Chances are if you buy any processed food, you’ll come across artificial food coloring. The only exception is if you’re shopping from Whole Foods or Thrive Market. 

You’ll find artificial food coloring in just about any processed food from candies, cookies, snack foods, juice, soda to entree, frozen meals, soups, etc. 

I used to love Cheetos and Doritos. Can you imagine how much food coloring, preservatives and other crap are in these “junk food”? 

Artificial food coloring is one of the worst food additives for ADHD.

Studies show that artificial colorings which are found in soda, fruit juices and salad dressings, may contribute to asthma and hyperactivity in children and may also lead to a significant reduction in intelligent quotient (IQ). 

Animal studies have also linked artificial food colorings to cancer. 

Many of these artificial food colorings are banned in European countries after a British study linked them to hyperactivity in children. 

Studies have also linked artificial food colorings to thyroid cancer, kidney and adrenal gland tumors, and chromosomal DNA damage in laboratory animals, may also interfere with brain-nerve transmission.

9 Artificial Food Coloring to Avoid:

• Erythrosine (Red #3)
• Allura Red AC (E129) (FD&C Red #40, Red 40) 
• Ponceau S (E124, Acid Red 112)
• Carmoisine (E122, Acid Red 14)
• Sunset yellow (E110) (FD&C; Yellow #6)
• Tartrazine (E102) (FD&C; Yellow #5)
• Quinoline yellow (E104) – Yellow coloring
• Brilliant Blue (FD & C Blue #1).
• Fast Green (FD&C Green #3, Green 1724)#2 (E133)

Related: What You Need to Know About Artificial Food Coloring and ADHD?

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydrozyttoluene (BHT) and TBHQ (Tertiary Butylhydroquinone) are preservatives used to extend shelf life of fatty foods. These preservative prevent foods from changing color, changing flavor or becoming rancid.

While the food is looking pretty with these preservatives, you brain is not so when you ingest them. 

These preservatives are shown to affects the brain and behavior and increase risk of cancer.

You’ll find them in just about anything from potato chips, nuts, nut butters, salad dressing, instant noodles, canned meats and vegetable oils. 

If you’re like most people who thinks “diet” drinks are better and drink these over regular soda or juice, think again. 

I generally advise all my families to avoid artificial sweeteners because the studies done to confirm their safety are all paid for by the manufacturers. Second, most of the studies are done on adults. 

Who in the right mind would want their child to be guinea pigs?

That means, no one knows how these manmade additives would affect growth in young children, who is still growing and developing rapidly. 

Aspartame (Nutrasweet and Equal) is a neurotoxin and carcinogen. It affects intelligence and short-term memory. This toxic sweetener may be linked to diseases like lymphoma, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue, emotional disorders like depression and anxiety attacks, dizziness, headaches, nausea, mental confusion, migraines and seizures, and possibly brain tumors. You’ll find this sweetener in manufactured baked goods, chewing gum, gelatin, diet soda and flavored water.

Results from several large population studies suggest regular consumption of artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose may actually contribute to rather than combat weight gain and diabetes. 

Sucralose (Splenda). Can cause swelling of liver and kidneys and a shrinkage of the thymus gland. Sucralose (Splenda) pretends to be natural. It is made from sugar by replacing certain parts of the sugar molecule with chlorine. It thus becomes a chlorocarbon whose chemical structure is closer to a pesticide than a sugar. It is often bulked up with puffed corn syrup solids, with almost 5 calories per teaspoon (legally called “zero”). 

Saccharin (Sweet n Low) is a carcinogen found to cause bladder cancer in lab rats studies.

Acesulfame potassium is frequently used with other artificial sweeteners in diet sodas and sugar-free dessert. It is linked to lung and breast tumors in rats, and possibly kidney tumors as well.

Artificial sweeteners can be found in just about every processed items even toothpaste. But for sure anything that says “diet” or “sugar free”. 

I personally use real unprocessed sugar, such as raw sugar or honey to sweetened my food. 

I prefer real food that my body recognizes and uses normally. 

Alcohol sugars (names end in “-ol”) are allowed. Stevia is a natural no-calorie sweetener from an herb.

But if you’re really need to avoid sugar, your best bet are sugar alcohol and monk fruit. It’s the most naturally non-nutritive sweetener out there, because it comes from a real fruit.  

Monk fruit is a fruit that’s naturally sweet. You can get monk fruit powder or extract and use these as sweetener substitute. You can buy them in any form and packages just like with other sweeteners.

Salicylates belong to the phenol family, a chemical that occurs naturally to protect plants such as herbs, fruits and vegetables. It helps to protect plants from bacteria, bugs, animals and diseases. It is found in 99% of fruits, about 85% of vegetables and 95% of herbs and spices.

Salicylates are also man-made and found in perfumes, toothpastes, personal care products such as shampoos and lotions. It is also found in food colorings, food preservatives, artificial flavors and artificial flavor enhancers.

Salicylates was discovered to induce ADHD symptoms back in the 1970’s. This is the foundation of the Feingold Diet, which linked these food additives and some foods to hyperactivity in ADHD.

Bisphenols A or BPA is another dangerous food additives for ADHD that disrupts hormonal systems.

Bisphenols are found in the lining of food and soda cans to prevent the metal from eroding. They’re also found in plastic containers labeled with number 3 or 7. 

Can you imagine these were used to be in plastic baby bottles and sippy cups too? Fortunately, that’s history. BPAs are banned, but older bottles and cups may still contain them. 

BPAs can act like the hormone estrogen and interfere with puberty, fertility and increase risk of hormone-related cancers. 

Bisphenols can also increase body fat, and cause problems with the immune system and nervous system resulting in behavioral and metabolic disorders.

