Aliquot 130: Hidden Risks of Flavor Additives
Update: 2025-07-01
Description
Natural flavors sound harmless—but are they? In this Aliquot, I unpack what “natural” and “artificial” really mean when it comes to food flavorings. From the chemistry of synthetic vanillin to the regulatory loopholes behind GRAS labeling, we explore how these additives can influence health—not just through potential toxicity, but by activating the brain’s reward system in ways that may affect behavior.
I also share my thoughts on flavored sparkling waters, non-nutritive sweeteners, and protein powders—and when “natural” might not be the better choice.
This episode includes several key discussion points:
I also share my thoughts on flavored sparkling waters, non-nutritive sweeteners, and protein powders—and when “natural” might not be the better choice.
This episode includes several key discussion points:
- 00:00:40 - What makes a flavor "natural"?
- 00:01:25 - Does artificial vs. natural matter if structure is the same?
- 00:02:21 - Why "natural" doesn’t guarantee safety
- 00:04:48 - How hyper-palatable foods override fullness signals
- 00:06:44 - If it causes cancer in animals, should it be in our food?
- 00:09:18 - Are naturally flavored sparkling waters as safe as we think?
- 00:13:07 - Do protein powders contain unnecessary fillers and sweeteners?
- 00:15:14 - Does citrus-flavored seltzer damage enamel?
This Aliquot features a segment from a Q&A with Dr. Rhonda Patrick. Watch the full session and access show notes here:
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