Have you ever wondered how sometimes the food you are served looks lusciously flavoured with a unique sort of colour ?
Well, it might not be a big deal at that moment but it is a concerning thing.
Most people are unaware of the fact that dyes and artificial flavoring are consistently used to make the food more presentable. While it enhances the taste of the food, it is attached to enormous health loopholes that are unfavorable for our bodies.
Out of all the food pigments being used, titanium dioxide is one of the most widely used pigments. An odourless powder, enhancing the white colour and opacity of food is what it is. It is found in the most common products like candies, coffee creams, chocolates and even your toothpaste.
It might enhance the way your dish looks, but when it comes to the health related issues it is capable of creating a large number of problems.
According to recent studies, it is made clear that the risk concerned with the usage of titanium dioxide has increased massively.
Once the food flavoured with it enters our body, it’s nanoparticles(i.e. less that 100 nm in diameter) are easily absorbed by intestinal cells. It is a thing to worry as this absorption can lead to oxidative stress and even cancer growth.
Certain researches conducted on rats also showed how titanium dioxide accumulates in the liver, and kidneys.
But these studies come with certain cons. Typically, larger quantities of this pigment is used in the research, making it difficult to conclude it’s actual effect on humans. Although, some minor levels of 0.01% are absorbed in our immune cells, it can also be transmitted to other organs. But there still lacks any valid proof of how extremely it can affect human health.
On the other hand, It is not always that titanium dioxide is a risk bearer. It comes attached with certain benefits as well. It is the key to bring out the best food quality in the products it’s used in. Starting from our sweeteners like chewing gums, candies, chocolates to coffee creamers and cake decors, it’s light scattering property helps enhance the opacity of these products. Not only is it a quality enhancer, but it also makes the final product look appealing.
While packaging, a lot of marketers use this pigment to increase the shelf life of their products, making it a supporter of preservation. It’s properties are able to delay the ripening process, prolonging the shelf life.
In Spite of the risk it bears, it is still considered safe for consumption because of the benefits it offers. Although the quantity in which it’s consumed, matters.
As we are entering a health conscious world, people tend to worry about the elements constituting the food they intake. We at Health Click Away, not only provide you with the healthiest but also the most safest options for your meal choices. So download the smartest health and fitness app Health Click Away and prepare your meals without any worries.
We can’t control everything, but we can control what we put in our mouth.
