1. WHAT ARE ADDITIVES?
* Additives are ingredients added to food to either ‘help’ the food product look or taste more appealing or last longer on the shelf.
* Words such as ‘preserve and enhance flavour and appearance’ are often used to describe the purpose of additives, however they are terms to be used loosely in this situation!
* Around 350 food additives are deemed safe to eat and therefore 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 lists of food additives in Australia and New Zealand,
including those I recommend you avoid (and why) click here
2. WHY ARE ADDITIVES BAD?
* The short story is, they can affect the way we think, feel and behave. Unnatural and unnecessary food ingredients mess with our body’s health and purity, so it’s best to stick to real, natural, organic whole foods.
* Some additives are ok, however some have also been linked to physical and behavioural problems. For example, additives can negatively affect our breathing, stomach and skin health, mood, thoughts, concentration, learning ability and sleep.
* Food additives can enhance or trigger symptoms associated with asthma, eczema, ADHD, ADD and ODD.
learning and behaviour problems.we’re eating everyday (quite safe to say, a big fat “too many”!).
Symptoms include:
For a more detailed list of possible symptoms, click here
3. 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.
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!
