September 14, 2007 11:47 AM
Hyper Kids? Check their diet
From Time magazine:
Parents have long observed that some kids go bonkers after eating foods with a lot of artificial ingredients or neon-bright colors. Medical researchers--not to mention the food industry--have been skeptical; there was no proof of this effect, at least nothing like a double-blind, controlled study.As so often happens, however, the parents turned out to be a step ahead of the pros. A carefully designed study published in the British journal the Lancet shows that a variety of common food dyes and the preservative sodium benzoate--an ingredient in many soft drinks, fruit juices and salad dressings--do cause some kids to become measurably more hyperactive and distractible. The findings prompted Britain's Food Standards Agency to issue an immediate advisory to parents to limit their children's intake of additives if they notice an effect on behavior. In the U.S., there hasn't been a similar response, but doctors say it makes sense for parents to be on the alert.
Read entire article here.
Love the lead in the second paragraph:
As so often happens, however, the parents turned out to be a step ahead of the pros.
A reminder to parents to trust your gut about these issues - don't wait for the "experts" to get their federal grants and spend your tax money researching.
Get your kids off TV and off junk food - more fresh air and fresh food! Start today!
Comments
Hey Barbara! I just read this from World mag by Toni Eareckson Tada on"Down Syndrome Dangers". I thought you'd like to read it!!
Posted by: shawnda | September 14, 2007 11:59 AM
People don't believe me when I tell them that the KEY to treating our son's problems without heavy duty medications is his diet (we use some supplements too.)
In fact, his school required a signed physician's statement before they would commit to NOT giving him colored food (like M&M's and suckers). I'm not talking about special lunches - I pack his food - but just handouts the teachers have on hand. Even when I SENT IN a bag of 'approved' candy, they won't *not* give him fake food (until I got the doctor's note).
MSG (monosodium glutamate) is big problem too. I thought my migraines were hormonal - that's what my neuro said - but they cleared right up once we eliminated MSG! (Apparently I am more sensitive to it when not pregnant, which is why they thought it was hormonal)
I've got a bunch of links to studies, etc. on this post Scroll about two-thirds of the way down!
Can you tell I'm passionate about this LOL? I can tell if a babysitter has given the boy something banned just by the tone of his voice!
Posted by: Milehimama | September 14, 2007 2:00 PM
I met an 18-year-old our first year in college that impressed me as one of the most disciplined guys I knew at that age-- He controlled his (extreme, I learned later) ADHD by amazing attention to his diet.
He was almost vegetarian, didn't eat dairy or sugar, and because of all this couldn't stay in the "regular" dorms, since those all required meal plans at the cafeteria, and much less self-determination.
Connected to an earlier conversation, he once told me his mom knew when he was 5 that he'd accepted Christ, because his character utterly changed.
The earlier conversation included praying for your child's salvation as part of your parenting a "difficult" child, and this guy was a total believer in the need.
So I guess I say that because I imagine there's some mom reading this with a hyper little boy who's making you crazy no matter how many "right" things you do. These things-- salvation and diet ;o)-- may be all you need to see a new boy (or girl).
I saw the result. It was *so* encouraging.
Posted by: Amy Jane (Untangling Tales) | September 14, 2007 5:51 PM
