How many kids diagnosed with ADHD are really suffering from the disorder? Last week, we talked about how ADHD might be a sleep disorder in disguise. Today, there is more research that suggests a link between hyperactive children and an artificial food coloring called red dye 40.
We have been using artificial dyes on our food, cosmetics, and personal care products for almost 150 years. In 1880s, the US government started to oversee the use of these ingredients and approved 15 dyes by 1931. Six of these dyes are still being used today. But are you aware that petroleum is the base ingredient for all chemical dyes?
I recently saw a fascinating video featuring neuropsychologist Dr. Michael Wolff, who specializes in children with hyperactivity disorders, and one of his young patients. Laura Kitchen began to notice a significant personality change in her six-year-old son Thomas. He used to be a self-sufficient child who could play quietly on his own, but then he soon started being uncontrollably hyperactive and unable to focus on anything. Worried that he might have ADHD, Laura took Thomas to Dr. Wolff, who recommended getting rid of foods containing Red Dye 40 from his diet.
Laura observed that Thomas’s behavior did change after eating candy with the dye. About 15 minutes after consuming Red Dye 40, he would stop playing calmly and start becoming uncontrollable.
According to Dr. Wolff, Thomas reacted to the dye in this manner because the body is not used to consuming a large number of petroleum-based foods. Petroleum can cause inflammation, a disconnect along the nerves that run through the brain. This interferes with the planning, reasoning, and decision-making areas of the mind, which are sensitive to food dyes. Petroleum-based foods also affect part of the brain associated with attention and impulse control, which explains how they can cause ADHD-like symptoms, or make ADHD symptoms worse among children already affected by the disorder.
So why is Red Dye 40 still being widely used in foods? And why hasn’t the FDA removed this dye from their list of approved ingredients? Although the FDA has started to investigate ADHD and food dyes, this is their most recent statement:
Individual anecdotal experiences from the elimination of a particular food item may not have been performed in a scientific manner and that many other factors may be responsible for any observed behavioral changes. The FDA continues to be engaged in the scientific and regulatory review of color additives in food and their potential impact on various populations, including children.
How often do your children eat foods with artificial dyes? Consider doing an experiment where they avoid foods with artificial food coloring for a week and see if their behavior changes.