Over the past few years, I've been paying more attention to what I put in and on my body. From animal products to cosmetics, I've become more aware of how they affect me and my family. It's incredible how much our bodies can react to what we consume. I've noticed a big difference in how we feel when we avoid certain products. It's been a learning experience, but I feel better knowing I'm making healthier choices. Unfortunately, I sometimes struggle to make healthy choices due to their higher cost. However, I have found that making changes to where I shop can help. I chose to do most of my grocery shopping at Aldi because, as a German grocery store chain, they made the admirable decision in 2015 to remove synthetic colors and MSG from all of their exclusive store-brand food. This fact alone convinced me to shop at Aldi, as many of my favorite foods contain these harmful ingredients. The most interesting thing about their food is that they have the off-brand of a lot of the name-brand foods like Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Quaker Oats Granola bars, but Aldi's version of these foods literally tastes the same except without all the added synthetic colors and MSG.
Now as I continue my journey into a healthier lifestyle I become concerned about a lot things especially as a parent of young children who frequently fall ill during the colder months. I have become increasingly concerned about the additives and synthetic colors found in over-the-counter medicines. It seems that many of these additives serve no real purpose and can actually be harmful to our bodies over time. I have started paying closer attention to the ingredients in the medicines I give to my family, just as I do with the foods we eat. It's surprising how many unnecessary additives are added to our food and medicine, and how they can interfere with our body's natural chemistry and function. One example is MSG As I mentioned before, it is often used to add flavor to processed foods in restaurants and grocery stores. The Mayo Clinic reports that MSG can cause headaches, nausea, sweating, and flushing in some people. While these symptoms can be treated at home, it's concerning to me that such a seemingly small ingredient can cause such a reaction. The Mayo Clinic states "MSG has been used as a food additive for many years. During this time, the FDA has received many reports of concerning reactions that people have attributed to foods that had MSG in them".
Now I've been thinking about the additives in our food and
cosmetics that the FDA allows, and it's made me curious about what else might
be harmful. After doing some research, I discovered that some foods that are
permitted in the US are banned in Europe and Asia. For example, Titanium
Dioxide, which is used to color candies like Starburst and Skittles, can be
genotoxic and damage your DNA. Potassium Bromate is another additive that's used
to increase bread volume, but it's been linked to cancer in animals and
potentially humans.
According to Justin J. Kastner, Ph.D., an associate professor
in the Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology at Kansas State
University in Manhattan, "One key difference is that historically the
United States has been more insistent in focusing on the probability or
likelihood of hazards or bad things occurring, and the European Union approach
has been more precautionary; they give attention to not just probabilities of
something going wrong, but also the mere possibility." Personally, I find
it strange that the US focuses more on the probability rather than the
possibility of something bad happening. As for me, the probability of harm is
enough to make me avoid bad foods. I wish the US had the same approach as
Europe when it comes to food additives because I believe there would be fewer
sick people in the US. Nevertheless, regardless of how the US and FDA regulate
food, I will still be cautious about the foods and products my family and I
consume. I know I cannot avoid everything, but I can minimize my exposure to
harmful additives while continuing on our journey toward a healthier
lifestyle.
