"The Dirty Dozen" #11

11. Artificial flavors and artificial colors by Jordan Rubin

(This is a contraversial issue, I just think its something to think about and take into consideration.)

The dictionary definition of artificial refers to something not made by himan beings or a copy of something narutal. Since the gail of Perfect Weight American is to eat natural foods, anything containing artificial flavors or artificial colors will be naturally unhealthy as well as increase the toxic load on the body.

Take the recipe for Waldorf-Astoria Red velvet cake--please! The cooking instructions for this ooh-la-la confection, which originated at the iconic Manhattan hotels, calls for squeezing two bottles of FD&C Red No. 40 into a mixing bowl filled with the requisite shortening, flour, eggs, and sugar. Pastry chefs say they have to wear gloves to keep the shameful dye off their skin or rub nail polish remover if any red spots appear on their double breasted white jackets.

"Why should a dose of Red No. 40 turn Betty Crocker into Hester Prynne?"
asked Slate.com writer Daniel Engber, referring to the fictional colonial woman forced to wear a scarlet letter "A" for committing adultery. "Ask a gourmand, and youre likely to hear three specious answers. First, Epicurean: Artificial color tastes bad. Second, Hippocratic: Its bad for your health. And third, Platonic: It makes food unnatural."

Dont purchase foods that list artificial flavors and colors on the packaging. These additives have been linked to behavioral problems in children and increase the body's toxic load. They have also been associated with allergies and skin rashes.