Children's Day 2022: How chemicals in pizza, jam and cola are impacting kids

Children's Day is here. What are you doing to keep your little one's health in check? Wellness and celebrity nutrition expert and co-founder of You Care Lifestyle Luke Coutinho talks about how inadvertently our food choices are harming the health of our kids. (Image: istock)

Little ones are notoriously difficult to please when it comes to food. Place a bowl of oats mixed with nuts in front of them, and they will reject the dish. But, they will gobble up with great gusto if you offer them a burger or pizza. What a hassle, isn't it? But have you ever thought: What do ketchup, a pizza takeout, a can of corn and a jam bottle all have in common? Each contains food preservatives, additives, artificial colors and flavorings or chemicals that may pose a health risk to children. (Image: istock)

Also Read: 7 most harmful chemicals added to common foods

A child's food choices can be problematic, and they may be picky about what they eat. Parents are especially concerned about this because their children, especially those between the ages of two and twelve, are growing and require proper nutrition to develop and grow properly. Nowadays, newspapers, forward messages, social media, and other channels provide a wealth of information regarding the latest diets and nutrition facts for growing children. While these are descriptive, more details are needed to avoid further confusion. (Image: istock)

It has been shown through animal and human epidemiological studies that colourings, flavorings, chemicals, and substances found in food and those that may come into contact with food during processing or packaging can cause disease and disability in children. The effects of these compounds may be particularly problematic in children because they are exposed to them at higher levels than adults; their endocrine systems are still developing, and their crucial organ systems are undergoing substantial changes and maturation that may be susceptible to health issues like ADHD, stunted growth, hormonal imbalance, early puberty, allergies, PCOD, and so on. (Image: istock)

Children are attracted to brightly coloured foods and beverages from synthetic artificial food colors. Children's behavior has been negatively affected by them over the last several decades and has been suspected of exacerbating their attention-deficit disorder symptoms. (Image: istock)

A recent study found that rice cereals contained three times more methylmercury, the most concerning type of mercury, than multigrain cereals and 19 times more than cereals containing grains other than rice. One month later, another study found infant rice cereals to have six times more arsenic. These are harmful chemicals posing risk of cancer, heart disease and hormonal changes. (Image: istock)

It acts like estrogen and disrupts puberty. It can also increase body fat and cause problems with the nervous system and immune systems. You can find them in food and soda cans, plastics, and infant bottles. (Image: istock)

They can interfere with thyroid function and blood oxygen delivery. They can also increase cancer risk. It enhances the color and preserves food, especially meats, which are common in processed food. (Image: istock)

The consumption of sugar itself is a major addiction among children. Many studies have demonstrated that children who consume excessive amounts of sugar in their diet can develop poor dental health, irritability, tantrums, and hyperactivity. Further, many long-term studies have linked sugar to a risk of diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension later in life. Look for products that are sweetened naturally using jaggery, dates, fig and so on. (Image: istock)

This chemical found in dry packaging interferes with thyroid function and disrupts early brain development. (Image: istock)

Put an emphasis on whole fruits and vegetables.

Whenever possible, purchase from an authentic and honest market where you will not have to worry about what is stated on the label.

Keep your hands clean at all times. Be sure to choose lotions, soaps, and other products that are made naturally and that do not contain any artificial fragrances.

Avoid using plastic containers altogether.

Look for food products that contain natural coloring rather than artificial food coloring.

A holistic approach to wellness must be embraced by shopping from authentic, ethically sourced and honest marketplaces whenever possible. (Image: istock)

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