May 29, 2023

10 Toxic Ingredients in Your Coffee Creamer

The age-old phrase, “How do you take your coffee?” is one that everyone has answered at one point or another. Do you take it with cream, or without? With sugar, or without? Just black?


Coffee by itself is rich in health benefits like reducing the risk of heart failure, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, while also strengthening your DNA and protecting your liver.


What used to consist of just one ingredient, coffee beans, has transformed into toxic, sugary sludge.


1. Thickeners (Carrageenan, Gellan Gum, Cellulose Gum)

Did you know that most coffee creamers aren't actually made with cream?

Instead, they get their rich, velvety taste from thickening agents and emulsifiers like carrageenan—a thickener, stabilizer, and texturizer found in non-dairy products that’s known to cause inflammation, digestive problems, and cancer

In one long-term animal study, animals were fed a concentration of 0.1 to 5% carrageenan and in just 6 to 12 weeks, colitis and tumors began to appear

Further research indicates that this food additive causes the gut to become irritated and inflamed—creating holes in the lining of the gut.  When food gets caught in these holes, it wreaks havoc on the digestive system, leading to chronic illness.

2. Fillers (Locust Bean Gum)

Fillers like locust bean gum—while generally considered safe, are just unnecessary.

Don’t worry, locust bean gum is NOT made from locusts (a type of grasshopper). It’s a natural food thickener derived from the seeds of carob trees. Although safe to consume, some individuals may be allergic to it, causing breathing problems and asthma.

3. Hydrogenated Oils (Vegetable Oil or Palm Oil)

Hydrogenated oil is a type of trans fat that food manufacturers use to keep their food and beverages fresher, longer.  So, if an ingredient label contains the word “hydrogenated” in it, stay away. In 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that removing it from one’s diet could prevent thousands of heart attacks each year.

Two of the more popular hydrogenated oils include vegetable oil and palm oil.

At first glance, vegetable oil may seem promising. I mean, the word “vegetable” is in it–it must be healthy, right?

Wrong.

Vegetable oil is high in linoleic acid–an omega-6 polyunsaturated fat–which is linked to a variety of health issues including coronary heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and asthma. Yikes!

The reason linoleic acid is so detrimental to one’s health is because it can’t be synthesized (it builds up within your body when too much is consumed).

4. Artificial Flavors

You see the words “artificial flavors” on the majority of packaged food and beverages in your grocery store. But, what does it really mean?

Artificial flavors are just that–flavors created in a lab that mimic the flavor of the real thing. Think: Caramel, vanilla, mocha, strawberry...all the delicious flavors that a company wants in their products, but doesn’t want to pay for.

In 2012, consumers were outraged (and rightfully so) to learn that Starbucks used cochineal extract–a color additive derived from insect shells–to dye their strawberry Frappuccino drinks. Thankfully, after the outrage, the company decided to transition to lycopene, a pigment found in tomatoes .

5. Dipotassium Phosphate

There’s a lot of contradicting controversy surrounding dipotassium phosphate–an emulsifier derived from phosphorus . Wha t started out as GRAS (generally recognized as safe) shifted into being hazardous, and is now up for debate yet again.

Natural phosphate is completely safe–healthy even. However, inorganic phosphate can heighten one’s levels of phosphate, which is dangerous for those with chronic kidney disease.

In addition, it has been linked to an increase in mineral deposits on the walls of arteries and veins (i.e. vascular calcification) and mortality among dialysis patients.

6. Calcium Carbonate

Calcium carbonate is derived from ground limestone.

It’s often used as an antacid, and although it’s generally recognized as safe (GRAS), if an overdose occurs, it can cause abdominal pain, bone pain, irregular heartbeat, and more.

7. Polysorbate 60

Although polysorbate 60 is recognized as safe by the FDA and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), one of its main ingredients is ethylene oxide–a highly flammable irritant that is toxic when consumed in high amounts.

Its main purpose is to act as an emulsifier, foaming agent, dough conditioner, dispersing agent, and wetting agent (none of which sound like something I want in my coffee creamer).

Essentially, it’s an additive with many different uses—and health is not one of them.

8. Chemical Preservatives

Preservatives protect your food from mold, air, bacteria, fungi, yeast, and food contamination. Here’s the catch: There are preservatives that are natural and one’s that are chemically manufactured...

Two chemically manufactured preservatives include:

  • Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)
  • Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)

These two preservatives keep foods from changing color, changing flavor, or becoming rancid.

One study found that BHA and BHT negatively affected sleep by altering serotonin and norepinephrine levels (a stress hormone released by the brain when it perceives a stressful event has occurred). In addition, the use of BHA and BHT have been linked to endocrine-disrupting effects and reproductive disorders.

Although they’re generally recognized as safe in the U.S., they’re BANNED in many other countries including Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, and throughout Europe.

9. Artificial Sweeteners

“Sugar-free”...but at what cost?

Artificial sweetners like aspartame, sucralose, and acesulfame potassium are sugar substitutes that duplicate the effect of sugar in taste, with little to no calories. Which isn’t necessarily a good thing, zero calorie products actually lead to weight gain.

Side effects of artificial sweeteners include:

  • Allergic reactions such as hives and swelling
  • Bladder cancer
  • Bloating 
  • Brain tumors
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea 
  • Infertility 
  • Seizures
  • Weight gain

10. Sugar

Did you know that Americans consume 152 pounds of sugar each year?

The reason for this is because sugar goes by dozens of different names.

Names for sugar include:

  • Dextrose
  • Maltose
  • Glucose
  • Fructose
  • Corn sweetener
  • Honey
  • Corn syrup
  • Sucrose
  • Sorghum syrup
  • Sorbitol
  • Brown sugar
  • Lactose
  • Molasses
  • Syrup
  • Fruit juice concentrate
  • High-fructose corn syrup

The FDA’s recommended daily amount (RDA) of sugar is 50 grams (or 12.5 teaspoons).


Side effects of sugar include:

  • Acne
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Elevated cholesterol levels
  • Elevated uric acid
  • Fatigue
  • Inflammation 
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Metabolic syndrome
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Weight gain


NativeTip: Check the ingredient label of not only your coffee creamer, but your milk, ketchup, salad dressing, yogurt, and anything else that’s packaged in a box, bag, can, or carton.


At Eaton Chiropractic we look at your body and your life as a whole. If you have a friend, family member or coworker who is looking to truly elevate their health have them give the team a call at 770-429-9733 for an initial consultation done at our expense. We are in network with all insurance, including Medicare and Kaiser.



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