- #1
timeuser84
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Hi, is this preservative bad the human body or not healthy? It's in my honey bunches of oats cereal.
Question about the added preservative BHT
- Thread starter timeuser84
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Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the health implications of the preservative BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) found in Honey Bunches of Oats cereal, with a focus on its potential effects on the human body compared to other ingredients, particularly added sugars. Participants explore various health concerns, including Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and metabolic diseases.
Discussion Character
- Debate/contested
- Technical explanation
- Conceptual clarification
Main Points Raised
- Some participants question whether BHT is harmful to human health, particularly in the context of its presence in cereal.
- One participant suggests that the added sugar content in the cereal is a more significant health concern than BHT.
- Another participant provides a perspective on the lethal dose of BHT, comparing it to other potential risks associated with the cereal.
- Concerns are raised about the implications of excessive sucrose consumption, particularly in relation to NAFLD and metabolic diseases in adolescents and adults.
- A participant emphasizes the role of fructose in health issues, arguing that the metabolism of fructose is problematic compared to glucose.
- Data is presented regarding average sugar consumption in the US, suggesting that many individuals exceed recommended limits.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express differing views on the health risks associated with BHT versus added sugars, particularly sucrose. There is no consensus on the relative dangers of these components, and the discussion remains unresolved regarding the overall health impact of BHT in the context of cereal consumption.
Contextual Notes
Participants reference various studies and data sources to support their claims, but there are unresolved questions regarding definitions of "excess" sugar consumption and the specific health impacts of BHT versus added sugars.
- #2
berkeman
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What have you read about it on the web? Look for good sources of info like NCBI, etc.
- #3
Vanadium 50
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timeuser84 said:
Hard to tell without more information. How many tons per day do you usually eat?
- #4
phyzguy
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I would worry more about the health impact of the large amount of added sugar in your cereal than this preservative.
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Vanadium 50
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A lethal dose of BHT in Honey Bunches of Oats is only about a million calories. The cyanide in the almonds will get you first.
- #6
jim mcnamara
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After google-ing 'honey bunches of oats nutrition' I find that 2/3 cup of dry cereal contains 14g of added sugar - sucrose. Sucrose in excess is implicated in NAFLD in pre-adult teens. Several RCT's -- Robert Ludwig at UCSF, show likely causation.
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is strongly associated with Metabolic Disease and its endpoints: early onset of type II Diabetes, and Cardiovascular disease
So I do not agree with @Vanadium 50 - you won't die from cyanide in almonds. Or too many calories. I vote for NAFLD->Obesity->Metabolic Disease and its sequelae as your primary cause of death by cereal consumption.
Of course you may simply eat one bowl per week... problem solved.
I'll put links if someone actually wants to read them.
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is strongly associated with Metabolic Disease and its endpoints: early onset of type II Diabetes, and Cardiovascular disease
So I do not agree with @Vanadium 50 - you won't die from cyanide in almonds. Or too many calories. I vote for NAFLD->Obesity->Metabolic Disease and its sequelae as your primary cause of death by cereal consumption.
Of course you may simply eat one bowl per week... problem solved.
I'll put links if someone actually wants to read them.
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Tom.G
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Please define "excess" for both pre-adult teens and, if applicable, for NAFLD in adults.jim mcnamara said:
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jim mcnamara
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@Tom.G
Sure. My answer was aimed for the OP. US humans of any age are at risk. There are case studies of type II diabetes patients. Absurdly enough: in the US type II occurs at almost any age, but incidence rate is an increasing function of age and population:
Adolescents --
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3874486/
So all of this is applicable to the entire US population.
Sucrose is a dimer - fructose and glucose. Fructose is the problem. Glucose is not.
Our fructose metabolism evolved as a means of getting fruit like berries in the human diet. It is relatively new to primates and evolved in support of our need for Vitamin C. Glucose metabolism (like Krebs Cycle) is truly ancient. Our bodes are really good at using it, not so much with fructose.
Cane sugar and/or high fructose corn syrup are new to our diet. Our biochemistry did not keep up with the changes.
I hope this paper is readable enough to answer your questions about the relationship of fructose consumption to NAFLD.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5893377/
The average US citizen consumes 152 pounds per year of sugar. Approx: 68946g. Divide that by 365 and you will see excess.
Data sources:
Per US HHS, 152 pounds of sugar came from here:
https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/nhp/documents/sugar.pdf
About 15g/day of Corn Syrup from here:
https://www.statista.com/statistics...mption-of-high-fructose-corn-syrup-in-the-us/
Perhaps this why the US FDA mandated the "added sugars" line in the nutrition label on processed foods.
Sure. My answer was aimed for the OP. US humans of any age are at risk. There are case studies of type II diabetes patients. Absurdly enough: in the US type II occurs at almost any age, but incidence rate is an increasing function of age and population:
Adolescents --
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3874486/
So all of this is applicable to the entire US population.
Sucrose is a dimer - fructose and glucose. Fructose is the problem. Glucose is not.
Our fructose metabolism evolved as a means of getting fruit like berries in the human diet. It is relatively new to primates and evolved in support of our need for Vitamin C. Glucose metabolism (like Krebs Cycle) is truly ancient. Our bodes are really good at using it, not so much with fructose.
Cane sugar and/or high fructose corn syrup are new to our diet. Our biochemistry did not keep up with the changes.
I hope this paper is readable enough to answer your questions about the relationship of fructose consumption to NAFLD.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5893377/
The average US citizen consumes 152 pounds per year of sugar. Approx: 68946g. Divide that by 365 and you will see excess.
Data sources:
Per US HHS, 152 pounds of sugar came from here:
https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/nhp/documents/sugar.pdf
About 15g/day of Corn Syrup from here:
https://www.statista.com/statistics...mption-of-high-fructose-corn-syrup-in-the-us/
Perhaps this why the US FDA mandated the "added sugars" line in the nutrition label on processed foods.
Last edited:
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