As parents, it’s our job to ensure our children grow up in as healthy an environment as possible. One of the keys to this is making sure their diet is nutritious and healthy. Some kids are picky eaters, but we still need to make sure they’re getting what they need to thrive.
The best advice is to focus on whole foods: fruits, vegetables, pastured meats, and whole grains. But many families are busy and have to rely on packaged foods more often than they’d like. Most packaged foods today contain so many ingredients that it’s hard to decipher what everything is without a science degree.
If you can’t pronounce the names of ingredients in a food product correctly on the label, you probably shouldn’t eat it. But do you know what ingredients you should never feed your kids?
Check out this list of 7 food ingredients your kids should never eat (and you shouldn’t either).
1. Artificial Colors
15 million pounds Artificial food coloring How much artificial coloring is added to food in the United States each year? In the European Union, foods containing artificial colorings are Warning Label It says it “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children,” yet in the United States it’s in everything, including foods for children. 9 Food Colorings Although approved for use by the FDA in the United States, food colorings have not been shown to be effective in animal studies. Various health concerns,from Behavioral problems From allergies to cancer.
2. Artificial Sweeteners
Knowing the dangers of sugar, many people turn to artificial sweeteners. Unfortunately, artificial sweeteners are not a good choice. Several studies have shown that the consumption of artificial sweeteners and Weight gainIn addition, some artificial sweeteners Neurotoxicity Some can cross the blood-brain barrier. Others can upset the balance of your gut flora. If you need something sweet, eat organic fruit.
3. Artificial Flavors
When you see “artificial flavor” on a food label, do you know what that ingredient is? Probably not. Artificial flavors are manufactured in A $19.2 billion industry; And manufacturers keep those recipes top secret: Flavor manufacturers use chemicals approved by the U.S. FDA, but they don’t have to reveal which chemicals are in the flavors they make.
4. Artificial Preservatives
Preservatives were introduced with good intentions to extend the shelf life of many foods. Unfortunately, preservatives have been linked to health problems such as allergies, neurological disorders, and cancer. Preservatives that you should avoid at all costs include butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroditoluene (BHT), tertiary butylhydroquinone (translation), and Sodium nitrite.
5. Trans Fats
There is There is no safe level of trans fat intakeThey promote inflammation and are linked to cancer, diabetes, weakened immune system, reproductive problems, and heart disease. If you’re not sure how to identify trans fats, they’re usually listed on food labels as hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils. As of June 2018, manufacturers Addition of partially hydrogenated oils is prohibited The FDA extended the compliance period until January 1, 2020 “to allow for an orderly transition in the marketplace,” but the standard is not approved for application to food in the United States.
6. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
Most people have heard of it MSG is something to avoidhowever, Various namesMSG can cause or worsen learning disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), Parkinson’s disease, and other brain-related illnesses, so be sure to understand and avoid these ingredients.
7. High fructose corn syrup
In addition to avoiding sugar, you and your family should Avoid high fructose corn syrupUnlike sugar, high fructose corn syrup must be processed entirely by the liver (Just like alcohol) is converted directly into fat, so consuming large amounts of high fructose corn syrup can put a lot of strain on the liver and lead to liver damage and obesity-related diseases.
This is not a comprehensive list of food ingredients that your child (and yourself) should avoid, but we hope it gives you a starting point for making healthier food choices.
What foods do you not want your children to eat? Please send them to us in the comments.
Editor’s note: This article was first published on March 8, 2017 and updated in September 2024.
