Preserving Your Child's Health
Food and beverage additives play a major role in the diet of most
Americans, but what many people don't know is that these additives can
affect the health of unborn children.
What are additives? Anne Keller, director of nutrition education for Wildwood Child and Adult Care Food Program, Inc. in Denver, Colo., says that additives are ingredients added to food or beverages to preserve (citric acid), add flavor (fructose), emulsify and stabilize (pectin), dye (caramel), improve nutritional value (vitamins A and D) and improve texture (yeast). "Some are OK, and some should be avoided," she says.
Some additives, like folic acid, are good for pregnancy. "Ideally, pregnant women should consume green leafy vegetables to increase their folic acid," says Dr. Rodney Lamb of Castle Rock, Colo. But when women need more than what they are getting in their diet, additives such as folic acid are essential, because good nutrition is important for a developing fetus, says Dr. Jeremiah Bartley, an OB/GYN in Brighton, Colo.
In 1959, the FDA released its first "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) list of additives. Some who trust the GRAS list point to scientific studies and FDA approval to demonstrate that these additives have no adverse effect on pregnant women.
Others cite dangerous results from animal studies and case studies where academic testing scores improved dramatically after the elimination of GRAS-approved additives.
Since additives can affect your unborn child's health, you may need to pay special attention to your diet.
Additives to Avoid: Artificial Colors that have been banned in at least one country or have been linked to cancer or tumors: Blue #1, Blue #2, Citrus Red #1, Citrus Red #2, Green #3, Red #3, Red #40 and Yellow #6. Note: Ingredient "FD&C" usually means it contains artificial coloring. (Found in soft drinks, jams, cereals, snack foods, fruit.)
BHA and BHT have been linked to fetal abnormalities and cell development retardation in animals. BHT is banned in Australia and Sweden, and in the United States, it is not permitted in infant foods. BHT is often an indirect additive, not shown on labels but present through the inclusion of vegetable oils. (Found in baked goods and processed foods.)
Heptylparaben has been linked to birth defects. (Found in jams and frozen deserts.)
Lead – Susan Gins, a certified nutritionist in Seattle, says, "Even in small amounts, lead can pass through the placenta and into the fetus. Some developmental defects in children have been linked to lead poisoning." (Found in calcium supplements from oyster shell calcium.)
Mannitol and Disodium Guanylate are prohibited in food for infants because they have been linked to kidney dysfunction. (Found in diet foods.)
Nitrates, Nitrites and Propyl Gallate can create a condition called methemoglobinemia, a blood disease where babies do not receive enough oxygen. (Nitrates/nitrites are found in processed meats like hot dogs; Propyl gallate is found in salad dressings, margarine and oils.)
Saccharin carries an FDA-required label proclaiming that it may be dangerous to your health. Although the FDA has found no link between this substance and human cancer, many health professionals recommend it not be ingested during pregnancy. (Found in artificial sweeteners and diet products.)
Sodium Aluminum Silicate is like all aluminum additives. Aluminum is linked to problems with the placenta during pregnancy. (Found in dried milk substitutes and flour.)
Controversial Additives: Aspartame (Equal®, NutraSweet®) is controversial. Proponents recommend that pregnant women do not have more than two cans of a diet soda or four packages of sweetener daily. Nutritionist Anne Keller says, "All artificial sweeteners should be avoided because a baby's liver has not yet matured and may not be able to process these toxins." (Found in sweeteners, soft drinks and diet products.)
Caffeine interferes with the absorption of iron, says Gins. "Several studies link caffeine consumption to low weight in babies and other birth defects such as cleft palate and miscarriages," she says. (Found in tea, coffee, chocolate and soft drinks.)
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) may be linked to neurological diseases. The FDA requires that MSG be identified on labels. Keller says that this additive can escalate high blood pressure. (Found in most processed foods, canned vegetables, canned tuna, frozen foods and dressings as a flavor enhancer.)
Phosphates is a form of phosphoric acid. Excessive consumption may block calcium from being absorbed in the body and pull minerals from bones. (Found in baked goods, evaporated milk and cereals.)
Sodium Benzoate inhibited neurological development and stunted growth in laboratory rats, although this evidence is not associated with people according to the FDA. (Found in orange soft drinks, meat products, condiments, oral medications and baked goods.)
Sulphur Dioxide destroys vitamin B1 in the body. (Found in beer, potato products, wine, soft drinks, dried fruit.)