A Review of Food Additives Kids Should Avoid with Dr. Jordi Smith, A Pediatric Naturopath

Ever wondered what's hiding in your family's food that might be causing tummy troubles such as constipation in your kids? The culprits might be found right in aisles of your favorite grocery store, where many of the processed, packaged foods include additives that may impact you and your kid’s digestive health. In today's convenience-driven food culture, it's common to find more additives or preservatives in packaged foods because they can extend the shelf life of food products. However, this means it’s also essential to uncover the often overlooked impact of food additives on our kid’s gut health. As the evidence for supporting gut health in kids continues to grow, we as parents need to better understand potentially harmful ingredients in processed foods to reduce the risk for gastrointestinal problems in our kiddos. In this article, I’m sharing my insights as a Naturopathic Pediatrician on the food additives you should avoid, their potential effects, and what you can choose instead to help you make better choices for your child's digestive well-being.

Emulsifiers / Polysorbates

Emulsifiers such as polysorbates are common additives found in a wide range of processed foods. Other common names might include:

• Soy Lecithin
• Diglycerides
• Carrageenan
• Guar Gum

Emulsifiers serve to improve the texture and shelf life of food products. While they play a valuable role in food production and preservation, research suggests that a high intake of emulsifiers can have adverse effects on the gastrointestinal system [6]. Emulsifiers can potentially disrupt the mucosal lining of the intestines, which is essential for nutrient absorption and maintaining a healthy gut barrier. This disruption can lead to inflammation and increased permeability of the gut lining, a condition often referred to as "leaky gut." Emulsifiers may also interfere with the composition of the gut microbiota, potentially promoting the growth of harmful bacteria and diminishing the population of beneficial ones. For kids with conditions like Crohn's disease, these effects can be particularly troublesome, exacerbating their gastrointestinal symptoms [1]. Chronic gut inflammation can contribute to more severe gut issues if left untreated.

Artificial Sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners are popular sugar substitutes due to their low-calorie content. They are commonly used in sugar-free and diet products including sodas, candies, and desserts. However, excessive intakes of artificial sweeteners like saccharin, aspartame, and sucralose have been found to disrupt the balance of the gut microbiome. This disturbance can lead to alterations in the gut bacteria's composition and function, potentially affecting digestion and nutrient absorption.

Furthermore, some studies have suggested a connection between artificial sweeteners and an increased risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic condition characterized by inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. For our little ones whose digestive systems are still developing, these artificial additives may pose a higher risk [2]. Artificial sweeteners are also tied to an increased risk of inflammatory bowel disease [3].

Food Dyes

Food dyes are commonly used in processed foods to enhance their visual appeal. They can be found in a wide variety of products such as candies, cereals, sweetened beverages, and high-calorie, processed snacks. Recent studies have raised concerns about their potential impact on gastrointestinal health, particularly in kids. Some artificial food dyes have been linked to disturbances in the balance of gut bacteria. These disturbances can lead to digestive problems, including bloating, abdominal discomfort, and irregular bowel movements [8]. Certain food dyes such as Red 40 or Yellow 5 have been associated with behavioral issues in kids, which may indirectly affect their gastrointestinal well-being [7]. Kids are more susceptible to the effects of artificial additives due to their developing digestive systems [4].

Resources

(1) Viennois E, Merlin D, Gewirtz AT, Chassaing B. Dietary Emulsifier-Induced Low-Grade Inflammation Promotes Colon Carcinogenesis. Cancer Res. 2017 Jan 1;77(1):27-40. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-16-1359. Epub 2016 Nov 7. PMID: 27821485; PMCID: PMC5214513.

(2) Suez, J., Korem, T., Zeevi, D. et al. Artificial sweeteners induce glucose intolerance by altering the gut microbiota. Nature 514, 181–186 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature13793

(3) Raoul P, Cintoni M, Palombaro M, Basso L, Rinninella E, Gasbarrini A, Mele MC. Food Additives, a Key Environmental Factor in the Development of IBD through Gut Dysbiosis. Microorganisms. 2022 Jan 13;10(1):167. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms10010167. PMID: 35056616; PMCID: PMC8780106.

(4) Kwon, Y.H., Banskota, S., Wang, H. et al. Chronic exposure to synthetic food colorant Allura Red AC promotes susceptibility to experimental colitis via intestinal serotonin in mice. Nat Commun 13, 7617 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-35309-y

(5) California, oehha. (n.d.). Health Effects Assessment: Potential Neurobehavioral Effects of Synthetic Food Dyes in Children. OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HAZARD ASSESSMENT. https://doi.org/https://oehha.ca.gov/media/downloads/risk-assessment/report/healthefftsassess041621.pdf

(6) Jarmakiewicz-Czaja S, Piątek D, Filip R. The impact of selected food additives on the gastrointestinal tract in the example of nonspecific inflammatory bowel diseases. Arch Med Sci. 2021 Jan 8;18(5):1286-1296. doi: 10.5114/aoms/125001. PMID: 36160334; PMCID: PMC9479712.

(7) Miller, M. D., Steinmaus, C., Golub, M. S., Castorina, R., Thilakartne, R., Bradman, A., & Marty, M. A. (2022). Potential impacts of synthetic food dyes on activity and attention in children: a review of the human and animal evidence. Environmental Health, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-022-00849-9

(8) Amchová, P., Kotolová, H., & Rudá-Kučerová, J. (2015). Health safety issues of synthetic food colorants. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 73(3), 914–922. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yrtph.2015.09.026