Have you ever taken a good, hard look at your salad dressing or meat slices and wondered “What in the world are natural flavors?”
Labeled natural ingredients must meet certain criteria; they don’t automatically represent greater health or safety compared to their synthetic equivalents; some “natural” ingredients have even been linked with health concerns such as contact dermatitis and respiratory issues.
Plant Extracts
Plants are an abundant source of bioactive compounds used in natural products. Their high availability and ecological safety make them an attractive alternative to synthetic molecules; however, some botanical secondary compounds have evolved as defensive mechanisms against predators – repelling, stuning or poisoning them altogether.
Therefore, natural products can also stimulate bacterial cells to produce defensins and cathelicidins that produce defensins and cathelicidins that inhibit biofilm formation in their environment. Their antimicrobial capabilities provide additional value when applied in food products or cosmetics that requires long-term preservation.
Plant extracts made with raw materials like seeds, roots, leaves, flowers or fruit combined with an appropriate solvent are an abundant source of biologically active substances that significantly impact human skin and possess properties like antioxidants, antimicrobials and astringents. Their anti-ageing, moisturizing and cleansing capabilities make them suitable candidates for topical antiaging, moisturizing or cleansing formulas formulated from these resources. Furthermore, many natural resources exist or even industrial wastes can be utilized as source materials maximizing reuse rather than waste disposal.
Essential Oils
Essential oils are volatile hydrophobic liquids containing highly concentrated plant chemical compounds. Also referred to as perfumery oils or simply oil, essential oils contain the characteristic scents associated with each plant from which they originate and may be extracted through various means.
These natural products are created by distilling volatile, aromatic chemical compounds found in specific plants through steam or cold press techniques, then using these extracts as fragrances in personal care products, cosmetics and soaps, enhancing food flavoring and beverages as well as aromatherapy treatments.
Diuretics can also help remove toxins from both your home and body by increasing urine production, aiding your detoxification from harmful chemicals and environmental pollutants, while offering potential antifungal and antibacterial protection as a result of some natural ingredients that contain them.[3]
Natural Flavors
Natural flavors are artificial flavoring chemicals made from sources found in nature (plants, animals or minerals) according to processes approved by the National Pharmacopoeia Association’s Natural Standard. Such ingredients may be included in products labeled as “natural,” while some even come from genetically modified crops (12).
Consumers don’t always have an easy way to assess whether natural flavors are safe. While some might perceive them as being beneficial because they contain no calories or nutrients, it is crucial that consumers understand exactly what these compounds contain, according to Blommaert.
Synthetic flavors could contain various additives created in a laboratory, or they may include nature-identical chemicals like amyl acetate derived from bananas which has been combined with other chemicals to create their desired flavors. Either way, synthetic flavors might not necessarily be any safer for you than their synthetic equivalents.
Natural Preservatives
Preservatives are essential in food safety and extending product shelf lives, keeping harmful microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi from growing in food products, while also preventing rancid oil to form.
Natural preservatives come from organic sources like plants, animals and microbial organisms, and can be added directly to foods or coated onto surfaces in various ways. Some examples include vinegar acetic acid which inhibits microbial growth when pickling vegetables; or rosemary extract which has antibacterial properties and can delay fat oxidation.
Natural preservatives offer an excellent alternative to artificial preservatives linked to health concerns and toxicities in cosmetic products. Natural preservers can extend shelf life while not creating negative side effects similar to chemical preservatives; furthermore, their aroma may also be more pleasant.
