preservatives and attention difficulties

What is Red Dye?

/ Dr. Patty J / Leave a comment

And What’s its Connection to Cognitive Functioning?

Red dye No. 3 is used to give food its rich red color and make it appear more appealing to eat. Think sprinkles on donuts, frosting on cake and red hard candy. Sadly, it’s a marketing tool that costs consumers their health. Research has shown that Red No. 3 can cause cancer in animals and has been a long-standing concern for human consumption.

Food with preservatives complicate the way humans function, physically and cognitively. Children are especially taken by the fun colors of bright sweets and other dyed foods. However, their little brains are also more susceptible to its effects, such as hyperactivity, inattention and changes in mood. This can become problematic for their learning. It can also cause parents to fear their children might have long-standing cognitive or behavioral difficulties related to attention and learning.

Adults are also affected by preservatives such as Red Dye No. 3, with similar symptoms as children. However, we may more easily identify the source of the change. No matter a person’s age, however, it’s harmful. The good news is that diet change can cause a rapid and positive improvement.

Here’s the thing though. Although it was reported that it’s now being banned, Red Dye No. 3 will still be available in some foods until early 2027 and in some drugs until 2028. Therefore, it’ll be important to continue to read labels and make sure you’re not buying something that contains Red Dye No. 3.

Because who needs preservatives?

Feingold Diet for Attention Difficulties

/ Dr. Patty J / 2 Comments

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The Feingold Diet is a diagnostic tool used to investigate whether elimination of preservatives, dyes and certain foods may decrease symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Even those who do not suffer from ADHD could benefit from the Feingold Diet because the purpose of it is to systematically analyze how removing chemicals from the body can positively influence the brain.

Is the Feingold Diet the solution for ADHD? I wouldn’t go that far. However, research shows that it has marked benefits in some people. By the way, the diet isn’t exclusively for children.

Check out http://www.feingold.org/what.php to find out more. Under the section about dyes, there is a link that reads, “What they can do to you.” There is a detailed list of dyes and their physiological effects. It’s a nice resource to put in the kitchen as a reminder.

Preservatives and Attention Issues in Children

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As a psychologist who has worked with children for some time, I have sadly seen children suffering with mental illness at young ages. Many times, mental illness is brought on due to environmental stress, genetic disposition or a combination of both. However, I have also witnessed times when a diet change has caused remarkable positive changes in children.

I worked with one little guy who had a rare genetic disorder for which he was receiving rigorous medical treatment. He was taking the treatments with few side effects and was doing well medically. However, he was very restless, had difficulty paying attention, and became very agitated very quickly if things didn’t go his way. Of course his mother wondered the usual things a mother would consider in a circumstance such as this. Is it the medical illness? Is it that she and her husband have been too easy on him because he is ill? Is the child depressed or is he suffering from bipolar disorder. He clearly needed some type of behavioral intervention, which is where we started after double-checking that he was medically stable. His mother and father admittedly allowed him to get away with certain behavior out of guilt, however, they were far more consistent in disciplining him. Behavioral modification was beginning to work effectively some of the time, however, he was still waxing and waning in mood and behavior. After months of working with him, I started to wonder if maybe there was a medical connection. However, we hadn’t yet examined what the child was consuming. While awaiting the next doctor’s visit, we spent the next few weeks examining what the child was eating. His mother began utilizing resources on nutrition and attention difficulties. She increased her son’s omega 3-containing consumption. She decreased preservatives and sugar. She also eliminated milk from his diet for a brief period to see if that would help. After just a few weeks of the diet change, the child began to focus better, was calmer and was able to express his needs more effectively.

Here’s a link for parents looking for information about the relationship between behavior and certain types of food.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&ved=0CEoQFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.feingold.org%2Foverview.php&ei=T9kOVfSODMXCggTPsID4Ag&usg=AFQjCNEllJyWQeZ9erIcbNkBGXmOeIBpiQ&bvm=bv.88528373,d.eXY