THE NUCLEUS Issue 2 Spring 2024

In recent years, the number of people concerned with what we consume has skyrocketed. We are in an era where we listen to influencers on the internet saying whatever they can to sell whatever “health” supplements or “health” foods they invest in. How do they do this? Fearmongering. They persuade people that certain foods are toxic to eat as they have chemicals in them. First, it is imperative to state that all food is made of chemicals. When food has labels of “chemical-free”, it refers only to synthetic chemicals. It is crucial to note that not all synthetic chemicals are toxic, but we must also be aware of the ones that are. We must balance using chemicals to make food cheaper and confidently feeding our families safely. In hopes of revealing a new light on some myths that have spread, I am here to show you that not all chemicals are poison. Fear Mongering of Chemicals Fearmongering of Chemicals by Catherine Zotov

Baby Formula

Baby formula milk is one of the many products in stores that are falsely flagged as overly artificial. Often, baby formula has a list of ingredients on the back of the box or tub, listing many different chemical compounds. For all parents, this can be a daunting experience as they are responsible for what their child eats. Not knowing what you are feeding your child can be terrifying, but there are two reasons why products such as cow’s milk are unsuitable for babies. Firstly, cow’s milk doesn’t contain all the nutrients required to feed a baby, such as iron. Secondly, cow’s milk contains large proteins that are difficult for young babies to digest because their kidneys can’t process them, which can cause illnesses such as fevers. According to the NHS, parents should either breastfeed their babies or feed them an instant formula for the first six months of their babies’ lives. This is why people who choose to profit off the fear that most parents have of feeding poison to their children is such a problem, as they will conclude that everything around them is baby poison.

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