Avoid Artificial Food Colors – ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO GIVE THAT BRILLIANTLY COLORED, CARCINOGENIC JUNK FOOD TO YOUR CHILD? Many are not aware that the coal tar dyes (you know, the ones with the label like FD&C #7…and why exactly are #1-6 no longer used??) are suspected carcinogens. I remember asking a patient to bring in her prescription prenatal vitamins for me to look at. Opening the bottle, I knew instantly that the color of the tablets was not of Mother Nature. I’m sure if I shut the lights off they would’ve glowed. I proceeded to ask the patient whether she actually cared what color her prenatal vitamins were. Of course, the answer was “no.” So why had her OB written a prescription for a vitamin (supposed to help) that had suspected cancer causing agents in them? Is this a time to be playing with “maybe” the dyes don’t cause cancer? And what about just about every other food we market to kids? Do you realize most pickles (except Bubbies, which are, arguably, the best pickles on the planet) have food coloring in them? Just how much do you have to process a cucumber to take the green out? Read labels. Always, always avoid artificial food colorings. Period. And for goodness’ sake–please keep them out of reach of children! Read More…