As an educator....well, as an educator living the sensitive life, you can imagine the thoughts that run through my mind everyday as my eyes scan the classroom during snack time and the cafeteria during lunch. It's just how I operate now- I look at what the kiddos are eating and then I have an internal dialogue with myself about their food. I'll spare you the details, but I am rarely able to say, "that child has real food for snack/lunch." I can tell you from personal experience working with children, that it makes a tremendous difference when a child comes to school with a nutrient-rich breakfast in their belly and real food in their lunchbox. These children are able to focus better because they've got the fuel they need in their system to get those wheels-a-turnin. They are also able to sustain a sense of aliveness throughout the day, because they're not dumping empty calories and sugar into their bodies, which essentially leave them running on empty part way through the day. Simply put, children need to be eating foods that nourish their bodies in order to demonstrate notable progress and success in all developmental domains- health, physical, social/emotional, cognitive, language and literacy, and creative. In one way or another, I make this argument all the time: the food we fuel our bodies with will determine how well our bodies and brains perform 100% of the time. That's a perfectly commonsensical statement. Children's brains and bodies are developing- all the more reason why it's important to be feeding the kiddos real food packed with real, essential nutrients for their growth.
On most days that end in the letter y, teachers hear or use the acronym, ADHD in the workplace. According to Mayoclinic, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is, "a chronic condition that affects millions of children and often persists into adulthood. ADHD includes a combination of problems, such as difficulty sustaining attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior. Children with ADHD also may struggle with low self-esteem, troubled relationships, and poor performance in school" (Mayoclinic.com). If you ask me, ADHD is another example of an over-diagnosed "condition" that is preventable and curable with proper diet. Let me also point out that millions of children have ants in their pants by nature, and these children NEED to be simply what they are- children. ADHD is a list of symptoms, it is not a disease.
Symptoms of ADHD include:
Difficulty paying attention
Frequent daydreaming
Difficulty following through on instructions and apparently not listening
Frequently forgetful and loses items
Easily distracted
Fidgets or squirms
Excessively talkative
Symptoms of ADHD include:
Difficulty paying attention
Frequent daydreaming
Difficulty following through on instructions and apparently not listening
Frequently forgetful and loses items
Easily distracted
Fidgets or squirms
Excessively talkative
We know the symptoms, so naturally the next step is to look for a root cause. An NPR.org article discusses a study that suggests a very restrictive diet could significantly reduce ADHD symptoms in children who have been diagnosed with this disorder. The study's author, Dr. Lidy Pelsser of the ADHD Research Centre in the Netherlands, agues that in many cases, the disorder is triggered by external factors. According to Pelsser's research, 64% of children diagnosed with ADHD are actually experiencing hypersensitivity to foods. Read more about Pelsser's study HERE.
While one source will argue there isn't sufficient research to prove that food additives and sugar can cause ADHD, another source will argue just the opposite. As a biased side note I have to wonder, which articles are published by companies with links to the multi-trillion dollar pharmaceutical industry? Regardless, the sources I found that claim there isn't sufficient research to support the idea that diet makes all the difference, simply state that claim and fail to provide concrete reasons why diet doesn't make a difference. It's rather disappointing because I'd prefer to share support for both sides of the argument even though I take one side over the other. In The Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (2012), the diet factor of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is examined. In one study, the relationship between dietary patterns and ADHD was examined in a based cohort of live births followed to age 14. The two dietary patterns, "Healthy" and "Western" were identified according to foods that were considered to be main contributors to the diagnosis of this disorder. The Western dietary pattern, which was associated with an ADHD diagnosis consisted of higher consumption of total fat, saturated fat, refined sugars, and sodium, and was deficient in omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and folate. The Healthy diet pattern, which was not associated with an ADHD diagnosis was rich in fish, vegetables, fruit, legumes, and whole grain foods. In other words, the Healthy diet pattern contained foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and folate. The article goes on to state that the Western dietary pattern and ADHD relationship may be impacted by other factors including poor family dynamics and emotional issues. These other factors could lead to unhealthy eating habits and cravings for fatty, sugary snack foods. Regardless, altering a child's diet offers an alternative treatment for children diagnosed with ADHD. Similarly, it can be argued that a "Healthy" diet pattern can serve as a preventative measure (Millichap and Yee, 6).
