We've all been there:you check the ingredients label on a box or can of food and are confused by vague terms like "natural color"or strange sounding names like "acesulfame potassium". It's frustrating not to know what's in your food and how it might affect your health. That's why I, a professional food scientist, am going to lead you through what common food additives actually are, why they are present in your food, and how they might affect your health. I believe that knowledge is power, and that everyone deserves the chance to know what's hidden in their food. You'll get an industry insider's perspective on some of the most common food additives used in products today, including why scientists add them to your food, if they pose any danger to your health, and how you can use that information to make the best food choices possible. My goal is to help you understand these ingredients, evaluate foods with confidence, and make empowered, informed decisions about what you eat.

All the content of this course is backed by real science. While this course is designed to be accessible to people without a formal science education, all the content is based off of peer reviewed studies, industry standards, and other information that people outside the food industry simply can't access. That's how you know you're getting the truth.

In You Are What You Eat, you'll learn

• How scientists fight dangerous pathogens lurking in your food

• Whether agave nectar and other natural sweeteners are actually healthier for you than other sugars

• How likely artificial sweeteners are to cause cancer and other health issues

• Which added acids are good for your health…and which aren't

• Why scientists add artificial dyes to your food and how they could affect your kids

• What "organic" labels actually mean

and much more. In addition to over an hour of lecture content, you get valuable resources from credible organizations with each lecture and quizzes to help you test your knowledge. The Udemy platform also gets you direct access to me for all your food ingredient questions. I'll give you the resources you need to make good choices for any ingredients - even those outside the initial scope of the course! That's how dedicated I am to making sure you have the knowledge you need to make informed food choices. I'm also adding new content to the course regularly, so you'll always have the most current information at your fingertips.

I'm so excited to start this journey with you!

- Emily Vogelhuber
Food Scientist