XPost - Food Dyes

[SpottedFoxx]

Does anyone know if food dyes (not organic coloring) crosses the blood/brain barrier?  If so, is it all dyes or specific ones?  I ask because my son appears to be so sensitive that he's experiencing epic meltdowns within 5-10 minutes of ingestion and it made me wonder if it's a blood/brain barrier thing because it's so fast.

[mbbinsc]

Interesting question.  I remember seeing something about rats being turned blue by an experiment to treat spinal cord injuries.  I googled it and found an article on Food Dye lessening spinal cord injuries.  I don't know how to copy/paste a link.  The reason they used the blue dye was that it did cross.  Makes sense to me, seeing how quickly my DS would react to blue and red dye when he was younger.

[Amy0417]

I notice a change with my DD too.  Extreme hyperness and no concentration.  My DD loves fruit snacks so on special occasions we buy Annies brand!

[tanyalynn]

I don't know if it crosses the BB barrier.  There's a wiki (one of the new functions of the new platform) that people are putting together on food colorings and salicylates and other chemicals that act similarly.  Several people on the forum have been able to reduce their childrens' sensitivity to this stuff (more helpful for salicylates and amines since they're natural food chemicals in stuff like almonds and berries and other real foods). ...

http://www.mothering.com/community/wiki/artificial-colors-and-salicylates-and-the-feingold-diet

Anyone can add to a wiki, so if you find something that you think would be helpful, jump in. 

[SpottedFoxx]

Thanks!

Yeah, my son wigs out within minutes of ingestion that's why I was curious.  I asked my pediatrician but she said that there is little evidence it causes these issues ~insert huge eye roll~.  One of these days, I'm going to learn to ask these questions of his developmental pediatrician vs. his regular pediatrician.

Thanks all!

[Brees_Mama]

my 4yo is sensitive to dyes. she gets fussy/whiny/hyper within minutes and occasionally pukes. allergist took her off dyes for 1yr.

[SpottedFoxx]

Originally Posted by Amy0417 

I notice a change with my DD too.  Extreme hyperness and no concentration.  My DD loves fruit snacks so on special occasions we buy Annies brand!

Amy - Better Crocker makes a fruit snack that is tasty and dye free.  My son loves them and I get them at BJ's for a lot less than the Annies.

[MarciaD]

Yes, synthetic dyes such as Red #40, Yellow #5, Blue #1, etc. do cross the blood brain barrier. A link for you: http://www.wholefoodsmagazineonline.com/supplements/features/autism-and-adhd

Also, watch the video at www.feingold.org or www.ADHDdiet.org

[Amy0417]

Thank you for telling me this!  I would have never known!  That'll save me a lot of money!

Originally Posted by SpottedFoxx 

Originally Posted by Amy0417 

I notice a change with my DD too.  Extreme hyperness and no concentration.  My DD loves fruit snacks so on special occasions we buy Annies brand!

Amy - Better Crocker makes a fruit snack that is tasty and dye free.  My son loves them and I get them at BJ's for a lot less than the Annies.