6 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FOOD ADDITIVES
1. WHAT ARE ADDITIVES?
** Anything that is added to food to either ‘help’ it look or taste more ‘appealing’ or last longer. (Words such as ‘preserve’ and ‘enhance’ flavour and appearance are often used, but like the words ‘help’ and ‘appealing’, they are terms to be used loosely in this situation!).
** Around 350 food additives ‘allowed’ in foods in Australia and New Zealand, however at least 50 of these ‘approved’ additives can cause us problems.NB: different countries have different lists of banned and approved food additives. For a full list of food additives in Australia and New Zealand, including those I recommend you avoid (and why) click here
2. WHO IS AFFECTED BY ADDITIVES? Everybody! But to narrow that down a bit, children are far more affected (or at least it’s more noticeable in their pure little bodies) and there are some people that are particularly reactive (to the point of severe illnesses, allergies or intolerances). We are all deserving of pure, natural high level energy intake.
3. WHY ARE ADDITIVES BAD?
** The short story is, they can affect our energy and the way we think, feel and behave. Unnatural and unnecessary things mess with our purity – best to stick to real, natural, organic, bio-dynamic foods.
** There’s plenty of evidence (scientific and anecdotal) indicating some additives have been linked to physical and behavioural problems and really scary numbers to tell us just how many additives we’re eating everyday (quite safe to say, a big fat “too many”!). Symptoms include: sleeping, eating, stomach, skin, mood,learning and behaviour problems. For a more detailed list of possible symptoms, click here
4. WHERE DO YOU FIND ADDITIVES?
** Easy answer: Processed foods. Thanks to labelling, governing bodies and plenty of other factors, additives can be hidden and hard to find – even on certified organic products. For a more detailed list of common foods that contain additives, click here
5. WHEN ARE ADDITIVES A PROBLEM?
** Almost all the time, the problem is, additives aren’t always recognized as the problem. Only when severe allergies, physical symptoms and illnesses or ‘extreme’ behavioural problems occur do the food additives get considered, and even then only rarely!
** Some additives have a ‘cumulative’ effect, meaning a little is not so noticeable, but if constantly consumed and it hits that ‘magical’ level (unique for each person), the effects are very noticeable and severe. The problem is, kids consume a lovely chemical cocktail when eating multiple additive-containing foods so the threshold is reached rather easily and quickly.
** Ever had an out of control child that just can’t be calmed? Ever taken your child to a birthday party and then regretted it afterwards? Ever felt crappy after a meal out, or in? The number of times additives are a problem yet so often overlooked, due to the lack of awareness of the link between food and moods and behaviours, are so huge.
6. HOW DO I KNOW WHICH ADDITIVES TO AVOID?
** First step is to read labels and ingredients of all products you purchase;
** Then research any unknown ingredients listed;
** Question manufacturers and suppliers – especially meats, restaurants, etc; and
** Finally, bear in mind that labelling is not necessarily accurate because which laws dictate what does and doesn’t have be listed on the label allow for a large number of additives to fly under the radar and remain hidden or unknown.
** But don’t dismay – this was always going to be the hardest of the ‘obstacles’ to overcome when planning to change your family food to chemical free products.
** The easiest way to know the “bad” additives from the “good” is to look at our comprehensive lists – click here.
** Becoming informed about food additives and all the information behind choosing chemical free foods is a rather large and daunting task. I’ve just touched the surface here – and there’s plenty of experts out there who cover this in great detail. Please don’t be disheartened – there are easier ways to gather this information at a pace you’re comfortable with, by starting with some basic ‘how to’ steps and working your way up. Remember, you’re not alone – I can help you every step of the way. To begin your journey into additive free eating, click here!
