Natural Food Coloring- What a Healthy Option!

Just imagine your food as black and white! Or some dull colors like muddy Grey! Will you be tempted enough to eat them? Most of the people would not. Seeing is very significant for us human beings and that is a known fact since ages. Early civilizations introduced color into their food and that too very naturally. Ancient Egyptians made their food yellow with saffron. Wines were also colored in 400 B.C.E. using saffron only. Romans colored their white bread by mixing alum to the flour. There are many other such examples from the history of food coloring that we will discuss later in this article to help you know how you can use natural food colorings but before knowing that, we must know what today's food colors are and how are we consuming them?

Food Colors of Present Day

Today our food processing industry uses many types of food colors, the main being- Food Dyes  and Lake Food Colors Not only food stuff but pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, inks, plastic food containers etc. are also colored with these artificial colors. So when you are having those colorful vitamin pills or using that lipstick, you are consuming these artificial food colors. It's not that only synthetic food colors are used in processed foods and other materials, there are many organic lake colors (organic lake pigments) too that are widely used for coloring food, thanks to the awareness about organic living! These organic lake pigments are obtained from natural sources. Some of the examples of such organic lake food colors include caramel, turmeric, beet and berry juice, paprika, saffron etc.

Natural Food Colors

As I promised earlier, I will now let you know what all natural food colors were used historically to make food interesting and soulful. In fact, in Europe there was a common belief during early Renaissance period that color in food not only showed its nutritional value, but also pointed towards medicinal power connected to spiritual, celestial substances. For example, eating sweet red grapes was considered effective for having full rich blood, black food like pepper or fungi induced melancholy, and golden colored foods promoted divine solar healing!

• Turnsole -  or folium was a dyestuff prepared from the annual plant Crozophora tinctoria ("dyers' crook carrier," from its use and the curved tip of its spike of florets).
• Turmeric - is a bright yellow colorant made from the roots of the herb Curcuma longa. It is an ancient Indian spice and a traditional remedy that has been used as a medicine. Turmeric is still used for everyday food preparation in Indian homes.
• Red Pepper - Paprika oleoresin is extracted from the pod of sweet red pepper. Capsicum annum is called Paprika. Paprika imparts a bright orange to red-orange color in food products.
• Red sandal wood - The bark of red sandal wood tree is blackish brown and exudate a deep red juice when cut. It is the source of a brilliant red dye. Known as Rakta Chandana, it has been used in Ayurvedic medicine as an anti-septic, wound healing agent, and anti-acne treatment. Redwood as a natural food color has a wide use in cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals for coloring tinctures.
• Saffron - Saffron is a spice native to Asia, with 80% now being produced in countries like Iran, Spain, Greece and Morocco. Saffron had been used not only for excellent yellow-orange color that it gives to food but also for its pleasant smell!

Marigold, safflower, parsley, spinach, fruits, and flower petal extracts were and are some of the other natural food colors that are healthier options as compared to artificial food colorings.

Ajinomoto – MSG Flavor Enhancer that gives you “Headache”

Not only headache, ajinomoto has many other side effects. True, you love to have all those Chinese food (and processed foods too) but did you know that most of them contain “Ajinomoto”- the brand name for the flavor enhancer Monosodium Glutamate or MSG!

What is Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)?

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is the food additive that is also popular by the name of flavor enhancer 621. MSG is also there in many natural foods but not in so much of quantity as is added by restaurants and by processed food manufacturers in their food items.

Should we use Ajinomoto?

As far as we use ajinomoto in home made food in negligible amounts and not very frequently, there should not be any health problems but as soon as we start using ajinomoto or any other MSG in larger quantities very often, we become prone to the MSG side effects. People who are extra food sensitive should altogether avoid ajinomoto and other MSG products. Also, we should avoid foods that have MSG in high quantities.

To know what all foods contain Monosodium Glutamate, side effects of MSG and other facts about MSG, read What are Monosodium Glutamate Side Effects?

What do Fruits Mean to Cultures of World?

Fruits are cherished by almost all cultures of the world. How? Just look at these facts

Apple- In almost every culture, the apple is ripe with symbolic meaning and mythical folklore. They can signify wisdom, joy, fertility, temptation, peace, love, masculinity, and youthfulness.

Cherry- In Japan, the national flower cherry represents beauty, courtesy, and modesty.The ancient Chinese regarded the fruit as a symbol of immortality.

Pomegranate- Pomegranate was often used as a herbal remedy to lengthen life and restore vigor, these qualities often made it a symbolic link between the living and the dead. Pomegranates in China are associated with fertility.

Fig- In the Mediterranean region, natives take fig tree as some images of the Garden of Eden. After eating the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve covered their nakedness with leaves that are usually said to be from the fig tree.The fig tree has a sacred meaning for Buddhists.According to Buddhist legend, the Buddha, achieved enlightenment one day in 528 B.C. while sitting under a Bodhi tree, a kind of fig tree.

Pear- The ancient Chinese believed that the pear was a symbol of immortality. In Europe, it was customary to plant a fruit tree at a wedding. The longevity and fruitfulness of the trees were thought to give strength to the marriage and children.

Strawberry- It is a member of the rose family and symbolizes rebirth and health. Many cultures believe that strawberries are an aphrodisiac and they make sure that newlyweds are served these magical berries.

Source: Fruit - The Fables and The Folklore

There's a healthy food recipe of Mixed Fruits and Vegetable Salad too for you!

What Type of Food to have in Summers?

If you want to stay cool in summers, take the right type of food. Read the list below to have an idea about what to have and what to avoid in summers!

• Take more carbohydrates, sufficient protein but lesser fats.
• Have more fluids like water and other cool summer drinks and less semi-fluids.
• Decrease your intake of solid foods. Instead, have easily digestible food that can cool your body like summer special fruits and vegetables.
• Have more of vegetarian food and less of non-vegetarian food as they have warming effect on your body