While one source will argue there isn't sufficient research to prove that food additives and sugar can cause ADHD, another source will argue just the opposite. As a biased side note I have to wonder, which articles are published by companies with links to the multi-trillion dollar pharmaceutical industry? Regardless, the sources I found that claim there isn't sufficient research to support the idea that diet makes all the difference, simply state that claim and fail to provide concrete reasons why diet doesn't make a difference. It's rather disappointing because I'd prefer to share support for both sides of the argument even though I take one side over the other. In The Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (2012), the diet factor of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is examined. In one study, the relationship between dietary patterns and ADHD was examined in a based cohort of live births followed to age 14. The two dietary patterns, "Healthy" and "Western" were identified according to foods that were considered to be main contributors to the diagnosis of this disorder. The Western dietary pattern, which was associated with an ADHD diagnosis consisted of higher consumption of total fat, saturated fat, refined sugars, and sodium, and was deficient in omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and folate. The Healthy diet pattern, which was not associated with an ADHD diagnosis was rich in fish, vegetables, fruit, legumes, and whole grain foods. In other words, the Healthy diet pattern contained foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and folate. The article goes on to state that the Western dietary pattern and ADHD relationship may be impacted by other factors including poor family dynamics and emotional issues. These other factors could lead to unhealthy eating habits and cravings for fatty, sugary snack foods. Regardless, altering a child's diet offers an alternative treatment for children diagnosed with ADHD. Similarly, it can be argued that a "Healthy" diet pattern can serve as a preventative measure (Millichap and Yee, 6).
According to health.com, the additives I will list below may aggravate attention problems. The headline asks, "Will eliminating dye-containing foods from a child's diet help ADHD?" Well naturally, my answer is a glaring, "YES." But when you read this list of additives and where you can find them, I think you'll agree that eliminating these dye-containing foods from ANYONE'S diet will ensure a boat load of benefits, whether a person has ADHD or not. These foods aren't real foods, so how can we expect that they'll do anything good for our health or our children's developing bodies and brains?
Blue No. 1 a.k.a. brilliant blue- Food coloring found in Frito Lay Sun Chips French Onion and other Frito-lay products; some Yoplait products; some JELL-O products; fruity Cheerios; Trix; Froot-Loops; Apple Jacks; Quaker Cap'N Crunch's Crunch Berries; some Pop-Tart products; some Oscar Mayer Lunchables; Duncan Hines Whipped Frosting Chocolate; Edy's ice cream products; Skittles candies; Jolly Ranchers Screaming Sours Soft & Chew Candy; Eclipse gum; Fanta Grape; and more
Blue No. 2 a.k.a. indigotine- Food coloring found in Froot-Loops; Post Fruity Pebbles; Pop-Tarts products; Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Strawberry Supreme Premium Cake Mix; Betty Crocker Frosting Rich & Creamy Cherry; M&M's Milk Chocolate Candies; M&M's Milk Chocolate Peanut Candies; Wonka Nerds Grape/Strawberry; pet foods
Green No. 3- Food coloring found in candy, beverages, ice cream, and pudding
Red No. 3 a.k.a. carmoisine- Food coloring found in candy, cake, icing, and chewing gum
Sodium Benzoate (one of my sensitivities)- Preservative found in fruit juice, carbonated beverages, acidic foods, and pickles
Red No. 40 a.k.a. allura red- Food coloring found in some Frito-Lay products; some Yoplait products; JELL-O Gelatin desserts; Quaker instant Oatmeal; Trix; Froot Loops; Apple Jacks; some Pop-Tart products; Kid Cuisine Kung Fu Panda products; Oscar Mayer Lunchables products; Hostess Twinkies; some Pillsbury rolls and frostings; some Betty Crocker and Duncan Hines frostings; and more
Yellow No. 5 a.k.a tartrazine- This food dye has been tested alone and not as a mix. When tested it was linked to hyperactivity. It is the second most commonly used dye in the U.S. You can find it in Nabisco Cheese Nips Four Cheese; Frito-Lay Sun Chips Harvest Cheddar and other Frito-Lay products; some Hunt's Snack Pack Pudding products; Lucky Charms; Eggo waffles and other waffle products; some Pop-Tart products; various Kraft macaroni and cheese products; Betty Crocker Hamburger Helper and other products
Yellow No. 6 a.k.a. sunset yellow- This food dye is the 3rd most commonly used dye in the U.S. and can be found in Frito-Lay Flamin' Hot Crunchy and other Frito-Lay products; Betty Crocker Fruit Roll-ups; some JELL-O gelatin desserts and instant puddings; Fruity cheerios; Trix; some Eggo waffle products; some Kid Cuisine Kung Fu Panda products; some Kraft macaroni and cheese dinners; some Betty Crocker frostings; some M&M's and Skittles candies; Sunkist orange candies; Sunkist Orange Soda; Fanta Orange; and more (Gardner).
So what have we learned other than the fact that Froot-Loops and Frito-Lay particularly suck, Betty Crocker is a fucking fraud, Trix really ARE NOT for kids (or any human beings,) The Kraft dinosaur deserves to be stoned, and the people of the FDA deserve to be tarred and feathered? There is too much fake ass food on our store shelves and it needs to stay out of our mouths.
