In recent years, more health-conscious Americans—especially moms, wellness seekers, and functional medicine advocates—have begun asking a critical question: Why are so many food ingredients banned in Europe but still on our grocery store shelves?
The answer is as unsettling as it is important, and it’s one of the reasons we’re so passionate about food education here at Kare Health & Wellness.
Functional medicine is rooted in identifying and addressing the root causes of illness, and one of the most overlooked yet powerful roots is nutrition.
When we look closely at the standard American diet, it’s easy to see why we’re experiencing chronic conditions at staggering rates.
Why European Food Is Often Cleaner
European countries follow what’s known as the precautionary principle—meaning if an ingredient is suspected of being harmful, it’s restricted or banned until proven safe.
In contrast, the United States tends to allow additives and chemicals until they are definitively proven dangerous—often after years of public use and consumer exposure.
That means ingredients like Red Dye 40, Yellow 5 Dye, brominated vegetable oil, and rBST—all of which are linked to behavioral, hormonal, or long-term health risks—are still widely used in U.S. food products, while many have been banned or tightly regulated in Europe.
The result? Children and adults in the U.S. are routinely exposed to synthetic dyes, preservatives, and growth hormones that may be undermining their health—especially when paired with nutrient-depleted diets and high stress levels.
The Silent Impact of Additives on Your Body
At Kare, we see the effects of poor-quality food and inflammatory ingredients daily in our patients—fatigue, brain fog, skin issues, mood swings, gut dysfunction, and hormone imbalances.
And for many, those symptoms are dismissed in conventional medicine settings as “normal” or “in your head”.
But through detailed lab testing and root-cause investigation, we often find these symptoms linked to underlying inflammation, toxicity, and nutritional deficiencies—all of which can be traced back, in part, to what’s on your plate.
Processed food may be convenient, but its long-term cost on the body can be far greater than the price tag at the store.
It’s Not Just What You Eat—It’s What You Absorb
One of the most important messages we teach at Kare is that food is not just fuel—it’s information for your body.
Every bite sends a message to your hormones, your immune system, your brain, and your gut.
When your body is flooded with preservatives, dyes, and artificial sweeteners, it’s harder for it to regulate energy, mood, digestion, and healing.
That’s why we don’t just recommend “eating clean”.
We walk alongside you with tools that help your body repair and detox, from gut-healing protocols and food sensitivity testing to targeted IV therapies and bioidentical hormone support—because whole-body wellness starts at the cellular level.
You Deserve Better—And So Does Your Family
We believe you shouldn’t need to travel overseas to find clean food. You deserve access to transparent, nourishing, and healing options—and to providers who actually listen when you say something feels off.
At Kare, our functional medicine providers guide you through a clearer understanding of how your diet may be impacting your health and provide you with an actionable plan to reclaim your wellness.
Whether you’re battling chronic fatigue or just feel stuck and inflamed, you’re not alone—and you’re not crazy.
Ready to Take a Closer Look at Your Nutrition?
We’re here to support you. If you’ve been feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, or just curious about how your food choices might be affecting your energy, hormones, or gut health, it might be time for a functional deep dive.
Call us today at (417) 881-4994 or learn more about us at Kare Health & Wellness.
You’re the hero of your health journey. We’re here to guide you with clarity, compassion, and hope. Let’s take the next step together.
