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
Unlock the key of your success for JN0-660
exams and MB2-867
by using our latest HP2-K21
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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.