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
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).
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.
"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>.