Toxic chemicals make their way into our bodies in three ways: Mouth (ingestion), the lungs (inhalation), and/or Skin (dermatological absorption). When chemicals enter through one of these paths, they are carried around in the blood stream to different parts of the body. From the blood stream, chemicals can be stored in tissues, like fat and bone. Or, they can go through the liver and end up being excreted. Food is an important source through which toxins enter our body.
A Pinch of toxins in our children’s food or is it more?
Children need protection all the time. Their systems are smaller and more delicate than those of the adults. Impact of toxins is much more dangerous to children because the effects are more profound during critical stages of development and growth that occur during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood.
The list of terrible things we mindlessly ingest in the name of nourishment is long. But just what are these dietary culprits comprised of? What makes them so toxic? And, most importantly, what are they doing to us and to our children? Following mentioned foods have become part of our regular diet. It is high time that we pay attention towards the type of food and also the ingredients of the food on our children’s plate.
Processed food is made from real food that has been put through devitalizing chemical processes and is infused with chemicals and preservatives.
Junk foods contain very little real food. They are made of devitalized processed food, hydrogenated fats, chemicals, and preservatives, and include anything made with refined white flour.
Fake foods are made primarily of chemicals, and often contain gums and sugar fillers.
Energy Foods/Drinks These non-foods have one thing in common; it costs your body a great deal more to digest, absorb, and eliminate them than they offer in nutritional value – an extremely poor return on your investment that leaves your body sluggish and at a low level.
Processed foods Today, nearly six thousand additives and chemicals are used by food companies to process our food. Many of them can have a devastating effect on our health. Unfortunately, the good intentions that characterized the processed food industry during the early days have now de-evolved to finding ways to manipulate buyers, regardless of the detrimental effects on the health of human beings and more specifically children. Today, many additives and preservatives serve as harmful toxic chemicals which are as problematic as the decay they are supposed to prevent.
The highest amount of above mentioned food is often consumed by children, says Dr Madan Mohan, senior child specialist with NMC, Sharjah. He further emphasises that high level of food preservatives and colouring agents have long term health hazards. Most frequently seen health problems are asthma, skin allergies, poor sleep habits, fidgeting, hyper action, compulsive aggression, frustration, clumsiness and some serious long term impacts.
Some of the commonly used ingredients in food items targeted at children are listed below. We must check the ingredients label whenever we pick products from the shelf particularly for our children, says Dr kazmi, a Dubai based child specialist.
A Pinch of toxins in our children’s food or is it more?
Children need protection all the time. Their systems are smaller and more delicate than those of the adults. Impact of toxins is much more dangerous to children because the effects are more profound during critical stages of development and growth that occur during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood.
The list of terrible things we mindlessly ingest in the name of nourishment is long. But just what are these dietary culprits comprised of? What makes them so toxic? And, most importantly, what are they doing to us and to our children? Following mentioned foods have become part of our regular diet. It is high time that we pay attention towards the type of food and also the ingredients of the food on our children’s plate.
Processed food is made from real food that has been put through devitalizing chemical processes and is infused with chemicals and preservatives.
Junk foods contain very little real food. They are made of devitalized processed food, hydrogenated fats, chemicals, and preservatives, and include anything made with refined white flour.
Fake foods are made primarily of chemicals, and often contain gums and sugar fillers.
Energy Foods/Drinks These non-foods have one thing in common; it costs your body a great deal more to digest, absorb, and eliminate them than they offer in nutritional value – an extremely poor return on your investment that leaves your body sluggish and at a low level.
Processed foods Today, nearly six thousand additives and chemicals are used by food companies to process our food. Many of them can have a devastating effect on our health. Unfortunately, the good intentions that characterized the processed food industry during the early days have now de-evolved to finding ways to manipulate buyers, regardless of the detrimental effects on the health of human beings and more specifically children. Today, many additives and preservatives serve as harmful toxic chemicals which are as problematic as the decay they are supposed to prevent.
The highest amount of above mentioned food is often consumed by children, says Dr Madan Mohan, senior child specialist with NMC, Sharjah. He further emphasises that high level of food preservatives and colouring agents have long term health hazards. Most frequently seen health problems are asthma, skin allergies, poor sleep habits, fidgeting, hyper action, compulsive aggression, frustration, clumsiness and some serious long term impacts.
Some of the commonly used ingredients in food items targeted at children are listed below. We must check the ingredients label whenever we pick products from the shelf particularly for our children, says Dr kazmi, a Dubai based child specialist.
Artificial Food Colours Since industrialization, we have seen enormous growth in the food industry as well as the chemical industry. One such outcome is that we now have synthetic dyes that are being used instead of natural food colours derived from colourful foods. Synthetic dyes are very convenient and cost-effective, even if it is not as safe. Research shows that one particular dye FD & C Red No 2, which is used extensively in drinks, meats, cough syrup and candies, is harmful so much so that its use has led to birth defects and cancer in laboratory animals. It has now been banned in the food and cosmetic industry. There are still other dyes in the market today that are harmful.
