I'm following the Friday Food Challenge from a mom's view of ADHD blog, making some diet changes for the family that I hope will help with ADHD symptoms. I have made a lot of food changes lately through a nutrition challenge at my gym, so one more seemed a bit overwhelming. But Penny is taking baby steps with the challenge, so I thought I'd jump in. This week we are cutting out FD&C Red 40, an artificial food coloring that has been shown to increase hyperactivity.
I am trying to stay away from processed foods altogether so there isn't much we eat that has red 20. But when I went to buy ketchup I saw that the organic Natural Directions ketchup was on sale, even cheaper than Heinz. So I bought it. I thought that the kids might whine and say it wasn't good ketchup or "the right" ketchup, but they never even noticed. Cheaper, healthier, no brainer. A baby step in the right direction.
Have you seen a difference eliminating Red Dye #40? I had an "aha" moment this morning--my son had a great day yesterday, and was wired 150% this morning shortly after breakfast. I realized that yesterday's diet contained no red dye, but this morning's did. Just wondering how you're doing with it.
ReplyDeleteI congratulate you for staying away from Red #40 and I hope you eliminate the other 6 FD&C dyes (they are all made the same -- from petroleum.
ReplyDeleteI want you to know, however, that catsup does not contain Red 40!
www.ADHDdiet.org
My son had adhd and we eliminated Red Dye #40 about 6 month ago and there has been such a difference. It's almost as if he's a drug addict when he has it.
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog and and am so glad to see I am not alone.
@Denise, you're definitely not alone. Lots of us are dealing with kids, spouses, or other family members with ADHD. Hang in there. The more I learn, the more it helps me. I find tons of helpful info online.
ReplyDelete@Marcia. It's true, catsup does not have red dye. I think I was going off something my friend's mom told me in the 70s. Maybe it used to have red dye #40.
i keep my 5yrold away from the red dye also...she already has enough natural energy...no need to add to it!
ReplyDeleteI have been told and have read that ketchup is bad for ADHD, ODD, and any other D's.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't have red dye in it but there is definitely something that sends my son into a whirlwind that he wasn't in five minutes before he ate it.
Any ideas?