The Pros And Cons Of Food Coloring

Most food manufacturers use plenty of unhealthy and even suspicious ingredients in order to extend the shelf life of their food items. This means that you need to stay away from these toxic ingredients at all costs if you are to protect your health…

Here are the top 10 offenders (not ranked according to the level of harm they cause):

1. Monosodium Glutamate ( MSG)

MSG is an amino acid typically used to enhance the flavor of processed foods.

It is well-known excitotoxin, which has been scientifically shown to negatively affect the nerve cells, overexciting them, and eventually leading to the point of cell death. Regular consumption of foods containing MSG damages a significant amount of brain cells, which may cause various neurological disorders.

It is sold as a stand-alone sweetener, too.

5. Artificial Food Coloring

Artificial food colorings were initially obtained from coal tar and are now synthesized from petroleum. Many of them have been banned due to their adverse effects in lab studies.

According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest’s (CSPI) study on food colorings, “The three most widely used dyes, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6, are contaminated with known carcinogens. Another dye, Red 3, has been acknowledged for years by the Food and Drug Administration to be a carcinogen, yet it is still in the food supply.”

A 2007 British study has also found that many of the common food colorings and preservatives like sodium benzoate decreased attention spans and increased hyperactivity in children.

They are known under the following names: FD&C Red No.40, Allura Red AC, Yellow 5 and 6, FD&C Green Number 3, Fast Green, FD&C Blue #1, Brilliant Blue FCF, Bright Blue, Blue # 2, Intestine, Royal Blue, and much more.

They are typically found in candies, baked goods, puddings, bread, jams, deli meat, sherbet, sorbet, fast food, ice cream, condiments, frostings, and energy bars.

6. BHA and