Let's Breakdown Red 40

-

 


As most of us have read/seen in the news and on social media about the craze and possible effects of consuming red dye 40. 

First, let's break down what red dye 40 really is. It is made with petroleum and is currently approved by the FDA in foods such as cereal, beverages, gelatins, puddings, dairy products, and confections. This approval is based on amounts allowed, types of food, and how they should be identified on a food label. Color additives, such as Red Dye 40, may include both synthetic and natural substances. Red dye 40 does contain an amount of benzene, which is carcinogenic.

Some people may have adverse reactions to red dye 40, such as hyperactivity, depression, irritability, hives, asthma, migraines, sneezing, and watery eyes. Research articles indicate red dye 40 has a link between ADHD and hyperactivity, and there are some studies that show a decrease in hyperactivity in children when red dye 40 is eliminated. It may be difficult to determine these effects on children due to other additives in foods.

There are many alternatives to red dye 40, such as:

  • Beet juice/powder

  • Cranberries

  • Cherries 

  • Pomegranate juice 

  • Beta carotene

Although Red dye 40 is found safe at typical consumption levels, and research is mixed, if side effects arise, it is best to avoid Red dye 40 by eliminating all Red dye 40 products. 

L.G.

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/red-dye-40 

https://www.fda.gov/food/color-additives-information-consumers/color-additives-questions-and-answers-consumers 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Sweet Benefits of Valentine's Day Chocolate

-
Image
 With Valentine’s Day coming, we all love those sweet treats that come along with the holiday, whether chocolate, baked goods, or even fruit candies.  But have you ever wondered if chocolate could be healthy for you? Chocolate has three categories we may all know: dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate. This is determined by the amount of cocoa solids made from cocoa beans mixed with cocoa butter and sugar. In America, a standard bar of dark chocolate has around 70% - 85% cocoa.  Dark chocolate contains a large amount of flavonoids which are antioxidants that protect our bodies from damage. So the higher the content of cocoa the higher the amount of flavonoids.  While dark chocolate has the benefit of flavonoids, there are more benefits including: A source of important minerals - such as iron, magnesium, zinc, copper, and phosphorus  Non-dairy - a good option for those with a milk allergy or sensitivity  High in fiber - around 4 grams per ounce...
Read more

Nutrition Interventions and HIV

-
Practice Paper of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Nutrition Intervention and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Autoimmune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) can present many nutritional challenges, especially related to obesity due to treatments that have extended life expectancy for this population. Antiretroviral Therapies (ART)   have shifted nutrition concerns from undernutrition to obesity and cardiometabolic problems. HIV can alter metabolism, resulting in protein-energy malnutrition, anemias, and micronutrient deficiencies. Risks for chronic disease such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes are higher in this population than in the general population, and obesity and overweight incidence is increasing in people affected by this disease. Food insecurity is also higher than average in this population. RDs should use the nutrition care process and nutrition focused physical exams to identify malnutrition and n...
Read more

Heart-Healthy Snacking: The Best of Both Worlds for National Snacking Month and Heart Month

-
Image
  Designed by  Freepik February brings us two important topics to celebrate: National Heart Month and National Food Snacking Month! You may be asking yourself, are snacks even good for me? Yes, they are! A snack is typically eaten between main meals. Benefits of snacks include providing a boost of energy when several hours have passed between meals (which causes blood glucose levels to drop), helps reduce your appetite to decrease overeating at the next meal, can help maintain good nutrition if one has a poor appetite but cannot eat full meals due to an illness for example, and provide extra nutrients when choosing snacks like fresh fruit or nuts. The downfall of snacks is if the frequency of eating them is too much it can lead to reduced hunger at meals times causing some to skip a meal entirely. Many of us also prefer ultra-processed snacks such as chips, ice cream, candy, soft drinks, and cake which are not always the best option to fuel our day. A way to curb the downf...
Read more