” to put it simply. So do yourself a favor and stop eating palm oil, for your sake, for the environment, and for the animals that call that place their home.

2) Aspartame; ew: So, aspartame has been linked *controversially* to causing cancer, although many companies will claim it is safe, I find it absolutely insane that we still consume it. I think its an obvious display of how capitalistic our medical system is, because they’re making bank by sneaking this into everything. Look out for it, its in gum, its in diet soda, its in yogurt, granola, cookies, my goodness its like a backwards world for Where’s Waldo. If you don’t believe it is a carcinogen, that is okay, as I mentioned previously, many American studies will show that there is little to no link. That being said, side effects of its consumption also include seizures, headaches, depression, attention deficit disorder, dizziness, weight gain, birth defects, lupus, Alzheimer’s disease, and multiple sclerosis. Not to mention, it makes you hungry. The irony being of course, that those consuming a diet sugar most likely are trying to curb their hunger. Your body does not understand how to process this foreign version of glucose, and therefore begins to crave sugar because it wants the real thing.

3) The prominence of parabens: parabens are used mostly in make-up, and have been found to be linked to cancer, especially breast cancer. As Eleni N. Gage states on realsimple.com, “in 2004 British cancer researcher Philippa Darbre, Ph.D., found parabens present in malignant breast tumors. As a result, experts in many countries are recommending limits on paraben levels in cosmetic products.” Parabens disrupt hormone levels in the body, and create a surplus of estrogen or testosterone. These reproductive hormones regulate our body’s functioning, and The Washington Post explains the health risks to be “chronic diseases, cancers and a host of developmental disorders and fertility problems.” Since this concern became rather popular belief, the number of products boasting “no parabens” has vastly increased, allowing you more options, and no excuse to avoid this nasty chemical.

4) High fructose corn syrup is still around…and kickin: I was starting to wonder why I was getting such bad hangovers after making myself Bloody Marys, until I read that high fructose corn syrup was the fourth ingredient in the mix I was buying. I mean, considering that the first three are water, tomato concentrate, and vinegar, you would think they could do better. At that point, you’re totally negating the point of drinking a “nutrient rich” beverage. Yes, this ingredient does seem like its everywhere, but it is absolutely worth avoiding. Here is a helpful website about what brands do not use HFCS, http://www.celestialhealing.net/foods_with_no_HFCS... but you'd be surprised how many more products exclude it. Trader Joe's has a large variety of foods that do not contain HFCS, and that is where I do most of my shopping. High fructose corn syrup has been proven to cause diabetes, obesity, heart conditions and failure, blot clots, reproductive issues, mercury poisoning, ADHD, depression, anxiety, and contribute to memory loss. It's addictive, it's genetically modified, and it's nasty. It's just not worth it.