Food additives linked to hyperactivity

clipped from http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/2007/2025678.htm Maggie Fox Certain artificial food colourings and other additives can worsen hyperactive behaviours in children aged 3 to 9, UK researchers report Tests on more than 300 children showed significant differences in their behaviour when they drank fruit drinks spiked with a mixture of food colourings and preservatives, say Professor Jim Stevenson and colleagues at the University of Southampton Children received ordinary fruit juice (a placebo or a drink identical in look and taste that contained common commercial additives. Colourings included sunset yellow carmoisine or azorubine tartrazine and ponceau 4R Both mixes had the same amount of the preservative sodium benzoate Both mixtures significantly affected the older children, when compared with the placebo "Although the use of artificial colouring in food manufacture might seem superfluous, the same cannot be said for sodium benzoate, which has an important preservative function," "The implications of these results could be substantial."

I used to think the food coloring dangers were a bunch of crazy hype......until I tested it out. Not only do artificial colors make one of the Monkeys hyper, but also takes away any ability to concentrate.

Many companies have begun to make products colored with natural ingredients. We've found Popsicles, Capri-sun, and Ice Cream that are colored with fruit juice. Just trade in those Skittles for Hershey bars and kisses!

It really isn't the sugar. It is the chemicals! Here's more.

Comments

[I'm Tara.]

Last night, I was cleaning out an old diaper bag that I'm giving away and I found a bag of fruit snacks in there. I showed my husband what I found -- he said "Whoa, I forgot all about those." We stopped giving them to our son because I swear that they made him NUTS!! Seriously, his behavior was awful after he ate them and once I noticed that connection, they just weren't a part of our world anymore. I think it's exactly what you're talking about - and those things are NOT natural in any way. Chemical city and I'm SO glad to be rid of them!!!

[lori]

I totally believe it...our art teacher told me 2 years ago that Hayden should not have ANY sugar in his lunch before art...what a difference it made...now for breakfast...no sugar either...why should only our art teacher get a calm child...I LOVE the results...its a little tough, but its worth it!!

[Mrs. Fussypants]

Smart Mommies!

[Christine]

Definitely! The more natural and organic a food is, the better!It's not always easy, and I'm definitely guilty of feeding my kids crap sometimes, but I try.