The Hidden Additives in Christmas Foods

The Christmas season brings joy, celebrations, and indulgent feasts. However, many traditional holiday foods contain hidden food additives that can impact your health if consumed excessively. These additives are often included to enhance flavors, colors, textures, and shelf life but can sometimes have unwanted side effects like inflammation, digestive issues, or allergic reactions.

Common Christmas Foods and Their Additives

• Holiday Treats and Desserts
  Christmas cookies, cakes, and candy often contain artificial colorings (like Red 40 or Yellow 5) to create festive red, green, and gold hues. Preservatives and emulsifiers (like sorbates and mono- and diglycerides) are also added to improve shelf life and texture.
  Tip: Opt for homemade treats using natural food colorings like beet juice for red or spinach powder for green.  

• Glazed Meats and Processed Dishes
  Store-bought glazed hams, sausages, and pre-made gravies are common at holiday tables but often include nitrates and nitrites to preserve color and freshness. These compounds may pose health risks if consumed in large amounts over time.
  Tip: Look for “nitrate-free” or “uncured” meats and make your own glazes using fresh and simple ingredients such as local honey, mustard, garlic, pineapple, cloves, thyme, rosemary, oregano, etc.

• Beverages and Festive Drinks
  Popular holiday beverages like punch, soda, and flavored eggnog may contain artificial sweeteners (like aspartame or sucralose) and additives to enhance flavor. Artificial sweeteners can disrupt gut health and lead to sugar cravings.
  Tip: Create your own drinks with natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, or fresh fruits.

• Packaged Stuffing, Sauces, and Mixes
  Pre-packaged stuffing, gravy mixes, and canned soups often include flavor enhancers like monosodium glutamate (MSG) and preservatives to prolong shelf life. These additives can cause significant headaches, bloating, sensitivities and inflammation.
  Tip: Make stuffing from scratch with fresh herbs, homemade broth, and whole-grain or sourdough bread for a healthier option.

How to Avoid Unnecessary Additives This Holiday Season

Read Labels: Always check for ingredients with chemical names, E-numbers, or artificial additives like MSG, Red 40, Yellow 5, or sodium benzoate. A valuable rule to go by when picking your food for your family is to choose products with less than 5 ingredients and choose options with recognizable ingredients as well. If you don’t know what it is, don’t buy it. 

Cook Fresh and Homemade: Preparing dishes from scratch using fresh, whole ingredients allows you to control what goes into your food. Truly, it doesn’t take that long either once you plan it, and planning it is all in your head, just sit and do it. 

Choose Natural Alternatives: Use natural flavorings like herbs and spices, fresh produce, and clean sources of sweeteners or colors. 

Prioritize Organic and "Additive-Free" Products: Look for products labeled “No artificial additives,” “preservative-free,” or “nitrate-free.” 

A Healthier, Happier Christmas ❤️

By being mindful of food additives, you can enjoy a delicious and healthier holiday season with your family, knowing that you are not compromising flavor or tradition, but rather serving your family the utmost nutritious meal possible which is enhancing everyone’s gut health and wellness, instead of hindering it from great digestive potential and toxin overload. Make swaps, check your labels, and focus on fresh, natural ingredients to protect your family’s health this season and always!

This Christmas, let your table reflect warmth, joy, and nourishment — free from unnecessary additives! 🎄✨