Baking powder, as a chemical loosening agent commonly used in modern baking, plays an indispensable role in making fluffy, delicate pastries. However, there has been controversy about the effects of baking powder on human health. With people's increasing concern about food safety, the safety of baking powder has also become a hot topic. So, is baking powder harmful to the human body?1. Composition and type of baking powderBaking powder is mainly composed of alkaline salts, acidic substances and fillers. Among them, alkaline salts such as sodium bicarbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, etc., react with acidic substances during the baking process to produce carbon dioxide gas, which makes the dough expand. Alum (potassium aluminum sulfate or ammonium aluminum sulfate), as an acidic substance, in addition to participating in the gas generation reaction, will also bring the problem of aluminum residue.
Depending on whether it contains alum, baking powder can be divided into two types: aluminum-free baking powder and aluminum-containing baking powder. Aluminum-free baking powder is mainly made of alkaline salts such as sodium bicarbonate and ammonium bicarbonate, and does not contain aluminum; Baking powder containing aluminum, on the other hand, is added with ingredients such as alum, which poses a risk of aluminum residue. These two types of baking powder differ in baking effect, and there are also significant differences in the effect on the human body.
2. The safety and use status of aluminum-free baking powder
Aluminum-free baking powder produces abundant gases during the baking process, which makes the dough expand and fluffy. A small amount of aluminum-free baking powder is not harmful to the human body, but can increase the taste of food and improve appetite. At the same time, the ingredients in aluminum-free baking powder can be quickly digested and absorbed by the human body without excessive health burden. However, even if it is aluminum-free, it is not recommended to consume it in excess, as excessive intake of any food additives may have adverse effects on the human body.
Due to the consideration of ** factors and the effect of expansion, some small workshops, small stalls and small-scale cake and pastry shops are still using baking powder containing alum. Especially in puffed foods, in order to pursue a more bulky appearance and taste, many products add more baking powder or use baking powder with higher aluminum content, resulting in an increase in the hidden danger of excessive aluminum residues.
3. The potential harm of baking powder
1.Hazards of aluminum residues: Aluminum is not an essential trace element for the human body, and excessive intake can cause extensive damage to human health. Long-term intake of foods containing baking aluminium may lead to the accumulation of aluminium in the body, which can damage the central nervous system, bones, hematopoietic system, endocrine and reproductive systems. For children and the elderly, aluminum is more harmful and may lead to delayed neurological development in children, memory loss in the elderly, and physical coordination disorders.
2.Risk of excessive sodium intake: Even when using aluminum-free baking powder, the sodium contained in it may adversely affect human health. Excessive sodium intake increases the risk of chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, when consuming foods made with baking powder, you also need to pay attention to your sodium intake.
Fourth, how to reduce the potential harm of baking powder to the human body
In order to reduce the potential harm of baking powder to the human body, we can take the following measures:
1.Prefer aluminum-free baking powder: Try to choose aluminum-free baking powder to reduce the risk of aluminum residue. Although the aluminum-free baking powder is slightly higher and the swelling effect may be slightly inferior to that of aluminum-containing baking powder, it is less harmful to human health.
2.Use baking powder in moderation: When making pasta, use baking powder in the recommended amount and avoid overdoing it. Whether it is aluminum-free baking powder or aluminum-containing baking powder, it is not recommended to consume too much at one time. Baking powder itself is a food additive, and excessive consumption may have adverse effects on the human body. 3.Find alternatives: When making pastries, consider using natural starter cultures such as yeast instead of baking powder, which can achieve a fluffy taste and avoid potential health risks.
4.Eat a varied diet: Don't eat a lot of foods containing baking powder for a long time, but keep your diet varied and get in on a variety of nutrients.
5.Pay attention to special populations: For high-risk groups such as children and the elderly, special attention should be paid to their dietary safety and avoid excessive intake of aluminum-containing foods.
V. Conclusions
Whether baking powder is harmful to the human body depends mainly on its type and dosage. Baking aluminum-free powder is not harmful to humans when used in moderation, while baking powder containing aluminium has potential health risks. Therefore, when choosing and using baking powder, we should be vigilant, give preference to aluminum-free products, and use them in moderation to ensure a safe and healthy diet.
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