Why We Use Black Currant to Color Our FoodHave you ever wondered what gives our products their vibrant purple hue? It's not artificial food coloring, but natural black currant juice! Black currants are small berries that grow on shrubs native to Europe and Asia. They have a tart and sweet flavor that makes them perfect for jams, juices, and desserts. But did you know that black currants are also superfoods that offer many health benefits? In this blog post, we will tell you why we use black currant to color our food, and how it can improve your well-being.
The Dangers of Artificial Food Coloring
Artificial food coloring is a common ingredient in many processed foods, especially those that are marketed to children. They are used to make food look more appealing and appetizing, but they may also pose some health risks. Some of the potential dangers of artificial food coloring are:
- Hyperactivity and behavioral problems: Some studies have shown that artificial food dyes can cause hyperactivity and other neurobehavioral issues in some children, especially those with ADHD¹². This may affect their learning and social skills.
- Allergies and asthma: Some people may be allergic or sensitive to artificial food dyes, and experience symptoms such as rashes, hives, itching, swelling, or breathing difficulties³⁴.
- Cancer: Some animal studies have suggested that artificial food dyes may damage DNA and increase the risk of tumors in certain organs, such as the colon and bladder⁵. However, more research is needed to confirm the link between artificial food dyes and cancer in humans.
The Benefits of Black Currant
Black currant, on the other hand, is a natural and safe alternative to artificial food coloring. Not only does it give our products a beautiful color, but it also provides many health benefits, such as:
- Immune health: Black currants are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, which can help boost your immune system and fight infections and viruses⁶⁷. One serving of black currants (100 grams) provides 302% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C⁸!
- Anti-inflammatory: Black currants contain gamma-linoleic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid that can help reduce inflammation and pain in the body⁶⁷. GLA may also improve symptoms of inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and eczema⁶⁷.
- Eye health: Black currants have high levels of anthocyanins, which are pigments that give them their dark color. Anthocyanins can help protect the eyes from oxidative stress and improve blood flow in the retina⁶⁷. Black currants may also help prevent or treat glaucoma, dry eye, and eye fatigue⁶⁷.
- Heart health: Black currants can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which are risk factors for heart disease⁶⁷. They can also prevent plaque buildup in the arteries and improve blood circulation⁶⁷.
- Digestive health: Black currants are a good source of fiber, which can help regulate bowel movements and prevent constipation⁶⁷. Fiber can also feed the beneficial bacteria in the gut and promote a healthy digestive system⁶⁷.
There are many ways to enjoy black currant and reap its health benefits. Of course, you can also try our products that are made with natural black currant juice, such as our purple lollipops, black berry rock candy and grape flavored gumies! They are delicious, nutritious, and free of artificial food coloring.
We hope you learned something new about black currant and why we use it to color our food. Black currant is a natural and healthy alternative to artificial food coloring, and it offers many benefits for your immune system, inflammation, eyes, heart, and digestion. Try our products that are made with black currant juice, and let us know what you think. Thank you for reading our blog post, and stay tuned for more updates from us!.
Source: Conversation with Bing, 3/8/2024
(1) Food Dyes: Harmless or Harmful? - Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/food-dyes.
(2) New report shows artificial food coloring causes hyperactivity in some .... https://publichealth.berkeley.edu/news-media/research-highlights/new-report-shows-artificial-food-coloring-causes-hyperactivity-in-some-kids.
(3) Artificial Food Coloring Dangers - Nutrineat. https://nutrineat.com/artificial-food-coloring-dangers.
(4) The Dangers of Artificial Food Coloring - CalorieBee. https://caloriebee.com/nutrition/The-dangers-of-food-colorings.
(5) Synthetic food dyes and cancer - The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/colorful-sweets-may-look-tasty-but-some-researchers-question-whether-synthetic-dyes-may-pose-health-risks-to-your-colon-and-rectum-172211.
(6) 6 Health Benefits of Black Currant. https://www.healthline.com/health/health-benefits-black-currant.
(7) Health Benefits of Black Currant - WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-black-currant.
(8) Black Currant Benefits, Nutrition, Uses, History and Recipes - Dr. Axe. https://draxe.com/nutrition/black-currant/.
(9) 6 Health Benefits of Black Currant. https://www.healthline.com/health/health-benefits-black-currant.
(10) Health Benefits of Black Currant - WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-black-currant.
(11) Black Currant Benefits, Nutrition, Uses, History and Recipes - Dr. Axe. https://draxe.com/nutrition/black-currant/.
(12) Black currant Facts and Health Benefits. https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/black-currants/.
(13) Getty Images. https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/bottles-of-food-coloring-isolated-on-white-royalty-free-image/636446744.