| Diet and food dye ADHD have been in the news a lot | | | | In the Lancet study organised by the University of |
| recently. Sugar has just been absolved in a recent | | | | Southampton, kids were divided into three groups and |
| debunking of the myth that sugar can cause | | | | given various fruit juices with more or less of additives |
| hyperactivity. However the problem of food dye | | | | and food dyes added- eg. Sodium benzoate which is |
| ADHD remains in that it is well known that kids after | | | | found in lots of kids' drinks. After three weeks, parents |
| eating foods and snacks with lots of bright colours and | | | | and carers were able to measure restlessness, |
| additives seem to get a 'hyperactive high'. A recent | | | | hyperactivity and impulsive behaviour using |
| study (published in the medical journal 'The Lancet') | | | | standardised tests. They had no idea which kids were |
| shows that some very common food dyes and the | | | | on the additive free drinks. After the results were |
| preservative sodium benzoate which is found in lots of | | | | assembled it was found that the kids who were on |
| food that kids eat can lead to increased hyperactivity. | | | | the additive free drinks showed much fewer ADHD |
| The foods to mainly watch out for are: soda pop, | | | | symptoms such as fidgeting and interrupting than the |
| salad dressings and fruit juices. It makes sense | | | | kids who were on the additive hyped and food dye |
| anyway (whether you have an ADHD kid or not) to | | | | drinks. |
| limit these foods for the whole family as this will lead to | | | | So, a sensible diet which puts the emphasis on whole |
| healthier eating. There is also the fact that especially | | | | foods, fruit and vegetables rather than processed |
| with girls that they should be accustomed to healthy | | | | foods is going to produce healthier children (and |
| eating which will help them later on in life. Why ? | | | | adults!).There will be no need to worry about food dye |
| Although the number of girls who suffer from ADHD is | | | | ADHD. And what about ADHD medication? |
| less (1 for every 3 boys), there is a much greater risk | | | | The recent Monitoring the Future Survey found that of |
| that girls will develop eating disorders as ADHD will | | | | the 50,000 students surveyed in the teens classes at |
| cause impulsive eating. Girls are overall 10 times more | | | | high school a high proportion were abusing prescription |
| likely than boys to develop an eating disorder. | | | | drugs such as Ritalin (ADHD drug) as well as |
| In the US, no formal warnings have been issued for | | | | tranquillizers and cough mixtures. The alarming fact is |
| food dyes ADHD. In Britain, the Food Standards | | | | that 80% of these kids get them from medicine |
| Agency has warned parents to limit the number of | | | | cabinets at home! So why run the risk when you can |
| food dyes and additives in general if they notice that | | | | treat your ADHD child with safe alternative ADHD |
| their consumption leads to behavioural problems such | | | | therapy which will not turn them into potential drug |
| as ADHD. | | | | users. The link below will give you lots of information. |