Toddler Tantrums by Jane Hersey
When 3-year-olds in Great Britain were given food dyes and a
preservative something unexpected happened.
The researchers found that a modest amount of food additives had
a profound effect on the children's behavior. 277 preschool age
children on the Isle of Wight who participated in the study were
youngsters who behaved normally; none of them were considered to
be hyperactive, ADD, ADHD, PDD, etc. Yet during the test period
when they consumed drinks with food dyes and the preservative
sodium benzoate, nearly one child in four clearly showed
disturbed behavior.
For two weeks the children drank fruit juice that did not
contain additives, and then during the other two weeks their
juice looked the same, but contained a blend of four food dyes
and the preservative sodium benzoate. The parents were not aware
of when the children received the plain juice and when their
juice was laced with additives. During the "challenge period"
(when the children consumed the chemicals) parents reported
these reactions: disturbing others, difficulty settling down to
sleep, poor concentration and temper tantrums.
The amount of dye used, 20 milligrams, is very small,
considering the number of brightly colored foods children
typically consume today, particularly in the United States.
Even when a family
limits the sweets, children are exposed to growing amounts of
petroleum-based dyes in their toothpaste, vitamins, cereals,
"fruit" juices, and medicines.
For more information on dyes and their effects, see:
http://www.feingold.orghttp://www.feingold.org
When 3-year-olds in Great Britain were given food dyes and a
preservative something unexpected happened.
The researchers found that a modest amount of food additives had
a profound effect on the children's behavior. 277 preschool age
children on the Isle of Wight who participated in the study were
youngsters who behaved normally; none of them were considered to
be hyperactive, ADD, ADHD, PDD, etc. Yet during the test period
when they consumed drinks with food dyes and the preservative
sodium benzoate, nearly one child in four clearly showed
disturbed behavior.
For two weeks the children drank fruit juice that did not
contain additives, and then during the other two weeks their
juice looked the same, but contained a blend of four food dyes
and the preservative sodium benzoate. The parents were not aware
of when the children received the plain juice and when their
juice was laced with additives. During the "challenge period"
(when the children consumed the chemicals) parents reported
these reactions: disturbing others, difficulty settling down to
sleep, poor concentration and temper tantrums.
The amount of dye used, 20 milligrams, is very small,
considering the number of brightly colored foods children
typically consume today, particularly in the United States.
Even when a family
limits the sweets, children are exposed to growing amounts of
petroleum-based dyes in their toothpaste, vitamins, cereals,
"fruit" juices, and medicines.
For more information on dyes and their effects, see:
http://www.feingold.orghttp://www.feingold.org
Follow Mothering