How to Reduce Your Daily Exposure to Toxins
This is the first in a series of suggested steps you can take to reduce your body’s daily exposure to environmental toxins.
#1. Choose Naturally Colored Foods
So how yellow do your pickles really need to be?
Did you know that most commercially available pickles contain FD&C yellows and blues? Chemicals don’t improve the crunch so just walk past the pickle shelf to the refrigerators to find pickles that contain Turmeric, a natural yellow spice instead.
Artificial colors have been linked to a wide range of health conditions, which is why you won’t find them in Advantig products. We’ve listed just a few of the problems associated with artificial colors in their descriptions below. To reduce your daily exposure to toxins, choose clean foods that use simple natural alternatives to artificial colors which would include these healthful substitutes:
- Annatto (spice)
- Aronia juice (Chokeberry)
- Beet juice or powder (vegetable)
- Carrot juice or powder (vegetable)
- Carmine (Cochineal extract)
- Chlorophyllin (Chlorophyll)
- Elderberry juice (Berry)
- Grape juice (Fruit)
- Grapeskin
- Lycopene (from tomatoes)
- Paprika (sometimes called Oleoresin paprika – spice)
- Red beta-carotene (natural vitamin)
- Saffron (spice)
- Tomato (vegetable or fruit?)
- Turmeric (spice)
In fact, the fewer artificial colors you and your family ingest, the better for your mental and emotional health. A ground-breaking study published by the Lancet in 2007, reversed previous theories to prove that food additives have a negative impact on children’s behavior. In 2008, the American Academy of Pediatrics reversed its position to concur with the Lancet’s findings on the link between food and behavior to admit that “they might have been wrong.”
Lancet 2007, Nov 3:370(9598)1560-7 “Food Additives & Hyperactive Behavior in 3 Year Old and 8/9 Year Old Children in the Community: a Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo Controlled Trial.” McCann D, Barrett A, Cooper A, Crumpler D, Dalen L, Grimshaw K, Kitchin E, Lok K, Porteous L, Prince E, Sonuga-Barke E, Warner JO, Stevenson J. School of Psychology, Dept. of Child Health, University of Southampton, UK. 300 Children Studied.
American Academy of Pediatrics, Grand Rounds: “The overall findings of the study are clear and require that even we skeptics, who have long doubted parental claims of the effects of various foods on the behavior of their children, admit that we might have been wrong.” ADHD & Food Additives Revisited – Alison Schonwold, MD, FAAP, Developmental Medicine Center, Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, American Academy of Pediatrics, Grand Rounds 2008; 19:17.
For more information on how artificial colors & additives may impact your child’s behavior, go to: the Center for Science in the Public Interest at: http://www.cspinet.org/fooddyes/.
Artificial Colors To Avoid
FD&C BLUE #1
Found in: beverages, candy, baked goods.
One (unpublished) animal test suggested cancer risk and a test-tube study indicated the dye might affect neurons. It has the capacity for inducing an allergic reaction in individuals with pre-existing moderate asthma. It is one of the colorants that the Hyperactive Children’s Support Group and the Feingold Association recommends to be eliminated from the diet of children. Please note that both of the products below contain FD&C Blue #1 and are targeted to the toddler market.
Surprise Product:
Goldfish “Colors” & Pediasure’s NutriPals Balanced Nutrition Bar S’Mores (Baby Cereal/Snacks)
FD&C BLUE #2
Found in pet food, beverages, candy.
Animal studies found some—but not conclusive—evidence that Blue #2 causes brain cancer in male rats, but the Food and Drug Administration concluded that there is “reasonable certainty of no harm.”
Surprise Product:
Philadelphia Blueberry Jammin’ Swirls Cream Cheese Spread
GREEN #3
Found in candy, beverages, canned peas, vegetables, jellies, sauces, fish, desserts and dry bakery mixes.
A 1981 industry-sponsored study gave hints of bladder and testicular tumors in male rats, but FDA re-analyzed the data using other statistical methods and concluded that the dye was safe. Fortunately, this possibly carcinogenic dye is not widely used. This substance has been found to have tumorigenic effects in experimental animals, as well as mutagenic effects in both experimental animals and humans. It can irritate the eyes, skin, digestive tract, and respiratory tract in its undiluted form. See this post: About Green #3.
Surprise Products:
Edy’s Sherbet Tropical Rainbow & Honey Bunches of Oats
FD&C RED #3
Found in candy, baked goods, cake icing, fruit roll ups & chewing gum.
Evidence that this dye caused thyroid tumors in rats is “convincing,” according to a 1983 review committee report requested by FDA. FDA recommended that the dye be banned, but this was overruled by pressure from the Reagan Administration. Red #3 once colored maraschino cherries, but it has since been replaced by the less controversial Red #40.
