And What to Do About It
There used to be a lot of controversy about how much preservatives and other artificial components of food affect mental and cognitive health, but the research is now too overwhelming to deny. The removal of additives, preservatives and ultra processed foods reduces inattention, behavioral difficulties and downshifts in mood.
People may not see preservatives as toxins, however, the reality is they are chemically created to ensure companies are able to create bulk products for less and stay in business. But the impact on consumers’ health isn’t taken into account. Yet, people develop difficulties in many areas of health due to preservatives, from inattention in school or work to having gut issues.
Serotonin is one of the chemicals that helps us sustain healthy mood, and about 90% of it is produced in the gut. This statistic alone points to how significant food is to our mental health functioning.
If you’d like to understand the difference of how a preservative-free life looks like for you, do a basic food log. It doesn’t have to be for a long stretch of time. You can start with two weeks and go longer if you feel you need more data. Include what you’ve eaten, when and how it made you feel physically, emotionally and cognitively. For that last part, you can notice how alert and energetic you feel, how well you get through tasks and your level of ability to focus on tasks.
Once you’ve gathered a good amount of data that tells you how your mind and body react to preservatives, you can start to eliminate them more regularly with your medical provider’s support. You can also track which preservatives affect you more than others. I wish you well on the journey to finding improved health!
Who Needs Preservatives 