Health
Health: Artificial Flavors- Are they dangerous?
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Hello Tinsels,
Hope this was useful! stay tuned for more on health related articles!!
You might be wondering how does the chicken tikka look so red and delicious? I have always tried hard to get the perfect red colored tikkas' but never achieved to make them perfect. After reading an article about artificial colors and flavors now I know what makes them look so mouth watering or rather so tempting. I am sharing with you guys about artificial flavors and its effects on health. I have taken this from the internet so I am not taking the credit of writing this :) Just sit back, relax and read on.
Picture courtesy - Google Images.
Many of the processed foods or ready-to-eat foods that we buy come with an ingredient called "artificial flavoring". Now what is this artificial flavoring? And what are the actual ingredients used to make an artificial flavor?
Artificial flavors are mixtures of various chemicals made in a laboratory that mimic the natural flavors. As food product loses its natural flavor during processing, these chemical mixtures are added to enhance the taste, flavor and aroma of the food. Different chemical combinations besprinkle flavors back into the processed food.
For example, the strawberry flavor in food contains forty nine chemical ingredients! And the most commonly used vanilla flavoring is either derived from petrochemicals or from the byproduct of paper industry! These are just a few examples. The list of all artificial flavors is endless. OMG :(
There is yet another misleading ingredient in food that is still more mysterious.' Natural flavors', these are created from natural products and transformed into chemical additives. The word ‘natural' is misused to create an impression that is does not involve any chemicals.
‘Center of Science in Public Interest‘ has a list of food additives. Robyn O' Brien, author of ‘The Unhealthy Truth- How our food is making us sick and what we can do about it', points out that one reason of disproportionate sickness is because, our food system is broken.
Studies also suggest that there is a link between use of artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, and sweeteners that can lead to behavioral problems in children, ADHD, obesity, allergies, asthma and cancer.
Foods concentrated with artificial flavors, colors, preservatives and sweeteners are fruit drinks, ice creams, candies, wafers, jams, jellies, cakes and chocolates. The list is quiet long. We come across so many unwanted chemicals to in our day to day life that it is impossible to avoid them completely. But we can still minimize the exposure by following a few simple steps.
- Cut down on the use of all kinds of artificial colors or such similar products.
- Read labels. Any ingredient table that says ‘artificial', dump that product.
- Cook at home more often. The more raw ingredients you use, the more artificial ingredients are avoided.
Eat simple and natural food, the way our grandparents ate.
Hope this was useful! stay tuned for more on health related articles!!
xoxo
TinselBabe.
4 comments
Thanks so much for such an informative post The other day I was staring at yummy looking rainbow coloured pastry at a high end bakers shop. Though very very tempting I avoided getting it for my kiddos bcoz of the obvious generous use of food colours.
ReplyDeleteYou have jst reconfirmed that I was right in aaying NO to my children. I live guilt free now. Thanks to u! :)
Yes Vibbi even I have pledged not to eat food that has artificial stuffs in it. Thanks you found this info useful!!! :-*
DeleteGreat and a very informative blog for me. I really like reading this blog. Keep sharing.
ReplyDeletehttp://artificialeyeco.com
Thank you Harjinder!! :)
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