14/09/2026
New article: The Hidden Ingredients Reshaping Your Gut ā Part 1
Emulsifiers, Thickeners, Preservatives and the New Science of Gut Damage
Ultraāprocessed foods are rich in additives that improve texture, shelf life and appearance. Many of these reach the colon largely unchanged and interact directly with the gut microbiome and intestinal barrier.
Part 1 of this 3āpart series synthesises current evidence on:
⢠Emulsifiers and thickeners (carboxymethylcellulose, polysorbate 80, carrageenan, maltodextrin) and their effects on mucus thickness, microbial encroachment, SCFA production and inflammation.
⢠Preservatives (benzoates, sorbates, sulfites, nitrites/nitrates) and their links to dysbiosis, reduced beneficial taxa, altered SCFAs and potential barrier stress.
⢠Titanium dioxide (E171) and why EFSA no longer considers it safe as a food additive, based on genotoxicity and gut findings.
⢠The role of sulfateāreducing bacteria and hydrogen sulfide in inhibiting butyrate oxidation, damaging colonocytes and promoting inflammation.
⢠Practical, nonāorthorexic strategies to reduce highāadditive foods (especially ultraāprocessed snacks, ready meals, processed meats, industrial desserts and some supplements) while supporting gut health with a diverse, fibreārich, minimally processed diet.
This series is designed for clinicians, nutrition professionals and health-conscious consumers who want an evidenceābased, and proper review of food additives and gut health.
Read Part 1 here: https://www.nutrunity.com/updates/additives-microbiome-intestinal-barrier-and-inflammation