Raising Good Kids in Tough Times:

Goodies That Make Baddies

Dr. Roger McIntire

"Kyle, my six-year-old, went almost crazy when someone came to the door," his mother said. "Even at other times he was so hyperactive we were going to put him on medication. But four weeks on his new diet, and he settled down. He's still full of mischief, but he's a lot calmer."

Kyle was taken off all drinks with caffeine or added sugar. His diet and his disposition were carefully recorded everyday. He was found to be agitated by sugar and caffeine and aggravated to the point of tantrums by tomatoes, of all things. Certain foods turn out to be the culprits more often than others. Tomatoes, along with oranges, chocolate, wheat, eggs and milk are near the top of the list.

The Institute of Child Health found that of 78 children like Kyle, 70 percent reacted to food additives, 64 percent showed adverse reactions to chocolate and milk, 57 percent to oranges, and 45 percent to wheat products.

In another study, Patrick Holford, a nutrition expert, found that nearly 90 percent of hyperactive children showed improved behavior when unnecessary additives were eliminated from their diets and essential vitamins, vegetables and fruits were added. Holford also explained that some chemical additives are "anti-nutrients;" that is, they rob children of important minerals such as magnesium and zinc. Holford also cautions parents to be wary of "juice drinks" that are not 100 percent fruit juice. These products usually contain sugar or other sweeteners - most often Aspartame.

Thirty years ago Dr. Benjamin Feingold first proposed that artificial flavors, colors and preservatives cause hyperactivity. Some circumstantial evidence supports this connection. For example, in Europe fewer than 20 food additives are approved for use and only one child in 2000 is diagnosed hyperactive. Compare this with the United States where more than 4,000 food additives are in use and one child in every four is hyperactive. The majority of scientific studies have linked hyperactivity to these food additives. Some studies have not found any effect, but hyperactivity is not easy to define and measure.

Nevertheless, 70,000 new compounds have been invented and distributed into our food, air, and water since 1950. Only a fraction have been tested for their effect on humans. Our children and the rest of us are part of one massive uncontrolled clinical experiment dedicated to not finding any problems.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest reviewed 24 scientific studies and concludes that food dyes and certain foods adversely affect children's behavior. Dr. Marvin Boris, one of the authors, concludes, "It makes a lot more sense to try improving a child's diet before treating him or her with a (suppressing medication)."

Boris and others called on the Department of Health and Human Services to encourage parents and professionals to modify children's diets instead of depending on drug treatments.

Dr. McIntire is the author of Teenagers and Parents: 10 Steps to a Better Relationship and Raising Good Kids in Tough Times. For more information see Parentsuccess.com. For publications, visit the CCBS bookstore.

Dr. Roger McIntire taught child psychology and family counseling at the University of Maryland for 32 years, where he conducted research and did applied work with parents and teachers. He has published several books, for both professionals and parents, appears often on radio and television talk shows, and writes a weekly column, Raising Good Kids in Tough Times, for the Martinsburg (WV) Journal. He received the 2001 Award for Effective Presentation of Behavior Analysis in the Mass Media, from the Association for Behavior Analysis. He is a father and grandfather. You can find out more about his publications at parentsuccess.com.

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