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Food Additives and Preservatives. Lesson 3: Processed Kids. To improve shelf life To improve flavor Keep their color As a way to make a profit – may own ingredients. Why do food manufacturers add so many of these artificial ingredients to their foods?. CSPI. Consumer Advocacy Group
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Food Additives and Preservatives Lesson 3: Processed Kids
To improve shelf life To improve flavor Keep their color As a way to make a profit – may own ingredients Why do food manufacturers add so many of these artificial ingredients to their foods?
CSPI • Consumer Advocacy Group • Watchdog of the food industry • Deemed some artificial additives and preservatives as unsafe • Many once considered safe now known to cause allergies and even cancer
Artificial chemicals: brain fuel or brain fool How Many Cells Does Your Brain Have? 100 BILLION
Each brain cell consists of: • Neurons • Neuralgia or glia (means glue)
neurons • Cells within the brain consisting of: Cell body - Dendrites - Axon
Cell body and dendrites • Cell Body • Enlarged part of the cell • Houses the nucleus • Nutritional hub • Contains macromolecules (VERY LARGE) • Dendrites • Pick up electrical impulses from neighboring cells • Transmits these impulses to the cell body
Axon • Large branching cell structure • Carries electrical impulses away from the cell body to other cells • Transmission called a synapse • Triggers the release of chemicals called neurotransmitters
neurotransmitters • Peptide • Regulate appetite, mood and feelings of pain • Biogenic Amine • Improves memory and ability to learn • Regulates happiness • Helps control impulses • Dendrites • Induces excitement in the brain or fast signaling between neurons
neurotransmitters and artificial chemicals in the brain These chemicals have neurotoxin* properties *A substance that can injure or cause problems with the neurons in the brain
experts believe they should not be eaten • They are not food • Artificial colorings made from coal-tar • Liver detoxifies chemicals • Affect the balance of neurotransmitters leading to aggression, asthma, eczema and headaches • Connected to ADHD
Official studies have mixed results • No solid evidence either way • Individuals eat a variety of these chemicals everyday • Difficult to pinpoint • Environmental factors can also contribute to brain cell damage
most common artificial chemicals found in food • BHA and BHT • Found in cookies, crackers and chips • Same chemicals found in embalming fluid
Butylatedhydroxyanisole - bha • Keeps oil from going rancid • Found in cereals, chewing gums, potato chips and vegetable oils • US Dept. of Health and Human Services – “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen” • FDA still allows it
Monosodium glutamate- msg • Used as a flavor enhancer • Found in potato chips, snack foods, soups, salad dressings, restaurant foods, boxed foods and more! • Known to cause “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome” • Not allowed in baby foods
Caramel color • Heating sugars with ammonium compounds, acids or alkalis • Found in colas, baked goods, pre-cooked meats, soy sauce and chocolate flavored foods • California Public Health – “known carcinogen” • CSPI is asking for ban
Aspartame (nutrasweet) • Artificial Sweetener • Found in diet foods, soft drinks, drink mixes, gelatin desserts, low-calorie foods and sugar-free packets • Causes cancer, neurological issues, hallucinations or dizziness and digestive distress • Long-term effects not known • CSPI recommends against
Video: the doctors http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNlCsUxxuS8&feature=related