Behavior, Learning Problems, & other health problems due to
Artificial Colors / Food Dyes,
Chemicals,
and Foods
Artificial Colors /
Food Dyes
Added 4/19/05
Did you know you are eating petroleum when
you use artificial food colors/dyes? I read at Dangers in Toothpaste
that food colors use to be derived from coal tar but now it is derived from
petroleum. Yes, you are eating petroleum!
You can make
your own natural colors from vegetables and not eat something that is
bad for you. Red #40 (and maybe other food dyes) cause behavior
problems (being out of control) and other problems. We stopped
using toothpastes with food coloring in April 2005. We now use Tom's of Maine.
(Don't use the orange flavor toothpaste if you are celiac or gluten
intolerant since it has gluten in
it.) Before using this toothpaste, I had a build-up on my top two
teeth which I thought was plaque. All day long I had to take my
fingernails to get it off. When I use it for the first time, it
went
away. Maybe it wasn't all plaque but a petroleum build-up.
Most
toothpastes have FD & C Blue #1
in it. I read at the above link that this food coloring can cause
learning, health, and behavior problems. Nesquik (and other MILK
FLAVORINGS) have food dyes in them so use natural ones or make your own
milk flavorings. (Ah!laska
Organic Chocolate Syrup is dye-free but you can't use it if you are
allergic to corn or sulfur since it has xanthan gum in it.) We
use all natural vitamins (ours since 4/9/05 and the children since
3/31/05). We had to switch calcium brands for the children (since
Nature's Path isn't gluten-free anymore). I have read on line
that
yellow food dye can cause
rashes in some people and most vitamins have this food dye in it.
(I think I reacted to it because I don't get rashes as often.)
No more food dyes for our family.
Added 5/3/05
Cooking
For Engineers - Kitchen Notes: Additives
You will notice at the previous link it mentions under Red
#40 some side effects are: ADHD,
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
(OCD).
I know Red #40 causes these side effects. Once this bad stuff was
out
of my almost 5 1/2 year old son's body, he doesn't have as many melt
downs, is a lot calmer, not as many temper tantrums or refusing to do
certain things we want him to do, and he doesn't whine (while talking)
all day long. I was going nuts
since he already doesn't pronounce all the letters in most words and it
is hard enough to understand him without him whining. . For
example,
on May 1, 2005, our son wanted to put on his jacket back on in the van
but I told him it was too hot to put it on. He sat in his car
seat for
awhile but didn't start crying like he usually does. He was a
little
sad but he eventually buckled up and was fine. Wow! Another
time this
week, I told him I was going to throw his food away if he didn't
finish it. All he did was whine a little bit but didn't
cry. I wasn't
going to throw it away but I wanted to see if his behavior has changed
since going dye-free. He was never hyper but had the other
problems. I
should have followed my intuition that food dyes were a problem for my
son. There is more information about ODD at: Children With
Oppositional Defiant Disorder - AACAP.
Various Dyes
E Number Index
Various dyes can cause hyperactivity and other reactions.
If you are allergic to aspirin,
avoid: Yellow 5 (also asthmatics), Yellow 6, Red 40 (also asthmatics) It might cause a slight less reaction if
it is consumed), and E124
(Cochineal Red, Carmic Acid, Carmines). There are others found at
the above link.
Yellow 5 (tartrazine)
Yellow 5 causes an allergic
reaction for some people. It can cause hyperactivity and other
reactions. (See the below links.)
Attention
Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder - Vitacost
Cooking
For Engineers - Kitchen Notes: Additives
E102 Tartrazine
Environmental
Factors and ADHD Yellow 5
Food
coloring and hyperactivity?
ific.org:
Food Ingredients & Colors Yellow
5
Red 40
Red 40 can also cause
hyperactivity and other reactions.
Cooking
For Engineers - Kitchen Notes: Additives
FD
& C Dyes & Sickness - Share The Weath
FD&C Red 40 Information, Education
and Discussion
Dye-free Sprinkles
If you want something that is natural and contains natural colors, buy Let's Do...
Organic Confetti Sprinkelz. You can use them on cupcakes,
cakes, cookies, ice cream, etc. (From eating it, it seems to be
corn-free too.)
Natural Dyes
Carmine
is a natural, red dye that is excreted from a dried cochineal bug that
lives in Peru. However, if
you are allergic to aspirin or are asthmatic, don't use this dye.
Foods
Foods can also cause behavior problems. I know people on line
that their children have behavior problems when they eat gluten and/or
milk. There are probably other foods that cause behavior problems.
That Kid Who Drives You
Crazy! (ADD/ADHD) Including food colors, chemicals touched or ate
(e.g. BHA), etc.
Final Notes
Think about what your child, grandchild, student, etc. are consuming
that might be causing behavior and learning problems before putting
them on medication to control his or her behavior. It
is always thought that it is SUGAR that is causing children to be
hyperactive but maybe it is really the food dyes and/or food that is
really causing behavior and/or learning problems.