by Adam Woodworth

Created on: June 16, 2007

The next time your child attends one of his or her friend's birthday parties and have sucked down gallons of red punch and colored cake icing, take notice. I never believed that artificial colors and artificial flavors could have an effect on a child's behavior and mood until I saw it first hand.

When my kids eat foods with artificial colors and artificial flavors, it's almost as if they have ADD or ADHD. But when it starts to wear off, watch out because that's when the crabbiness begins. We've had some doctors tell us that we are crazy, that artificial colors and artificial flavors wouldn't affect children in this way. We don't give them our money anymore. Seeing how differently my kids act when we control their diet, mainly their artificial color and artificial flavor intake, I have to wonder how many children diagnosed with ADHD or ADD may be misdiagnosed. How many of these kids are drugged up on Ritalin when maybe they don't have to be?

My son has a form of epilepsy. When we moved to a diet with significantly reduced amounts of artificial colors and artificial flavors, we noticed a difference. In fact, for 2.5 years he's been seizure-free.

It's not just artificial colors and artificial flavors that affect kids, but preservatives as well. Grocery shopping in my home was tough for awhile, having to read every label to determine what foods had little or no artificial colors and artificial flavors. But, after time, my wife became very good at quickly identifying products that would be acceptable and I must admit that I've learned a lot.

You don't hear about this possible solution to ADD, ADHD or epilepsy because drug manufacturers can't sell you their products if you can control it by simply making minor adjustments to your diet. You also have to realize that simply taking away artificial colors and artificial flavors from your child's diet may not work since every child is wired differently.

And, there has been no harm done. Oh sure, when a parent brings a snack into the classroom we have to send our children a separate snack. Sometimes we have to be the bad guy and tell our children "no." But, what's been the most interesting part of this is that now that my son is 11-years-old, he can tell when he's eaten something he shouldn't have because he can feel his mood dramatically change. He knows that certain things make him "crazy" (as we call it) and does let people know when he can and can't have something.

Like I said, this may not be the cure-all for your child, but it is worth a try. Just remember, when you start this reduction in artificial colors and artificial flavors, you might not notice a difference right away, but after a few days, you just might. I'd consult your doctor, also, and let him/her know you are going to give this a try. Some will try to talk you out of it, but the good doctors will say what ours said, "It isn't going to hurt to give this a try. If it works, great. If not, no harm done."

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