Food Additives in Pregnancy
The safety of food additives in pregnancy is a bit controversial, as you will find from a quick internet search of the topic. While most people agree everyone's health improves by limiting additives because the quality of nutrition improves, not everyone agrees that foods using additives need to be avoided. Finding out where you fit in the spectrum of opinions will help you decide what additives, if any, you want to use.
Additives are used in most foods. Some help to prevent food from spoiling. Others help to avoid the growth of bacteria that can cause illness. Some additives help to prevent color and flavor changes in foods. Additives have made it possible for large quantities of foods to be distributed throughout the world.
In the United States, it is the Food and Drug Administration that is responsible for ensuring the safety of food additives. In 1958, all food additives in use at that time were placed on the Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) list, since they had been used for such a long time. To remove a food from this list, the FDA must prove it is unsafe.
For a new food to be added to the list, the manufacture must supply information such as its chemical composition, how it is manufactured, how to measure its presence in food and proof that it actually accomplishes what it is intended to accomplish. The FDA does its own testing on at least two animal species to determine the highest dose that produces no observable effects—a dose that is much larger than what humans are exposed to. The maximum dose is then divided by at least 100 to set the safe intake level for humans, since the FDA believes humans are at least 10 times more sensitive to food additives than the laboratory animals, and people have a range of sensitivities. If the food is shown to cause cancer at any dose, it is not allowed (although there have been a few exceptions).
Even though acceptable levels must be established before a product is used, some people show sensitivity or allergies to certain additives. Some people complain of headaches, fatigue and other symptoms when using additives that are triggers for them. These sensitivities may be heightened during pregnancy. Also, specific testing on the safety of food additives during pregnancy is rarely done, so although the additives appear safe, there is not always a way to know for sure.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest recommends that everyone avoid sodium nitrite, saccharin, caffeine, olestra, acesulfame K, and artificial coloring. According to CSPI, these are the most questionable additives and tend to be used in foods that add little to your overall nutrition. They also advise people to pay attention to sugar and salt, the two most common additives which may pose the most danger since they are so heavily used.
Some people rely on food additives to maintain a healthy diet. Artificial sweeteners, emulsifiers and fat replacements allow people with specific dietary limitations, such as diabetics or those following a low-fat diet, to enjoy a wide range of foods. Avoiding food additives in these types of food requires learning new eating strategies such as enjoy fresh fruit instead of sugary snacks and using herbs for flavor instead of fats.
Limiting your food additive intake may be better for your health than you think. One of the best ways to cut down your additive intake is to prepare your own food from the freshest ingredients possible. This allows you to control everything that goes into a food, including the salt, sugar, extra fats and any extra protein you may wish to add. This can have a significant impact on the overall nutritional intake of the food you eat.
The list of additives used around the world is too large to be listed here. To learn more about the additives in the food you eat, start by reading your food labels and investigate the chemical names you see listed.
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