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For years, I have been warning my patients about the link between artificial food coloring and behavioral issues in children.
The dangers of food dyes, which are used in everything from candy to canned soups, also pose risks of cancer and allergies.
According to a new report from the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), about 15 million pounds of artificial dyes go into our foods each year. And we are eating about five times the amount of food coloring we consumed in 1955.
The CSPI is urging the FDA to ban all artificial food dyes, and I couldn’t agree more.
I certainly hope the FDA will listen to the CSPI and eliminate these harmful dyes, but until they do, it is up to you to take control of your own health and the health of your children. Read nutrition labels and do NOT buy foods that contain artificial food coloring.
I know it can be difficult because many of the foods containing these dyes are marketed to children, who love the bright, eye-catching colors.
I would suggest teaching your children from a young age about brain health. In our home, we play a simple game with our six-year-old daughter called “Is this good for my brain or bad for my brain?”
We’ll ask her about all kinds of foods, and she’ll answer “Good” or “Bad”:
Jelly beans? Bad.
Guacamole? Good.
Red licorice? Bad.
Red bell peppers? Good.
Chocolate chip cookies? On this one, she hesitates for a moment, and then finally says, “I guess they’re bad.”
It’s a great game you can play at home with your children.
