The Surprising Link Between Food Dyes and Your Gut Health
Did you know this affects your gut health too? Brace yourselves, because the colorful additives lurking in your favorite foods might be wreaking havoc on your gut without you even realizing it.

Synthetic food dyes, those vibrant hues that make your cereals pop and your candies sparkle, are not as innocent as they appear. 
They’ve been shown to disrupt the delicate balance of your gut microbiota, the community of microorganisms that call your gut home. In simpler terms, they mess with the good bacteria, throwing your gut ecosystem out of whack.

But wait, there’s still more. These sneaky additives may also be the culprits behind the infamous "leaky gut" syndrome. Your intestinal barrier, normally a fortress guarding against unwanted invaders, becomes compromised, allowing undigested food particles, toxins, and bacteria to sneak into your bloodstream.

And if you thought that was bad enough, buckle up, because we’re just getting started. Synthetic food dyes are notorious for sparking inflammation in your gut—a red flag for digestive distress. Think of it as your gut’s way of throwing a tantrum in response to these foreign invaders disrupting its natural rhythm.

But wait, there’s more. Remember how we said your gut is like a second brain? Well, synthetic food dyes might be messing with your mood, too. By interfering with neurotransmitter production and sparking neuroinflammation, they could be throwing your emotional balance off-kilter.

Now, before you swear off anything with artificial coloring for life, it’s important to note that individual responses can vary. Factors like genetics, diet, and overall gut health play a role in how your body reacts to these additives. While some might experience immediate adverse effects, others might sail through unscathed.

So, what’s the takeaway from all this? It’s simple: Limiting your exposure to synthetic food dyes and opting for natural alternatives might just be the gut-friendly choice your body is craving. Your gut microbiome will thank you, your digestive system will thank you, and hey, your mood might even thank you.

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Meet Leah Negrin

 
I am a bold, beautiful, sometimes timid, usually happy, essential oil, nutrition junkie. Although at 39 I feel as if I've had several careers over a lifetime (or at least sometimes when I look back at my resume that is what shines through). I've been a paralegal, an office manager, an administrative assistant, worked in commercial lending and have finally landed on nutrition.

My journey to nutrition started many years ago when my sister was diagnosed with celiac disease and food had to change for the family. From there, along my own health journey I’ve helped people not only figure out what to eat but how to do it so that it can work for them sustainably. For almost seven years I’ve been counseling people on their nutrition and weight loss journeys. 

Finally getting some sunshine in Southern California *Photo credit  Brittany Hassett 

I am knowledgeable about what purpose food serves your body and I focus on finding sustainable options when it comes to food; this also led to my love of essential oils. I had the opportunity to attend a workshop where a registered dietitian spoke about using essential oils in her practice to help her patients. I was floored. I knew that #plantsheal but I didn't realize that others in the 'conventional' medical community thought that as well!! Learning that it was possible to incorporate these magical little bottles gave me a huge sense of hope.


Alina, myself and Caitlin (oily bffs) *Photo credit Anne Negrin

 
As I learned more about these oils I was diagnosed with increased intestinal permeability or as many of us know it, leaky gut. Leaky gut has been around for quite awhile but many of us are just learning what this is or why this is even more common these days than ever before. Many issues can be related to leaky gut including autoimmune diseases. Receiving this diagnosis just led me down a path further to learn about nutrition and how to best serve my body and take care of myself.


Enjoying a vegan ice cream cone in Budapest! *Photo credit to Michelle Owen 

Since birthing our sweet baby boy at home earlier this year I’ve been incredibly passionate about helping other women too who are pregnant and new mothers with their nutrition. Eating healthy for your pregnant body and your postpartum self is a game changer for both mother and baby.

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