By Dakota Rose
This is the refrain I hear repeatedly as I walk through campus this this fall. Whether studying abroad or traveling with family, many students on the SMU campus had the privilege of visiting Europe last summer, and everyone I hear from says they felt better even while eating out throughout their euro-summer than they have since returning home. With a quick Google search, I found this was not just the case with SMU students, but with millions of people all over the United States. There are blogs stacked upon blogs analyzing and speculating as to why people are feeling better with the food they are eating in Italy than in the US.
According to the Anti-Additive Clean Label Organization, there are a number of foods prohibited in Italy and other European countries that are still legal and used every day in foods sold and served in the United States. This is a huge factor contributing to the population’s feeling that the food is better abroad.
One example of these banned foods is added food dyes such as Red Dye 40. According to Cleveland Clinic, Red Dye 40 is made from petroleum and can contribute to ADHD in children and teens. Additionally, Cleveland Clinic reports that “Red Dye 40 contains benzene, a known cancer-causing substance. Red Dye 40 and other dyes are not just in your typical M&Ms, Skittles, and Fruit Snacks, it is snuck into cakes and sugars, and add color to many jams and salad dressings. Another hidden culprit that Europe has banned is potassium bromate which is used to help bread rise. Unfortunately, it has been linked to respiratory issues and cancer, according to nutrition strategist Ayanna Campbell.
This information has me looking for one-way tickets to Europe to live my life and feel good daily. However, there is an attainable solution to feeling good by implementing a few mindful habits that do not involve total relocation.
First, read labels in stores. All the nutrition information is on the food labels and will tell you what you are putting into your body. If there are long lists of ingredients in what seems like it should be a simple food, opt for an option with fewer ingredients. Check for ingredients like Red Dye 40, potassium bromate, hydrogenated oils, high-fructose corn syrup, or maltodextrin, and try to avoid these ingredients. Instead, focus on fewer ingredients and ingredients you know and can pronounce. A quick Google search can tell you what you are consuming.
Second, try to eat at home or cook your own meals more often. Restaurants often cook with highly processed oils and sugars which can be inflammatory and damage your gut biome and digestive system. At home, you can cook with butter or extra virgin olive oil, thereby reducing the processed foods you eat. Another alternative is finding restaurants that do not cook in seed oils or are dedicated to sourcing fresh ingredients. In Dallas, there are plenty of delicious spots like this.
Third, focus on fresh and whole foods. In European countries, people eat just as many fresh foods like fruits, veggies, and local meats and cheeses as they do bread. Balancing your diet by incorporating more fresh foods rather than processed foods can help your digestion. Even whole foods can be packaged and still helpful such as rice, quinoa, and other grains. Sourdough breads are also a great alternative to traditional white bread because, according to the National Library of Medicine, it is more nutrient and mineral-dense.
It can feel overwhelming to change your diet, especially in the whirlwind of being a college student. Eating well and feeling good can easily be put on the back burner. However, it only takes a few seconds to read a label, or an hour or two a week to cook healthy meals that feel good in your body. With a little creativity and a focus on simple ingredients, removing harmful foods from your diet and feeling better is attainable for even the busiest of college students, and your brain and body will thank you for it.
