Eliminating Food Dyes: My Family's Goal

I have been feeling for some time that I would like to attempt to eliminate food dyes from my children's food choices.  Already having two children with food allergies, I read all labels militantly, and needless to say, it was a shock to see how much junk is in our food - all the time.  I think it could not only benefit their emotional an physical health, but also teach them how important eating real food is.

Amongst an ever growing list of things Americans should avoid eating, artificial food coloring has been gaining more and more attention as something which should be avoided at all costs.

Just consider some of the facts:

Artificial coloring is used to make the fruit your purchase look more appetizing, and healthy.  Even produce is colored sometimes to seem more "fresh" as you stroll through the fruit and veggie section of the grocery store.

When we are shopping in the produce section, shoppers' eyes are naturally drawn to the foods which are either bright in color or deep in hue.  We interpret this to mean that they are more ripe or better grown.  Food manufacturers use this fact to manipulate their offerings, sometimes by using artificial colors, like caramel, Red 40, tartrazine, etc.

According to the numerous, and I mean very numerous studies, artificial food dyes, colorings can affect your nervous systems, endocrine systems, thyroid, intestines and prenatal development, (to name just a few). There also has been more and more studies related to children diagnosed with ADHD benefiting tremendously from having dyes removed from their diets.

So, what is a person to do?  Personally, I would like to slowly eliminate these dyes from our family diet.  I wonder sometimes if it would assist my boys in using their self control and concentration.  I would also like to eliminate them from my own diet to attempt to prevent illness and disease later in life. 

As the list of foods that include dyes in their ingredients are too lengthy to list here, the first thing I will be doing, and I suggest you do to, is reading the labels of everything I buy.  For some time, perhaps a month, expect that you will have to spend a little bit of extra time in the grocery store learning what is in which foods that you typically buy.  For me, this is something I already do as both of my children have several foods allergies. But, I will also be bringing them with me, so....

Secondly, familiarize yourself with the names of dyes.  Here is a handy print out you print out and bring with you offered by the author at the website Dye Food Die!

Then, I will be on the lookout for items which can replace the things that my kids will miss.  For example, gummies.  My kids love those things. I already know of a couple of brands which use fruit juice as a coloring and not artificial dyes.  This is really important, so that you don't feel like you're missing out to much and cave after a few days.

So what's so great about eliminating this stuff?

Well, first of all, it is well-known that artificial food dyes are derived from petroleum.  Gas.  Petrol.  Yuck.  And yes, they are approved by the FDA.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest, states that dyes contain cancer causing carcinogens.

Children and adults, both consume a tremendous amount of food dyes on a daily basis, simply because they do not spend a moment to read the ingredients list and educate themselves on what is in their foods.  It's NOT a "little bit" as many people think. 

Eliminating food dyes from your diet, is one step you could take toward living a healthier life without too much cost, inconvenience!

For more information on research done by the Feingold Association, click here.

Why would you like to eliminate food dyes?  Tell me in the comments!