Rethinking our health, from food dyes to the mind
Greetings! Hope you had a wonderful Easter. Here we are, halfway through another week. I have just a couple of stories to elaborate on in this week’s news roundup, along with some advice from a world traveler.
-As you likely know, on Tuesday, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. together with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary announced a ban on petroleum-based food dyes, which have long been criticized for potentially causing hyperactivity and other neurobehavioral problems in children, according to a New York Times report. Food manufacturers will have until the end of 2026 to phase out these dyes, including Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Green No. 3, Red No. 3, and Orange B.
According to the National Library of Medicine, food dye consumption per person has increased fivefold in the United States since 1955, with three dyes — Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 — accounting for 90% of the dyes used in foods such as breakfast cereals, candy, snacks, and beverages.
“For the last 50 years, American children have increasingly been living in a toxic soup of synthetic chemicals,” said Markary in a press conference announcing the bans. “The scientific community has conducted a number of studies raising concerns about the correlation between petroleum-based synthetic dyes and several health conditions, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obesity, diabetes, insulin resistance, cancer, genomic disruption, and GI issues.”
This ban is well overdue, especially considering that petroleum-based dyes, specifically Red No. 3, have been banned in the European Union since 1994, except in cocktail cherries. Red No. 3 was also banned from the EU’s cosmetics in 1990. These bans were instituted due to studies indicating the dyes caused cancer in animals.
We in the U.S. are well behind. With the rates of disorders such as autism, ADHD, and Alzheimer’s dramatically increasing, we have to ask the question why. How much of it is due to the foods we eat, the water we drink, the drugs we consume, and the products we use on our skin and hair? This week’s article on fluoride really highlights the issue. I’m not trying to draw any automatic conclusions, but it is time as a society that we start asking the questions and taking a proactive rather than reactive approach to health and wellbeing.
The following is anecdotal, so I don’t know how much it’s worth, but it was interesting to observe. When I visited Europe twice during my college career (going to Germany, Austria, Norway, and Sweden), I observed very few overweight or obese people. This is despite them routinely eating hearty, heavy meals – the Germans especially like their meat, bread, and potatoes. But, in a lot of the towns we visited, a person would still get their bread fresh baked from the local baker. Their meat from the local butcher. There was no Walmart or Pick ‘n Save – the only supermarket chain I saw was Aldi. And while there were convenience stores, ultra-processed foods were not nearly as prevalent as they are here. So, it’s not a stretch to say that the unnatural substances we are consuming here in the U.S. can and do have an effect.
People in Europe also were much more likely to walk or bike everywhere, including to do errands, and it was not uncommon to not have a car. So, there is the factor of more exercise being built in too. Anyway, I hope we can move forward in a healthier direction as a country. The rise of “crunchy mom” culture online (i.e. those who embrace natural foods, herbal remedies, and holistic medical treatments) shows there is an increased interest among the nation’s parents, at least, in nutrition and other health matters.
- With the obesity issue we have in the U.S., the dieting industry has become a huge industry, as companies promise the latest and greatest supplement or calorie-counting program to curb your food addiction. However, have you ever thought about a diet for your mind? Some of the youngest among us, Generation Z (born 1997 to 2013), are abandoning their smartphones in favor of flip phones to go on a “dopamine diet,” the Washington Times reports.
The rationale goes like this: Checking one’s phone can lead to a dopamine boost from receiving a notification like a text or social media update. The anticipation of receiving a notification can lead to checking one’s phone more. Some Gen Zers are attempting to curb the amount of digital stimulation they receive and reset their brains by reverting to basic phones from Nokia, Motorola, or Samsung. In fact, sales of non-smartphone devices are up 30% among the 18-25 age group, with vintage models fetching premium prices online. Some technology retailers have even dedicated entire sections of their website to “digital detox.”
While it’s too soon to say how much of a trend this will truly become, it is interesting to think that perhaps the pendulum is swinging back among young people. It’s hard to argue against a “digital detox” in our always-on world. From personal experience, on days when I haven’t been on my phone as much, if at all, I have generally felt more productive and socially connected. No shocker there.
-I will end with some travel advice from Sarah Buder, a writer who spent a year backpacking through Central and South America, and reflected on her experiences in an article for Afar. However, I feel the advice she gives is just good life advice in general, not just travel. She writes, “No matter how exotic your location, there will always be times when you’ll have to consciously work to maintain your sense of wonder. Your experience is only what you make of it and later what you attempt to learn from it… “Embarking on a long-term adventure means making a constant commitment to staying amazed at and excited about the life you’re living, the world around you, and the things ahead.”
Have a great week!
Striking a
Chord...
