Does Red # 40 and Yellow#5 cause hyperactivity in preschoolers?

Question

My 3 1/2 year old son is having problems in preschool due to hyperactivity.

This is his first time in a structured school environment, and is having trouble adjusting.

He is a very bright little boy, knows letter, numbers, shapes..actually helps the teacher teach his peers.

My husband and I have been doing some research, and have read that there may be a link between hyperactivity and the additive Red #40 and Yellow#5.

We are starting to remove items with this additive from his diet. It is amazing all the foods that you think are healthy for a child, which contain these additives!!!

Has anyone Had sucess with such a strategy?

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

We DO NOT want to have him labled or put on medications at this age, as his mind is still developing.

Also, as they can not test for ADHD before the age of 6, we are looking for some real advice.

Thanks Muchly,

Lisa

Answer 1

It's possible.  Artificial colors aren't really good for anyone, and who knows what harm they can do to children.

Years ago I knew a lady who stopped giving her son artificial colors, especially the red.  She said his behavior improved.  It could have been the removal of the dyes from his diet, or it may have been that he began eating a healthier diet in general.

I certainly don't think it would hurt to remove dyes from your son's diet.

Answer 2

From personal experience, my daughter became hateful and aggressive when eating things with red #40. I often fed her crackers just to get her calmed down....it wasn't a pretty thing for her or me to go through. Very stressful!

Answer 3

I haven't heard a great deal about the food dyes other than it causing constipation. I would try removing that along with limiting sugar, adding more veggies, etc (which it sounds like you already have the food thing figured out)

I would also cut out almost ALL  TV,  video games, and computer time, even the educational stuff. I think you will see a noticeable difference in just 1-2 wks. make sure he is getting plenty of time running, jumping playing...etc...

How often is he going to preschool and how long? 2-3 days at 3 hours a day is more than enough and any more than that is probably too much to expect. 3 1/2 year old boys just weren't made to be in preschool all day.

Best of luck to you

Answer 4

You've already labeled him as hyperactive so drop the concern about labeling him. Before the focus on food additives, have you looked at his activities throughout the day? Does he get 10 hours of sleep each night, at least an hour outside playing (not team sports) every day? Do you have a consistent routine for meals, bath and bedtime? Some kids are easy and go with the flow, but others need more structure to be able to relax.

Answer 5

Well, you have to go McCarthy on this, I mean Jenny McCarthy. I've read her book and she said she had to look for answers on the Internet. If your pediatrician is as helpful as a tick, the go Google or look for another pediatrician.

Answer 6

Well Lisa I don't know much about Red #40 or Yellow #5 but my brother was also hyperactive as a child.  We lived in a very small town with a doctor who didn't believe in giving children unneeded medications, thank goodness.  He instead put him on a very strict diet wiping out all of the unnatural sugars.  He was taken off all candies, could only have one soda a week and we thought it was strange at the time but he was taken off of store bought bread.  Check your labels, you would be amazed with how much sugar there is in bread.  So my father learned to make bread.  The diet made all the difference, he was a different kid in a matter of days.  Hope this helps.  I know it will be difficult to adjust to this and most parents would rather just stick their children on mind altering medications than take such drastic measures as to actually watch what their children eat, I hope you not one of them.  Hope this helps  and I wish you and your son the best.