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a highly-refined artificial sweetener which has become the number one source of calories in America. It is found in almost every processed foods. 

This empty-calorie food additives not only provide the extra bursts of energy in children with ADHD, it also interferes with your child’s brain neurotransmitters and chemistry.

HFCS is made from genetically-modified corn for significantly a lot less to manufacture. And because it’s supposed to be super sweet, manufacturers does not need to use much in the food, and thus, help cut manufacturing cost. 

Unlike the artificial sweeteners we read about in the beginning of this article, this artificial sweeteners is used to significantly enhance the flavors of the food to an almost addicting level. 

HFCS may contribute to obesity. HFCS packs on the pounds faster than any other ingredient, increases your LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels, and increase insulin resistance and  diabetes, and other harmful effects.  

Kids who are used to the sweetness of high fructose corn syrup have difficulty accepting the more natural sweetness of real fruits. 

You won’t miss it on the ingredient list. You’ll see “high fructose corn syrup”. 

MSG is another dangerous food additives for children with ADHD.

MSG is an amino acid used to enhance flavors in soups, salad dressings, chips, frozen entrees, lunch meats and many restaurant foods. 

You’ve heard of Chinese restaurant syndrome, which is an outdated term coined in the 1960s. It refers to a group of symptoms some people experience after eating food from a Chinese restaurant, which often the additive monosodium glutamate (MSG). MSG is commonly used in food prepared in Chinese restaurants. Today, it’s known as MSG symptom complex. These symptoms often include headache, skin flushing, and sweating.

MSG is known as an excitotoxin, meaning it over stimulates nerve cells to the point of damage or death to varying degrees — and potentially even triggering or worsening learning disabilities, ADHD, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease, and more.

Part of the problem is that free glutamic acid (MSG is approximately 78 percent free glutamic acid) is the same neurotransmitter that your brain, nervous system, eyes, pancreas, and other organs use to initiate certain processes in your body.  

Studies show that regular consumption of MSG may result in depression, disorientation, eye damage, fatigue, headaches, and obesity. 

Instant noodle is a cheap and convenient meal choices for many. Some people eat them because they’re are cheap. Kids and college kids like them because they’re easy.

I always say nothing come free, and convenience definitely comes with price. 

The monosodium glutamate (MSG) in instant noodles is reason enough to avoid them. 

Yes, MSG is the ingredient that makes you want to eat more, and pack on the weight. If you want to achieve your ideal body weight and health, avoid MSG at all costs.

Sodium benzoate is used as a preservative in salad dressing and carbonated beverages. A study published in 2007 in The Lancet suggests that the preservative sodium benzoate and commonly used artificial food colorings in fact may exacerbate hyperactive behavior in young children. 

Sodium nitrate (or sodium nitrite) is used as a preservative, coloring agent and flavoring in bacon, ham, hot dogs, luncheon meats, corned beef, smoked fish and other processed meats. They make old dead meat looks bright red to appear fresher than they are supposed to be. 

Sodium nitrates and nitrites are actually highly carcinogenic. They can interfere with the thyroid and the endocrine system, as well as with the blood’s ability to deliver oxygen to the body. They can also increase the risk of certain cancers.

The USDA actually tried to ban this additive in the 1970’s.

Sodium sulfite is a preservative used in making wine and dried fruits. According to the FDA, approximately one in 100 people is sensitive to sulfites in food. The majority of these individuals are asthmatic, suggesting a link between asthma and sulfites. Individuals who are sulfite sensitive may experience headaches, breathing problems, and rashes.

In severe cases, sulfites can actually cause death by closing down the airway altogether, leading to cardiac arrest. Found in: Wine and dried fruit.

Sulfur dixoide is an additive used in beer, soft drinks, dried fruit, juices, cordials, wine, vinegar, and potato products.

Sulfur dioxide is considered toxic and the FDA have prohibited their use on raw fruit and vegetables. 

It can cause breathing problems particularly in those prone to asthma, may also cause low blood pressure, flushing tingling sensations and even anaphylactic shock. 

It is not recommended for consumption by children.

Trans fat is the product on turning liquid oils into solid fats through a process called hydrogenation. The process is supposed to extend the shelf life of fats in most processed food. 

You’ll find trans fat in margarine. Yes, margarine. Everyone thinks margarine is healthy. Nope, it is not. It’s only healthy because the margarine makers say so, but science says otherwise. 

Numerous studies show that trans fat increases LDL (bad) cholesterol levels while decreasing HDL (good) cholesterol. Trans fat increases risk of heart attacks, heart disease and strokes, and contributes to increased inflammation, diabetes and other health problems.

It’s also found in deep-fried fast foods, snack chips, crackers and baked goods made with margarine. 

Related: 12 Foods to Avoid for ADHD

If you or your child has ADHD, you should definitely avoid these dangerous food additives that may trigger your ADHD symptoms by interfering with normal brain chemistry.

Ok, there you have it…

I hope you find this information helpful. Let me know what you think and comment below.

Remember ADHD does not doom your child to a life of under-achievement. You know your child is bright, full of potential and deserve the best. In fact, many of the world’s greatest discoveries and inventions were made by people with ADHD.

I helped my crazy wild child who could not read or write when she was little with the 4 steps I laid out in the Eat to Focus book. She’s now a merit scholarship student studying premed in Loyola Chicago University.

So stay strong and keep believing in your child. 

Check out the Eat to Focus book at amazon.com to learn about my story and the 4 steps that I used to transform my daughter and help her reach her full potential. This information may change your child’s future.

Download your free gift before you leave. I have put together 15 clean and brain-nourishing school day breakfast ideas for you. I don’t like to spend my life in the kitchen either, so I make sure these are super simple and quick recipes, and some you can even prepare the night before. Knowing your child goes to school fully prepared and well-fed is satisfying.

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