Sometimes it is hard not to give into your kids pleading for some brightly colored candy or sugar cereal. I read about the artificial food dyes and it is more dangerous that we may know. It is important to know about these things so we don’t unknowingly feed it to our kids and then wonder why they are hyper.
What it is: Many artificial food dyes found in hundreds of everyday foods are made from petroleum-derived materials.
Where it is: Dyes are used in cereals and candy to make them more “fun” for kids, in pickles to make them appear fresher, and in place of actual real ingredients in a variety of foods. Example? Betty Crocker Carrot Cake Mix is actually a carrot-free product, with “carrot flavored pieces” cooked up from corn syrup and artificial colors Yellow 6 and Red 40.
Why it’s bad: Orange and purple food dyes have been shown to impair brain function, while other dyes have been linked to ADHD and behavioral problems in kids and brain cell toxicity. You’re getting ripped off, too. It’s cheaper for food companies to use fake dyes than real ingredients. (Tropicana Twister Cherry Berry Blast contains 0 percent berry and cherry juice, despite its name.)
Your article is valuable and should be read by all parents. Artificial food dyes are not just in candy and other desserts. They are in toothpaste, medicines, most prepared foods, etc.
Many of those chidren on meds for ADHD symptoms would be fine if they stayed away from the dyes and other additives. There is a good video explaining it here: http://www.AHDHdiet.org