You've been deceived. Tricked, lied to. That's what I think of every time I see brightly coloured candies, treats, even baked goods covered in brightly coloured icings and decorations. Dyes are designed to fool your brain into thinking it's something it's not. Your eyes are drawn to them, your mouth waters for them. It's innate, primal, it's natural to be drawn to those bright colours and sweet tastes, and manufactures have taken full advantage of it. You've been played.

Think about it. In nature, what are our most brightly coloured foods? Right- fruits and vegetables. Bright red, yellow or orange peppers, bright yellow lemons, deep red apples and cherries, rich purple berries, clear green lettuce and leafy greens. All of these are meant to draw the eye, to entice us to eat them, because they are SO good for us. Your body needs all those brightly coloured fruits and vegetables every day. Fruits are vegetables are the best sources of most of the vitamins and minerals that your body needs to function well.

We don't need artificial food colouring and over sweetened products. Your body can't process them well and it taxes your detoxification system. Don't be tricked by clever marketing, be a rebel, take back your natural instincts and make them work for you.

How many different coloured fruits and vegetables have you eaten today? I have a challenge for you: Can you eat a rainbow of different fruits and vegetables? 5 or 6 different colours in one day? Red, yellow, orange, green, blue, purple and white. Yes, I know white isn't really part of the rainbow, but white foods do have some important nutrients too.

The problem with food dyes is what they are doing to your body. These petroleum based chemicals have been proven to disrupt hormones, immune systems, interfere with digestion and cause behavioural problems in some kids. Food dyes used to be generally considered safe, but their safety has come into question. More and more artificial dyes are being banned in other countries. Even if you aren't buying the brightly coloured foods, dyes can still be in your daily diet. Dyes are hiding in some of the most unsuspecting places. Check your cheese, pickles, crackers, yogurt, even frozen hashbrowns! I know I was surprised at how many places dyes were hiding in my food. At best they are completely unnecessary, at worst they are a hazard to our health, especially for children who are not as adapt at flushing out artificial products and chemicals from their little bodies.

Do you react badly to food dyes or too much sugar? Sometimes a little homeopathic Nux Vomica is enough to set things right again. That's the first remedy I will give my daughter when she comes home from a friend's party. If that doesn't work, a deeper acting homeopathic medicine may be needed. Contact Lisa for more support.

Did you know that you can use foods and herbs to naturally enhance the colour of your treats? It may take a bit more work, but the results are fantastic!

When my daughter was 5 she wanted a rainbow unicorn themed party and cake. I didn't want to disappoint her, but there was no way I was going to use artificial dyes to create her special birthday cake. Instead I made a rainbow out of fruit and she and all the kids loved it! Sometimes it just take a little more imagination. :)

Now that you've open your eyes to where food dyes hide, have you looked for sugar? It's hiding everywhere! Consuming excess sugar depletes magnesium in the body and can contribute to adrenal fatigue.

Eating too many sweets can cause another problem. By eating copious amounts of sugar, your body may reject the natural sweetness of fruit and reject other tastes in favour of sweet and salty. Super sweet treats and artificial sugars over ride the other tastes on your tongue.

Your tongue and palate have different areas for tasting sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent tastes. These different tastes all play a part in balancing your body, your digestion and your energy.

I have another challenge for you: Can you include all 6 different tastes into your daily meals? To make it easier for you, I've included a quick reference for you:

Sweet: This is a pretty easy one. Look for any sweet fruits, some nuts and grains, dairy products are considered sweet, as are chicken and fish. Sweet tastes can help relieve burning sensations from indigestion and can quench thirst. So if you are often craving sweets, take a moment to self assess and decide if you are actually thirsty, or perhaps suffering from some indigestion?

Salty: Again, this is pretty easy to find in any packaged food. For natural sources, look for coloured sea or rock salts, seaweed, and kelp. Salty taste stimulates digestion, aids elimination and is grounding and calms the nerves. So if you are craving salt, do any of these areas need some additional help?

Sour: Sour tastes can be hard to get used to if you have had a lot of sweets. Try small amounts at a time and be diligent. Sour is in important taste to stimulate digestion, circulation and elimination, as well as sharpens the senses and aid absorption of many minerals. Sour foods are citrus fruits, sour dairy products such as yogurt, sour cream and cheeses, and fermented foods such as vinegar, pickles, saurkraut, kefir and kombucha.

Bitter: Bitter is another taste that might take some time to get used to, but can really enhance the flavours of other foods. Small amounts of bitter foods can be highly satisfying, such as dark chocolate, leafy greens, celery, beets, sprouts, coffee, tea, olives, and herbs and spices like turmeric and dandelion root. Bitter taste is a detoxifier, immune boosting and can help reduce weight, water retention, skin rashes, fever and nausea.

Pungent: Pungent or spicy foods are foods like chili peppers, salsa, garlic, onions, radishes and spices like black pepper, ginger, cloves, mustard and cayenne. In small amounts, spicy food can help increase circulation, boost metabolism, promote detoxification and relieve muscle pain.

Astringent: Astringent tastes are a little harder to classify. Foods that are astringent can make your mouth pucker or feel dry. Common astringent foods are legumes, cranberries, pomegranates, green grapes, green bananas, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, green beans, quinoa, tea and spices and herbs like turmeric and marjoram. Astringent foods help tighten tissue, dries fats and can slow down digestion.

Remember all of these tastes are part of our natural diet, they are innate and needed to keep the body in proper balance. Balance is key. Try to include all the different tastes into your daily diet, without over indulging in one flavour. By including all the tastes into your daily diet, your food cravings will subside as your body becomes more balanced.

Food IS medicine.

The information provided here is for educational purposes only. For treatment please seek a qualified health care provider.