Top 5 Ingredients In Foods That Make You Go Blue

Many people do not realize that their moods and emotional health can be drastically affected by the food they eat.

The brain chemicals such as serotonin, dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine, are very sensitive and can easily be affected by other foreign chemicals that enter our bloodstreams.

Here are the five hidden chemicals that may be the reason for your emotional and mental predicament.

Organophosphates

This class of chemicals is one of the most potent killers of life. It is used excessively in pesticides and herbicides. Some of its familiar names in agrichemicals are methyl parathion, dimethoate, chlorpyrifos, pirimiphos methyl and azinphos methyl. A study done by Colorado State University found that neurological problems like anxiety, irritability, depression and restlessness are higher among farmers and their families who used organophosphate pesticides as compared to their peers who did not use such chemicals.

According to Professor Lorann Stallones, these farmers are six times more at risk to suffer depression in their lifetime. According to the American Journal of Industrial Medicine, there are many records of farmers who committed suicide after years of exposure to organophosphates and other pesticides.

Organophosphates affect our system by inhibiting AchE, a critical enzyme for proper nervous system function. It is easily absorbed into our bloodstream through skin, mucus membranes, lungs and intestines. Once exposed, a person will experience headaches, dizziness, profuse sweating, blurred vision, respiratory problems, nauseating, vomiting, abdominal cramps and even loss of coordination as well as reflexes.

The only sure way to avoid organophosphates is to consume organic fruits, vegetables and baby food preparations especially those made out of apples, pears and peaches.

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

If there is an awful irritation in your throat, sudden headache or dip in your mood, you may be suffering from the “Chinese restaurant syndrome”. In Asia, Chinese restaurants and food stalls use tons of MSG in the preparation of their dishes. However, to be fair to the Chinese food industry, nutritionists and health practitioners will tell you that most processed foods are also loaded with MSG. Frozen foods, canned tunas, chips, snacks, salad dressings, soups and the Asian favorite instant noodles are some of those foods that are seasoned with this common artificial flavor enhancer.

Studies have shown that MSG is notoriously linked to mild headaches, migraines, itching, nauseating, vomiting, diarrhea, mood swings as well as depression. Some people who are really allergic to MSG would experience burning sensations, facial and chest pressure as well as eye inflammations. The ingredient in MSG that causes all these adverse reactions is the processed free glutamic acid which in itself contains contaminants such as D-glutamic acid, pyroglutamic acid and others. Some processed free glutamic acid may contain carcinogenic mono and dichloro propanols. The natural occurring glutamic acid found in unprocessed and unadulterated protein does not have contaminants.

Therefore, it is best to feed your family with healthy home-cooked meals. Use herbs and spices to zest up your food. If you are a busy executive, scout for restaurants that do not use MSG as food additives. Alternatively, dine in organic restaurants as they do not use MSG or any other chemical flavoring.

Artificial Food Colorings

Many toxicologists report that artificial food colorings do adversely affect the emotional and behavioral pattern of young children. Chemical colorings such as Tartrazine (E102 or FD&C Yellow 5) are especially harmful. After consuming foods that contain such colorings, some of the reactions are instant anxiety, migraines, clinical depression, itching, outbreaks of eczema and general weaknesses as well as sleep disturbances. Countries like Norway, Austria and Germany have taken steps to ban this food dye which is made from coal tar, a by-product of the petrochemical industry. However, in USA, UK and most Asian countries, Tartrazine is one of the most common dyes used in food and medical industry.

Its bright lemon yellow color does not fade easily. Therefore it is found in many processed products such as fruit squash, fruit cordial, colored gassy drinks, butter, margarine, pasta, noodles, custard powder, canned soups, sauces, ice cream, sweets, chewing gum, jams, jelly, marmalade, mustard, yogurt, cheap honey and even the shells of medicinal capsules. The fact is that the manufacturers do have other alternatives. Our only advice to you is to opt for certified organic foods as artificial coloring is banned. They can only use beta carotene (a type of Vitamin A) for the yellow color effect.

Food Preservatives

Some people complain that they feel uneasy, heavy and having headaches after taking a particular canned food or drink. It could be due to the existence of food preservatives from the benzoates family like sodium benzoate. Another class of preservatives we have to watch out for is calcium propionate (preservative 282), which is added to prevent mold. It is widely used in large bakeries that mass-produce breads. You can also find it in dairy products like Swiss cheese. Consumed over time, you will build up the level of propionate in your body and it is well documented that this will cause reactions such as headaches, migraine, eczema, irritable bowel syndrome, tiredness, depression and fatigue.

Heavy metals

Lead is an obvious cause for the increase of depression and aggressive behaviors in children because it directly suppresses their level of serotonin or feel-calm neurotransmitter. The same emotional and mental reaction will occur when our body is exposed to mercury. Our serotonin, dopamine, acetylcholine and norepinephrine are greatly reduced and the resulting reactions would be impaired coordination, tremors, irritability, memory loss, excessive anger, depression and in more serious cases like blurred vision and muscle or joint pain. The main source of mercury exposure is dental amalgam fillings as well as seafood.

If you suspect your bouts of blues are related to chemicals in processed foods, start to be more selective in your choice of food today. Switch to organic and unprocessed foods. When your chemical burden in your body is reduced, you can kiss your chemical-related blues goodbye.