Within one minute of eating a piece a cake, my son is hyper. This “sugar high” is expected, but what isn’t expected is an instant high from processed foods containing additives or food colorings. Foods with additives trigger hyperactivity in additive-sensitive children. It makes me wonder if changing my son’s diet may make a difference. Will this information change your shopping habits? Lots of foods for children have long shelf-lives—making the effort to avoid additives a tricky endeavor. What are your thoughts?
1 reader
liked this story.
more from Laura Roe Stevens
Showing stories 1-3 of 10
view more 
Comments
My daughter used to behave in bizarre ways, but not all of the time. Today she would be diagnosed as ADHD and put on drugs, and if someone offered me drugs for her back then, I would have gladly used them. But that was 1975 and the ADHD industry had not yet begun. I discovered that petroleum-based food additives were setting her off, and when I removed them her behavior rapidly became normal. Since then I have worked with the non-profit Feingold Association to help other parents. Today it's so much easier to get rid of harmful additives because the Association researches brand name foods and publishes books listing thousands of them. See www.feingold.org. It's so sad that most children are on a steady diet of foodless foods, while supermarkets offer almost-identical (but healthier) alternatives. Then there's the truly awful stuff schools serve...most fast food is actually less offensive than most school food. Check out www.School-Lunch.org, for some shocking information!
Having had a Wellness business for the last several years I have learned a lot about good nutrition and what it does for kids. If you look at the "goldfish, cereal bars, chips etc.." that are taken to the park as snacks for the kids and understand that those processed carbs convert to sugar you will understand the "hyperness" of some kids. There is also a lot of studies regarding Omega 3 and kids. Both my 4 & 7 year old take an Omega each day and they are not all created equally. For detailed info on how this can help kids with being "Hyper" along with a better diet, go to :http://web.winltd.com/winomeg3complex/children.htm For more info you can go to www.wellnessinmarin.com
It makes me wonder if many kids that are being treated with medication for ADHD could instead be "treated" with healthier foods.
I just try to avoid artificial additives in general. They may not be bad for me, but I don't think they're good for me. And I'm sure some of them are not good for me.
Yes, this information helps cement the philosophy I've adopted since having a baby: the more fresh, non-processed food I can give my son, the healthier he will be. He is a bouncing baby boy who is uninterested in concentrating on any one thing longer than a minute or so, so anything I can do to avoid hyperactivity is a plus! I must admit I get lazy sometimes and feed him processed food, but try to make up for it with fresh fruits, veggies, dairy products, and proteins like eggs and black beans and free-range, non-hormone pumped chicken.
Tell us a Story.
You know you've got something to share. Maybe it's something funny, touching, inspirational or informative. Whatever it is, your circle of friends here at DivineCaroline would love to hear from you.
Other topics you might appreciate
