Additives in our Kids

My simple rule is the more additives in a product the less food there is and we cannot expect a child to function on products missing foods and filled with synthetic toxic chemicals.

It has been proposed for many years that food additives contribute to ADD/ADHD. While this is refuted by the food additive industry, there’s growing evidence that this is the case. It’s also becoming apparent that there are biochemical explanations as to why some foods and food additives, particularly the food colours, may be contributing factors. For example, salicylates inhibit the conversion of the EFAs to the protective prostaglandins, as mentioned earlier. Many foods that contain salicylates, including tomatoes and granny smith apples, as well as aspirin and the food colours like tartrazine (102), may exacerbate ADD/ADHD.

Food additives linked with ADD/ADHD can also deplete the body of vitamins and minerals. Tartrazine decreases blood levels of zinc and increases its excretion in the urine.

Food additives to avoid are 102, 107, 104, 110, 120, 122, 123, 124, 127, 129, 132, 133, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160b, 168, 173, 250, 251, 252, 282, 320, 321, 420, 421, 621 (MSG) 622, 624, 627,631, 635, 951 (Nutrasweet®, Aspartame®).

Academic performance and behavioural issues improve significantly when children are given optimal nutrition and nutritional supplements.

Then there is the processed meats such as salami, ham and bacon. They contain loads of additives including nitrates (249, 250, 251, 252), which form a group of cancer-causing chemicals called nitrosamines. High rates of nitrosamines can be found in pies, pasties, sausage rolls, frankfurters, salami, ham and bacon. This increases the risk of colon and stomach cancer and childhood leukemia. Just a few beef frankfurters a week will increase this risk for children.

Another additive in processed meats and many other processed foods is Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), which is well known for influencing severe attacks of ADHD and eczema-like rashes. MSG (621) is often added to processed foods because it increases hunger, which of course means that more food is eaten. It is easy to see how this leads to childhood obesity and diabetes. Many processed foods have MSG added to improve the flavour without adding more food. Please, read every label of every box, bag and carton you bring home from the grocery store, before you put that food on the table—or better, before you buy it!

For more information check out
www.additivealert.com.au