To start this edition to my blog, I wanted to share a photo of my two main inspirations for my new found passion for learning about and sharing everything I can about proper nutrition. My goal in doing so is to convince as many people to look at their health and well being from a preventative standpoint vs. a treatment standpoint.
Unfortunately, we didn't initially have the knowledge to understand Kyle's dietary needs due to his low immunity, or to prevent Deb from recently contracting stage 2 ductal carcinoma (medical term for her type of breast cancer). I'm not saying that the cancer cells weren't there. They are actually in all of us! However, they need fuel to multiply and become full blown cancer. That's where a number of outside factors including what's in our diet comes into play. Avoiding the bad stuff and incorporating the good stuff can minimize the chances of us ever having to battle this and other ailments. The shock and sadness experienced by a father and husband when dealing with these issues has prompted me to embark on a path of gaining the knowledge offered by preventative thinking. If sharing that knowledge can help a family to avoid dealing with these issues in their lives, then I will be accomplishing my goal.
We live in a country with a healthcare system that puts so much weight on the treatment of negative health symptoms through pharmaceuticals instead. Unfortunately, this is a profit driven model that doesn't focus on the proper way to go about things. It's up to us to educate ourselves on how we can avoid these symptoms altogether vs. treating them. With that thought in mind, let's dive into some additional ingredients to remove from our diets and the reasons why. You'll see six of them in the video below, but I'd like to place a strong focus on one in particular.
Artificial
Colors: (such as red #40, blue #2, yellow 5, sodium benzoate, etc.)
There's a reason why most sugary treats and even sports drinks give us a rush. These synthetic chemicals are often added to foods marketed towards children. They’ve been found to cause many health problems including hyperactivity, ADD, ADHD, allergic reactions, and nerve damage.
There's a reason why most sugary treats and even sports drinks give us a rush. These synthetic chemicals are often added to foods marketed towards children. They’ve been found to cause many health problems including hyperactivity, ADD, ADHD, allergic reactions, and nerve damage.
What to Do
Wean your child off foods that are artificially dyed or flavored, or that contain sodium benzoate. Here are some helpful tips about what foods to avoid and what to serve in their place:
- Substitute 100 percent fruit juice for soft drinks, fruit drinks, and fruit punches — all of which are typically artificially colored and flavored. If your child must have a soft drink, try 7-Up, Squirt, or Sprite. These brands are naturally flavored and free of dyes—though they all contain sodium benzoate. Even better, buy natural sodas like we do from providers such as Hansen's My kids love their root beer with no high fructose or dyes.
- Nearly all colored candies contain some artificial colors in them. This was a tough one when it came to my son Kyle. He LOVED M&M's, Starburst, Jolly Ranchers, Sourpatch Kids, etc. You could literally watch the hyperactivity wash over him after eating them, and his grades began to show it until we figured this out. This also made it impossible for him to concentrate in his classes after devouring them at lunch time. We substituted candy from the "Unreal" line which can be found at Target, Wal Mart and other places. Also, there are plenty of organic gummy products, suckers and hard candies available at places like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. Eliminating these dyes from Kyle's diet has made a HUGE difference, and HE admitted it!
- As you would expect, the more colorful the cereal, the more food dyes it contains. Cap’n Crunch, Trix, Fruit Loops, Lucky Charms, and Apple Jacks are full of food coloring. Look for breakfast cereals that are free of dyes. We now prefer serving our kids organic eggs, waffles & pancakes (gluten free in Kyle's case), and cereals without dyes such as those offered by Cascadian Farms.
- If your kids love barbecue sauce, or if you use it to spice up everyday dishes, read the label before buying a bottle. Many brands are loaded with Red #40. Annie's and Trader Joe's brands however, are free of food coloring (as well as high fructose corn syrup. Does your child enjoy popsicles? Buy Welch’s Fruit Juice Bars, one of the few brands without dyes or preservatives.
- Jell-O and other gelatin mixes are loaded with artificial coloring and flavors. I was floored by the ingredients found in this household brand name! Opt for jello/pudding from an organic brand such as Dr. Oetker's which you can find in your local supermarket.
- Capri Sun's, Gatorade, and other drinks our kid's drink carry these dyes. You can replace these with a new line of drink pouches that Capri Sun offers that offers fruit and vegetable mixtures without the dyes, and replace Gatorade with Vitamin Water.
If you have children, please try replacing the products that carry these dyes and watch how their behavior changes! This is an absolute must if you think that they have any symptoms of ADD or ADHD. These are typically caused by what's in their food.
Here is a segment that was recently run on Fox News that breaks down six ingredients to avoid in our diets, including artificial colors and dyes:
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