Tartrazine, usually labelled FD & C yellow # 5 is one such dye that is still being used despite having negative effects on children. It can also be listed as E102. Some of the negative reactions that have been linked to this dye are "asthma, certain rashes, hyperactivity (particularly in children) and migraines." The long list of food items and beverages in which colour is altered includes butter, margarine, the skins of oranges and potatoes, popcorn, maraschino cherries, hot dogs, jellies, jellybeans, carbonated beverages, and canned strawberries and peas. Even the chicken feed on large-scale egg farms is coloured so that chickens will lay golden-yolked eggs similar to those laid by free-range chickens.
Flavourings: The most common food additive, flavourings – of which there are over 2000 in use – may be natural or artificial, usually comprise of a large number of chemicals. Artificial flavours are linked to allergic and behavioural reactions, yet these ingredients are not required to be listed in detail as they're generally recognized as safe. MSG (monosodium glutamate) is another popular flavour enhancer. Found to cause damage in laboratory mice, it has been banned for use in baby foods, although, it is still used in numerous other items. It causes common allergic and behavioural reactions including headaches, dizziness, chest pains, depression, and mood swings, and is also a possible neurotoxin.
Refining Refining destroys and devitalizes most of the nutrient values of food. Refined flour has had the brown husk of the grain stripped away, leaving the white, refined starch found in white bread, white rice, pasta, cookies, and numerous other junk foods. Without the fibrous husk, refined starches are broken down quickly into sugar and absorbed immediately into the bloodstream, causing glucose levels to rise, and increasing the risk of obesity. In contrast, whole grains – such as whole grain bread and cereals, brown rice, and barley – retain the bran surrounding the starch, so that they are absorbed more slowly into the bloodstream than refined starches. This slows sugar absorption from the intestine, and reduces the risk of obesity.
Bleaching Part of the process wheat undergoes to become the white flour in popular baked goods involves bleaching. Various chemical bleaching agents are used including oxide of nitrogen, chlorine, chloride, nitrosyl, and benzoyl peroxide mixed with a variety of chemical salts for bleaching the edible items..
Who buys the junk?
Children play an important role in the consumer market by influencing their parents’ purchases. Children’s advertisements make use of formats and
tools specifically designed to appeal to children. Animation, pace and fantasy are common in food advertisements, as are premium offers (free gifts) and statements about product quality.
Multinational and domestic food companies, which promote energy-dense and low-nutrient foods and drink use highly effective marketing techniques to encourage regular consumption, repeat purchases and brand loyalty – especially amongst children. So powerful is the marketing impact of link-ups with children’s television characters and movies that some advertisements for such food chains do not mention the food at all. They show only the toy available in the latest collecting offer.
Advertising firms know that if they convince the children, all they need do is sit back and watch the children convince the parents.
Artificial Sweeteners Replacing sugar with another sweetener is not a good idea at all. Take a closer look at the chemical make-up of such products and you may not think it so sweet after all. Artificial sweeteners are usually composed of phenylalanine, tyrosine, and methanol! High levels of Phenylalanine and Tyrosine (both amino acids). in the brain can negatively affect the synthesis of neurotransmitters and bodily functions that are controlled by the autonomic nervous system (blood pressure). The third ingredient is methanol or wood alcohol, which breaks down into formaldehyde, which is regarded as a very toxic substance. Artificial sweeteners release glucose in the body causing low-blood sugar. Children with low-blood sugar can experience headaches, blurred vision, lethargy, memory failure, rapid heartbeat, perspiration, tremors, and giddiness. Obviously, this causes a severe decrease in learning ability.
Preservatives Preservatives such as BHA, BHT and EDTA are used in small quantities in grain products like cereal, soup bases, and other food items containing oil to prevent rancidity. These are potentially toxic to the liver and kidneys, and they have been known to cause allergic reactions and neurotoxin effects. Children can be especially sensitive to preservatives which may cause behavioural changes and hyperactivity. Interestingly, BHT is prohibited as a food additive in the UK.
Food packaging PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is a known carcinogen, and it is often used as plastic food wrap. Many grocery stores seal meats and other foods in PVC wrap; a particularly dangerous practice for warm or fatty foods, both of which help release the PVC into the food.
Some seafood is dangerously high in mercury and other toxins, and industrial chemicals are found in many foods and their packaging
While the emerging food scenario is alarming, the parents need to educate themselves on such a critical issue. It is always wise to check the ingredients, packaging and warning while buying any edible items especially for the children. Coloured drinks, colour-coated candies, gummy and chewy candies, and many coloured cereals should be avoided as far as possible.
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