You Are What You Eat

The issue of whether food additives, such as artificial coloring and preservatives, affect children's behavior has long been controversial. Children’s way of eating has changed significantly throughout the years. Most children eat far too many fatty, salty, and sugary foods-from burgers, fries, cheese, and ice cream to soft drinks, potato chips, and candy. Few children get the vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytochemicals (beta-carotenes that occur naturally from plants) they need from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

In the UK, the European Food Standards Agency (FSA), called for a ban of six artificial additives found in foods, such as, brightly colored frostings used on cakes, soft drinks, and candies. Parents complained of adverse reactions, such as, hyperactivity and mood volatility in their children directly after consumption of these types of food. According to a study performed by Southampton University, it was found that there was a link between hyperactivity and the artificial colorings and preservatives in 750,000 individuals (Freer, 2009). The study found that these artificial additives caused primary school children to become distracted and hyper, which resulted in failing a computer attention test.

You might want to think about changing your child's diet before medical professionals diagnose your child with ADHD and place them under harmful medications...



Reference

Freer, Peter. (2008). ADHD and Food Additives: European Food Standards Agency Call For Bans Six Artificial Colors. Retrieved October 10, 2009 from http://playattention.com/attention-deficit/articles/category/adhd-food-colors/.