Day: January 6, 2020

red 40 side effects
Health care

Food Color Red 40- What You Should Know

Red Dye 40 is one of the main coloring ingredients that you will find on many foods. It is also called Allura food, and it is the most common artificial food coloring. You can find this coloring agent in the candies, cosmetics, and even in the bakery food. There are lots of claims and researches made on the topic that Red 40 is harmful to humans, and it can affect the kids a lot. Too much consumption of Red 40 in the form of various food items damage the liver and impart other harmful consequences. So, before you are using the food color or you are buying some food items having the Red 40 in it, be sure to know about this food color first.

What is Red 40?

Red 40 or the Allure 40 is the red food color that comes from petroleum distillates or the coal tar. The U.S Food and Drug Administration FDA reveals that it is listed on the food items by name and product labels. The food dyes that are made with coal tars are made by mixing various fragrant smelling hydrocarbons like toluene and benzyne. Though in the earlier times, the food colors are made from natural ingredients like flowers, roots, and leaves. But, with the latest scientific inventions, the experts are making these food colors at labs with the help of various chemicals.

red 40 side effects

Potential hazards of using the Red Dye 40

As per the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Red 40 can cause lots of allergies in the body of some people. Even the researches show that the red dye 40 can cause hyperactivity in children and can create immune-system tumors in mice. Red 40 contains p-Cresidine, which is anticipated as a human carcinogen. The rats have lower reproductive success, go through the reduced weight of the parents and their offspring, and also decrease of brain weight. Hence, you are quite aware of the red 40 side effects. So, it is essential to be careful and check the ingredient list of food before you are buying.

How to Spot the Red Dye 40?

FDA regulations declared that Red 40 should be labeled as the FD&C Red no 40 or the Red 40. However, the manufacturers do not have to specify the exact amount of Red 40 present in the food. The foods that are not red or orange can contain the Red 40 dye. You can find this ingredient along with the other AFCs in the cheese, crackers, salad dressings, and marshmallows. The common names of Red 40 that you might find in the food are Red 40, FD & C Red no 40, Allure Red, C.I 16035, Allura Red AC, and so on.

Some of the common foods that contain Red 40 are Berry BerryKix, post shredded wheat, and ocean spray fruit-flavored snacks, grape nuts, special K red Berries cereal, Yoplait yogurts and so on. Hence, it is clear that Red 40 is quite dangerous, and you should avoid it.

Orthodontics
Dental

Orthodontics for Seniors: Is It Worth It?

There’s this popular misconception that orthodontics is only for children. This is probably because kids are the ones who are mostly seen with metal braces on their teeth. Well, if research by the American Association of Orthodontists is anything to go buy, it’s never too late to have orthodontic treatment. You can also have it in your senior life, so you are not just restricted to metal braces.

There are other discrete options like clear plastic aligners that you can get at Pitner Orthodontics Invisalign Downtown Columbia SC. Senior citizens are generally cautious when it comes to undergoing treatments. So, it’s normal to ask if orthodontics treatments are worth it or a waste of money.  Here are reasons to believe that orthodontics for seniors are worth spending money on:

  • Correct Bad Bite

At old age, the jawbone, just like other bones, loses its density and strength. As a result, teeth start to wrap and go out of position. Sadly, this interferes with your chewing. The good news is that bad bites can be easily corrected by orthodontics. Through teeth aligners, crooked teeth are realigned and this restores your natural bite.

  • Get a Better Smile

There’s a close linkage between your teeth and smile. When your teeth are straight, it’s easier to smile more often. Orthodontics can straighten misaligned teeth to give you a perfect smile. Additionally, it can address issues like tooth loss and tooth wear that are associated with bone loss. As mentioned, bone loss is a natural process of aging.

  • Improve Oral Hygiene

Orthodontics doesn’t just make your teeth straighter so that you can chew and smile better. They also help you enjoy better oral hygiene. Remember, bacteria like crooked and overcrowded teeth because they can easily hide and not be reached by a toothbrush. However, it becomes easy to brush them off when the teeth are straight. This is what orthodontics guarantee. It’s also easier to floss your teeth after orthodontic treatment.

  • It Doesn’t Have to Be Obvious

We’ve already mentioned clear plastic aligners, popularly identified as Invisalign. They are like transparent mouth guards, which means you can wear them without people noticing. Unlike metal braces, plastic aligners are gentle to your gums. Other less noticeable options for seniors are lingual braces and ceramic braces. Lingual braces are metallic but they are fitted at the back of the teeth. This makes them less conspicuous. Ceramic braces, on the other hand, are translucent and tend to match the teeth.

  • Flexibility at its Best

If you opt for Invisalign, you don’t have to struggle to wear the aligners all the time. They are flexible to remove whenever you want—before you go to bed or every time you want to eat. You can also drink water with aligners on. There’s no problem!

The Wrap

Without a doubt, orthodontics for seniors is worth it. The treatment is not just a cosmetic option that improves your smile but also a functional procedure that restores your bite, enhancing your quality of life. After so many years of living, you deserve healthy and straighter teeth.