Page 8 - Healthy Living

A key word here is artificial and should give you a good indication that something unnatural is in the product. Typically, artificial
colors are chemical-based dyes that are used to color food and drinks. Most processed foods, candies, beverages and many
condiments contain artificial coloring. There is great concern that artificial food coloring may cause increased hyperactivity in
children.

1. Yellow No. 5 may cause severe asthma symptoms.
2. Studies have shown that Red Dye No. 2 may cause cancer.

3. Blue #1 and Blue #2 (E133) Banned in Norway, Finland, and France. May cause chromosomal damage. Found in candy,
cereal, soft drinks, sports drinks and pet foods.

4. Red Dye # 3 (also Red #40 – a more current dye) (E124). Banned in 1990 after 8 years of debate from use in many foods and
cosmetics. This dye continues to be on the market until supplies run out! Has been proven to cause thyroid cancer and chromo-
somal damage in laboratory animals. May also interfere with brain-nerve transmission. Found in fruit cocktail, maraschino
cherries, cherry pie mix, ice cream, candy, bakery products and more!

5. Yellow #6 (E110) and Yellow Tartrazine (E102). Banned in Norway and Sweden. Increases the number of kidney and adrenal
gland tumors in laboratory animals. May cause chromosomal damage. Found in American cheese, macaroni and cheese, can-
dy, carbonated beverages, lemonade and more!
6. Natural Green Colour

Has several ingredients including curcumin extracted via petroleum products and propylene glycol found in lollies and drinks.

Regardless, the FDA approves many food coloring additives as safe.

Commonly labeled as artificial colorings. Alternative names: Food, Drug and Cosmetic Colors, Synthetic Colors, FD&C Lakes,
Food Dyes, Food Coloring, Artificial Colorants.To find out more about alternative names for common artifical ingredients
click here and here.
Sweeteners

7. High Fructose Corn Syrup. High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is made from corn starch and offers a sweet flavor. It is popular
because it is cheaper to produce than cane sugar. Starch is a simple sugar, and when broken down the end result is corn syrup,
which is 100% glucose. Enzymes are then added to the corn syrup, helping convert the glucose into another simple sugar called
fructose.

In addition to sweet products, it is found in many other types of foods. Yogurts, breads, frozen pizzas, cereal bars, cocktail pea-
nuts, and boxed macaroni and cheese are a few examples where HFCS is found.

Because major health risks have exploded in the past few decades with the increasing popularity of easy to grab processed
foods, it is thought that HFCS may increase the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Labeled as high fructose corn syrup. Alterna-
tives: HFCS, isoglucose, maize syrup, glucose-fructose syrup, glucose/fructose.
8. Aspartame. Aspartame is a low-calorie sweetener consisting of two amino acids, namely phenylalanine and aspartic acid.
Because it is about 200 times sweeter than sugar, very little is required to get a sweet taste. Aspartame is usually found in diet
or sugar-free sodas, diet coke, coke zero, jello (and other gelatins), desserts, sugar-free gum, drink mixes, baking goods, table-
top sweeteners, cereal, breath mints, pudding, kool-aid, iced tea, chewable vitamins, toothpaste.

While watching calorie consumption is important, using artificial additives and sweeteners such as aspartame may cause some
health risks. Studies have shown that aspartame may elevate blood glucose and increase anxiety. Labels use the name aspar-
tame. Alternative names: Canderel, Tropicana Slim, NutraSweet, Equal, AminoSweet

9. Caramelized sugar syrup. Replaces E150 caramel which gives bread and cooked chicken a brown look.

Additives