ADHD and Breakfast Cereals
or
What Are You Feeding Your Children For Breakfast?
Are you giving them cereal or other foods that cause ADHD? And then having to give them an ADHD drug (Vivanase, Ritalin, Concerto or some such) for dessert?
Recently, I have been visiting with some relatives and then some friends whose children are on some of these mood altering drugs for ADHD. Real problems with ADHD and breakfast cereals. I discovered what both of these children were having for breakfast, by asking a few simple questions, . Almost always it’s breakfast cereals like Froot Loops!
What Is The Impact Of Synthetic Food Dyes On Children?
Here are some articles that quickly show and track how food dyes in cereals and other foods impact behaviour in children with ADHD.
Truth is, they help cause and often exacerbate ADHD.
“Research in both animals and humans has shown synthetic color additives such as red dye 40 to have links to ADHD symptoms and other neurobehavioral conditions.”
Medical News Today (25 February 2022)
(https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/red-dye-40-adhd)
“A report released in April 2021 by the state of California—with contributors from UC Berkeley and UC Davis—confirmed the long-suspected belief that the consumption of synthetic food dyes can cause hyperactivity and other neurobehavioral issues for some children.”
Berkeley Public Health (24 May 21)
Artificial Coloring In Breakfast Cereals
Here are some children’s cereals that contain food colouring (dye):
Trix: Red 40, Yellow 6, Blue 1
Fruity Cherios: Red 40, Yellow 6, Blue 1
Fruity Pebbles: Red 40, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Yellow 5, Blue 2
Fruit Loops: Red 40 and Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Blue 1
Quaker Life Multigrain Cereal, Cinnamon: Red 40, Blue 1, Yellow 5, Yellow 6
Cinnamon Toast Crunch: Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1
Apple Jacks: Red 40, Yellow 6, Yellow 5
A simple search on Google will show what each of these dyes (synthetic colours) are used for and further what they can do to the human body:
Red 3 (erythrosine)
“This dye is often used in decorated cookies and candies, especially seasonal varieties. In 1990, it was found to be a carcinogen in animals and the FDA banned it for use in cosmetics and topical drugs because it can cause thyroid tumors.”
Red 40
“This dye is one of the most commonly used food dyes and is contaminated with cancer-causing substances like benzidine, 4-aminobiphenyl, and 4-aminoazobenzene. Studies suggest that long-term exposure to benzidine may increase the risk of bladder cancer. The European Union banned Red 40 from food in 2022, but it's still allowed in the U.S., and hasn't been evaluated for health risks since 1971. Some studies suggest it may pose a risk to brain development in children, hyperactivity, and even cancer.”
Yellow 5
“Exposure to Yellow 5 can damage human white blood cells, and cells exposed to the highest concentration may not be able to repair themselves. This could make tumor growth and diseases like cancer more likely.”
Blue 1
“This dye is found in thousands of food products, including baked goods, candy, and beverages. An unpublished animal test suggested a small cancer risk, and a test-tube study indicated the dye might affect neurons. It also causes occasional allergic reactions”
There are hundreds of other foods that contain these toxic dyes. All are types of ‘foods’ that are largely marketed to children in effect bypassing mom and dad as the decision makers! Here are some cereals and other foods and products with artificial dyes. All of the products listed below (foods and other products) contain more of these ADHD causing synthetic colours.
Skittles
M&Ms
Jelly Beans
Starbursts
Flinstones Vitamins (and most chewable vitamins)
Gatorade
Powerade
Red Bull
Monster drinks
Kool-Aid
Grape Drinks
Hawaiian Punch
Pop Tarts
Pickles
Honey
Mustard
Gum
Nerds
Mountain Dew
Mac’n Cheese
Eggos
Doritos
Pudding Snack Packs
Jolly Ranchers
Some BBQ Sauce
Cherry Pie filling
Eye Shadow
Lipstick
Nail Polish
(Most Cosmetics)
Conclusion
As I mentioned above, the reason for this particular article is that I’ve seen far too many parents - close relatives and others feeding their children these foods and as a result wondering why said children are so wild and crazy.
One particular niece has a son that she has been feeding Fruit Loops for breakfast for most of his life, consequently acting crazy without his meds. When visiting recently I fed him 2-3 eggs for breakfast each morning and voilá, he was quite fine.
Reducing hyperactivity by avoiding these food dyes is not easy. Kids are so used to eating the junk and these foods are so addictive it’s difficult for mom to listen to the complaining while trying to transition to a healthier lifestyle. ADHD and Breakfast Cereals with additives can be a real problem for kids once they get to school.
Additionally, the biggest problem with these ADHD drugs is that they are extremely addictive thus difficult to withdraw from.
Prevention is far better than trying to cure the disastrous effects of ADHD drugs.