This would certainly explain why ADD and ADHD rates in the US are astronomically higher than anywhere else in the world, as it is the land of excessively processed food and chemically treated foods.
New research: And then last week, an acceptably rigorous study of the idea behind the Feingold diet—that food additives might contribute to ADHD—appeared. Donna McCann, Jim Stevenson, and a number of their colleagues, mostly at the School of Psychology of the University of Southampton, studied the question in the way that medical science likes best: the double-blind placebo-controlled trial. They tested two groups of a total of 300 children: one set of 3-year-olds and a set of 8- to 9-year-olds, all living in a small English city. The children's behavior was closely observed while they drank either plain dark-colored fruit juice (the placebo) or the same juice spiked with one of two food-coloring mixes also containing the common preservative sodium benzoate. (The amount and kind of food coloring wasn't a lot—actually, it was the same as could be found in one or two 2-ounce bags of sweets.) The drinks, plain and spiked, looked and tasted the same. On different weeks, the kids were switched back and forth between the plain juice and the spiked juice without anyone knowing which was which. Their behavior was scored using some standard scales for ADHD.
Findings: Sure enough, there was, on average, a clear increase in hyperactive behavior from the scores measured when the kids took the additive-laden juice to the scores when the same kids took the plain juice. And, confirming the private observations of sharp rheumatologists, some children were strongly affected and others were not affected. It is unclear whether the change in behavior is caused by a true allergy (as Feingold surmised) or an effect on the chemistry of the brain. But for some kids, it's real enough.
also don't forget the following:
TV=autism
Japanese cartoons= epilepsy
food coloring = ADHD
Sugar=slavery and death
telli tubbies = Republicans soliciting sex in public restrooms
1 comment:
Thank you for a very good summary of the new Lancet study showing the food dyes can trigger disturbed behavior in all children, not just those considered to be "ADHD."
And as you observed, the amount of dye used was very small, just a fraction of what many children ingest every day.
One small note...I worked with Dr. Feingold until his death in 1982 and he believed that in nearly all of the cases the reaction was a pharmacologic one, not an allergic reaction. He felt that the dyes acted like a drug, and (like drugs) were dose-related.
The non-profit Feingold Association was formed in 1976 by parents of children who had benefited from the program Feingold developed. We research brand name foods and compile books listing thousands of acceptable brand name products that are free of the additives. This means that one can find nearly any favorite food, but in a more natural version. This includes jelly beans, ice cream, lollipops, mixes, and lots of processed foods. Contrary to the belief of many, the Feingold diet does not eliminate sugar or chocolate or wheat, etc. It does not require one buy organic food. It's a simple switch from one version of potato chips (with petroleum-based preservatives) to another (without them). This makes it easy for the whole family to enjoy the healthier food.
We provide comprehensive information and support to families who wish to explore this option. Like any volunteer organization, the thing that motivates us is the fact that most of the children (and adults) who use the program find it is extremely helpful. In some cases, the Feingold diet is all one needs to do, and in other cases, it's the first piece of the puzzle of finding answers.
You will find a great deal of information at www.feingold.org.
Jane Hersey
National Director
Feingold Associatin of the US
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