Blue No. 1 a.k.a. brilliant blue- Food coloring found in Frito Lay Sun Chips French Onion and other Frito-lay products; some Yoplait products; some JELL-O products; fruity Cheerios; Trix; Froot-Loops; Apple Jacks; Quaker Cap'N Crunch's Crunch Berries; some Pop-Tart products; some Oscar Mayer Lunchables; Duncan Hines Whipped Frosting Chocolate; Edy's ice cream products; Skittles candies; Jolly Ranchers Screaming Sours Soft & Chew Candy; Eclipse gum; Fanta Grape; and more
Blue No. 2 a.k.a. indigotine- Food coloring found in Froot-Loops; Post Fruity Pebbles; Pop-Tarts products; Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Strawberry Supreme Premium Cake Mix; Betty Crocker Frosting Rich & Creamy Cherry; M&M's Milk Chocolate Candies; M&M's Milk Chocolate Peanut Candies; Wonka Nerds Grape/Strawberry; pet foods
Green No. 3- Food coloring found in candy, beverages, ice cream, and pudding
Red No. 3 a.k.a. carmoisine- Food coloring found in candy, cake, icing, and chewing gum
Sodium Benzoate (one of my sensitivities)- Preservative found in fruit juice, carbonated beverages, acidic foods, and pickles
Red No. 40 a.k.a. allura red- Food coloring found in some Frito-Lay products; some Yoplait products; JELL-O Gelatin desserts; Quaker instant Oatmeal; Trix; Froot Loops; Apple Jacks; some Pop-Tart products; Kid Cuisine Kung Fu Panda products; Oscar Mayer Lunchables products; Hostess Twinkies; some Pillsbury rolls and frostings; some Betty Crocker and Duncan Hines frostings; and more
Yellow No. 5 a.k.a tartrazine- This food dye has been tested alone and not as a mix. When tested it was linked to hyperactivity. It is the second most commonly used dye in the U.S. You can find it in Nabisco Cheese Nips Four Cheese; Frito-Lay Sun Chips Harvest Cheddar and other Frito-Lay products; some Hunt's Snack Pack Pudding products; Lucky Charms; Eggo waffles and other waffle products; some Pop-Tart products; various Kraft macaroni and cheese products; Betty Crocker Hamburger Helper and other products
Yellow No. 6 a.k.a. sunset yellow- This food dye is the 3rd most commonly used dye in the U.S. and can be found in Frito-Lay Flamin' Hot Crunchy and other Frito-Lay products; Betty Crocker Fruit Roll-ups; some JELL-O gelatin desserts and instant puddings; Fruity cheerios; Trix; some Eggo waffle products; some Kid Cuisine Kung Fu Panda products; some Kraft macaroni and cheese dinners; some Betty Crocker frostings; some M&M's and Skittles candies; Sunkist orange candies; Sunkist Orange Soda; Fanta Orange; and more (Gardner).
So what have we learned other than the fact that Froot-Loops and Frito-Lay particularly suck, Betty Crocker is a fucking fraud, Trix really ARE NOT for kids (or any human beings,) The Kraft dinosaur deserves to be stoned, and the people of the FDA deserve to be tarred and feathered? There is too much fake ass food on our store shelves and it needs to stay out of our mouths.
It's time to wake up and give our children a chance. It's time to stop blanketing symptoms with medications that can lead to drug dependency and other health issues. It's time to advocate for our children's health because if it was up to them, they'd have candy for breakfast, Betty Crocker for lunch, and Trix for dinner. I can yell this with my arms flailing in the air because my career/passion is working with and advocating for children and their families. I can bitch all I want about prescription medications because I've tried several. And yes- I, too, have been on ADHD medication before.
When you buy organic REAL food, you give organic REAL food producers/local farmers a reason to keep producing organic, real, local food. One might argue that organic food costs too much. I argue the opposite of course- that fake food costs too much: your health and quality of life. The money spent on prescription medications to "cure" dis-ease and other health issues can be better spent on real food that will prevent dis-ease.
Work Cited
"Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children." Mayoclinic.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Aug. 2013. <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/adhd/DS00275>.
Gardner, Amanda. "9 Food Additives That May Affect ADHD." Health.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Aug. 2013. <http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20439038_2,00.html>.
Millichap, J G., and Michelle M. Yee. "The Diet Factor in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder." Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (2012): 6. Web. 19 Aug. 2013. <http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2012/01/04/peds.2011-2199.full.pdf>.
"Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children." Mayoclinic.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Aug. 2013. <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/adhd/DS00275>.
Gardner, Amanda. "9 Food Additives That May Affect ADHD." Health.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Aug. 2013. <http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20439038_2,00.html>.
Millichap, J G., and Michelle M. Yee. "The Diet Factor in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder." Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (2012): 6. Web. 19 Aug. 2013. <http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2012/01/04/peds.2011-2199.full.pdf>.
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