One of the most important factors in food preparation whether it be a home cooked meal or a repacked microwave dinner is the color of what you are about to eat. The eyes can do wonders to the appetite. At first glance, a food that looks delicious would make the brain think that you are about to eat something spectacular. Unfortunately, the food color may also be one of the most common triggers of food allergy.
You may say that it’s just a color. What harm can it do to your body? If you don’t know it yet, many of the food items used food coloring to make sure that they would look just right. This is not just the type taken from nature but they are usually chemical additives placed to make sure that the color would appeal your senses. The chemicals are usually used by industries that make food and drinks and they are not just limited to main course meals but to snacks and other types as well. This doesn’t make home cooked meals safe either. That dash of spice you just dropped to the pot most likely contains chemicals as well.
Still, additives are being used frequently now right? So maybe some people are just paranoid and it’s really okay to eat food with coloring right? Not really. There are many studies that show how destructive some artificial food coloring is to the system. Currently, there are many food additives banned by Western countries because aside from their color, they can also have some bad effects to the body. Some of these food additives are still being used by companies and they even have the audacity to slap the worlds “e-number free” in their packaging. A lot of people have the general impression that it is just about preservatives so these unethical manufacturers get away with it.
So what are the most common effects of additives to the body? Are they simply headaches that you can deal with easily? Some people may have felt a little woozy but the most common are allergies and hyperactivity. There are many food colorings incompatible with medications as well. If you are taking some meds, ask your doctor what food you should avoid to make sure that you won’t have to suffer from added complications.
It is not just the food coloring you should concern yourself with. There are many chemical additives being used as of today. There are many preservatives, anti-oxidants, thickeners and flavorings that can cause some serious harm. If you are one of those unfortunate enough to be intolerant to these additives, you may suffer complications like skin rashes, digestive problems and even blindness.
The beauty of e-numbers in food is that you don’t have to worry in the future that you would later pay for the indulgences you have partake in. you know that as of the present, if you eat the right food and managed to dodge the evil additives so to speak, you would live a healthy life.