Have you ever been drawn to the colorful foods in supermarket shelves? Artificial colors are behind those colorful foods. Are these additives that seem harmless really harmless for our health?
Artificial colors are used widely in the modern food industry. They can be found in everything from packaged foods to beverages and candies. Artificial colors are used to enhance the appearance of foods, prolong shelf life and, in some cases mask the true quality.
People are attracted to colorful food and think it is more delicious and fresh. The presence of these artificial colours may have potential health effects, said Melissa Jaeger a nutritionist at MyFitnessPal.
Several studies have shown artificial colors to be linked with certain health problems, particularly in children. Some studies have shown that artificial colors can exacerbate symptoms of attention deficit disorder (ADHD) among children. Some artificial colors can trigger allergic reactions, and some are even linked to an increased cancer risk.
Despite this, FDA still believes there is not enough proof to show that artificial colours are harmful for everyone. This does not mean we should ignore the potential risks.
We can reduce the intake of artificial colours by taking the following steps:
- Choose Natural Foods: As much as possible, choose unprocessed foods or minimally processed ones such as fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grains.
- Read the food labels When buying food, carefully read the labels and avoid foods that contain artificial colors.
- Support foods without additives: Choose brands that say “no artificial colours added”, as they are more concerned with food safety and health.
Artificial colors are widely used in today’s society because people have a higher standard for the appearance of their food. This pursuit of beauty shouldn’t come at the cost of health. We must re-examine the way we consume food and pay more attention to its intrinsic quality, rather than just its external color.
