Today, the FDA announced a ban on red dye #3, nearly 35 years after it was barred from cosmetics because of potential cancer risk.
Used primarily in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, red dye #3 has faced scrutiny due to studies linking it to potential adverse health effects, including hyperactivity in children and possible carcinogenic properties.
Although this is a victory in the efforts to get our government to hold the food industry responsible for keeping toxins out of our food, it’s also a reminder that we cannot trust this agency to keep our food is safe. We must take care to learn about what we are eating and how to choose the safest, most wholesome, and natural things to put into our body.
Evidence has been plentiful and available for many years about the risks of red dye #3, and yet the FDA failed to act all this time. There are many hundreds of other dyes, artificial flavors, preservatives, food enhancers, conditioners, binders, and other food additives that are known to be dangerous to health, and yet still allowed in our foods. Many of these chemicals have been banned in places like Europe for years.
What can you do to protect yourself?
I KNOW, it can feel daunting to eat healthy and take care of ourselves in a world laden with toxins. But here are a few tips for simplifying this task:
Gradually shift away from processed foods, fast foods, and favor whole, fresh, organic foods. The more you can cook for yourself, the more you know what is going into your body. But everyone is at a different stage of wellness practice, so start where you are at. If you eat a lot of packaged foods, start to gradually reduce, or see if there are healthier versions of, those items.
Familiarize yourself with the top chemicals of concern, and read ingredient labels to avoid them. Some of the worse offenders, according to the Environmental Working Group, are: Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Bromate, Propyl Paraben, BHA, BHT, TBHQ, Artificial Food Dyes, Artificial Sweeteners, Brominated Vegetable Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Azodicarbonamide (ADA), and Propyl Gallate.
Know that you can’t get it perfect all of the time. You can try your best to buy and eat the healthiest things, and still be exposed to toxins. The best you can do is make an effort, build resiliency and strength, and trust that you are made to survive and thrive. Follow the 80/20 rule, and take good care 80% of the time, allowing yourself to relax and enjoy 20% of the time.
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