Surprise Product:
Yoplait, Trix Strawberry Banana Raspberry Yogurt
FD&C RED #40
Found in soft drinks, candy, cotton candy, gelatin desserts, pastries, pet food, sausage.
Red #40 is the most widely used food dye. While this is one of the most tested food dyes, key mouse tests were flawed and therefore inconclusive. An FDA review committee acknowledged problems, but said evidence of harm was not “consistent” or “substantial.” Red #40 can cause allergic reactions. In Europe, Red #40 is not recommended for consumption by children. (Note the children’s products below that are colored by Red #40.)
Surprise Products:
Centrum Silver, Colgate (Barney) Toothpaste for children, Pillsbury Vanilla Frosting, Fruit by the Food, Froot Loops, Kraft Barbecue Sauces, Robitussin Pediatric Cough Liquid, Tylenol Cold & Cough, Centrum Kids, Tums
FD&C YELLOW #5 (Tartrazine)
Found in gelatin dessert, puddings, candy, pet food, baked goods, soft drinks (Mountain Dew), corn chips (Doritos, Nachos), cereals (corn flakes, muesli), cake mixes, pastries, custard powder, soups, instant or “cube” soup, boxed rices (paella, risotto), powdered drink mixes, sports drinks, ice cream, ice pops, mustard, horseradish, yogurt, noodles, pickles (& other pickled products), squash, fruit cordials, potato chips, biscuits & convenience foods together with glycerin, lemon and honey products.
FD&C Yellow #5 is the second-most-widely used coloring and has been know to cause allergy-like hypersensitivity reactions primarily in aspirin-sensitive persons, triggering hyperactivity in some children. According to the CSPI, Tartrazine may be contaminated with such cancer-causing substances as benzidine and 4-aminobiphenyl (or chemicals that the body converts to those substances).
Tartrazine is a coal tar-derived azo dye that appears to cause the most allergic and intolerance reactions of all the azo dyes, particularly among asthmatics and those with an aspirin intolerance. Symptoms of tartrazine sensitivity can occur by either ingestion or cutaneous exposure. A variety of immunologic responses have been attributed to tartrazine ingestion, including anxiety, migraines, clinical depression, blurred vision, itching, general weakness, heatwaves, feeling of suffocation, purple skin patches, and sleep disturbance. Certain people who are exposed to tartrazine experience symptoms even at extremely small doses, some for periods up to 72 hours after exposure. In children, asthma attacks and hives have been reported, as well as supposed links to thyroid tumors, chromosomal damage, and hyperactivity.
Surprise Products:
Contadina Tomato Sauce (by Del Monte Foods) & Most unrefrigerated pickles
YELLOW #6
Found in beverages, candy, baked goods, orange squash, jelly, marzipan, apricot jam, citrus marmalade, lemon curd, sweets, hot chocolate mix, packet soups, trifle mix, breadcrumbs and cheese sauce mixes, soft drinks. Found specifically in DayQuil (in high concentrations) and some extra strength Tylenol products. Also found in some yogurt, fortune cookies, some red sauces, certain pound cakes, snack chips and other yellow, orange or red food products.
Industry-sponsored animal tests indicated that this dye, the third most widely used, causes tumors of the adrenal gland and kidney. In addition, small amounts of several carcinogens, such as 4-aminobiphenyl and benzidine (or chemicals that the body converts to those substances), contaminate Yellow #6, according to the CSPI. However, the FDA reviewed those data and found reasons to conclude that Yellow #6 does not pose a significant cancer risk to humans. Yellow #6 may cause occasional, but sometimes-severe hypersensitivity reactions.
Surprise Products:
Velveeta Bacon Scalloped Potatoes, Frigo Romano Cheese, Fleischmann’s Olive Oil Spread
Conclusion
Become an unrelenting, scrutinizing label reader.
Scan labels thoroughly when you buy food, vitamins, oral hygiene products & any type of drink. Before you buy that non-fat, extra hot, strawberry whippaccino at the fancy coffee shop, ask to review the label on the bottle of flavoring. Anything that goes into your mouth should be toxin-free. Your body deserves your attention.
Avoid purchasing any items that include the artificial colors we’ve listed above, or that include the word “Lake” or say “Color Added.” It is possible for “color added” to include natural colors, but chances are that if the label doesn’t say “natural,” it probably isn’t.
Advantig Health & Sport products do not contain artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or nutritionally non-essential ingredients. In fact, we invented the “No” panel. Go to any of our products and look at the list of No’s … what’s not in our products is our commitment to purity and quality.
