Guest Author - Jan Zeiger

The checklist for attention deficit disorder is purely subjective. Many question the science behind it. I've changed my thinking regarding attention deficit disorder as I‘ve become more interested in natural living. Now I know more about the link between diet and children's behavior. Every child is different. Not all are affected by food additives such as red dye 40 and high fructose corn syrup. But many are. Red Dye 40 is not a food--it's made from petroleum. Check your child's food and beverages for dyes, and you may be surprised to find that many “healthy” foods aren’t actually healthy at all!

Dietary changes might have a positive impact on your child’s mood and behavior since artificial dyes and flavors can be triggers for many children. These artificial ingredients can be found in Kool-Aid, fruit punch, breakfast cereals, Gatorade, Nutrigrain Bars, Pop Tarts, Doritos, and even in fruit snacks. The list of foods marketed to children that contain harmful additives seems endless. Some children begin consuming artificial dye when they wake up in the morning and eat their Fruit Loops and continue to do so all day long! If a food or beverage is pink, orange, purple, or red, chances are that it contains red dye unless it's something that's naturally that color. Even yogurt that many parents see as “healthy” often contains dyes as well so read those labels! High fructose corn syrup is another ingredient that is especially hard to avoid but it gets easier with practice.

Why do I feel so strongly about this? After reading about The Feingold Diet, I kept a detailed food diary and was able to pinpoint the additives that cause problems for my son. My child reacts to artificial dyes, high fructose corn syrup, and some preservatives. His mood and behavior are affected by what he eats and drinks. His eyes even dilate when he consumes red dye--like a drug reaction. We actually first noticed it when we gave him Motrin as a toddler (the pink kind). He's not allergic to foods; he is affected by the chemicals/additives that can be found in processed foods. I've seen it as a classroom teacher and now as a mother. Diet can indeed impact your child's
mood and behavior. In my son’s case, these additives caused night terrors and bed-wetting as well. While my son doesn’t exhibit signs of autism, I have read of parents of autistic children who have seen amazing results with their children as a result of dietary changes.

Finally, please note that food additives don’t only affect children. Many adults are chemically sensitive and have no idea their migraines, mood swings, and other issues are related to the food and beverages they consume each day. Soda almost always contains dye and high fructose corn syrup, and most Americans consume it on a regular basis.

Obviously, there are other artificial dyes, flavors, and preservatives used in our food that I haven't been able to discuss here. Your best bet is to avoid processed foods and to look for all natural beverages. Remember that you want to buy food as close to its natural state as possible. A good rule is to avoid foods that have ingredients listed you aren’t able to pronounce. For example, when looking at a jar of spaghetti sauce, look for ingredients such as tomatoes and garlic--not high fructose corn syrup. When looking at beverages, look for all natural ingredients and buy juice that is “100%” or simply drink water.

In this article, I discussed how food additives can affect the behavior of children and adults. It is important to note that some individuals are also affected by artificial dyes found in toothpaste, lotions, and make-up, so please use caution when choosing personal care products.

Look for future articles regarding the impact of food additives on your health including those that are linked to cancer and other serious health problems. The next time you’re at the store, remember, the fresher the better!