Food colors and sugar and their effect on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Food colours:

Consumption of artificial food colors has increased by 500% in the past 50 years, and children are the largest consumer.

Artificial food colors cause serious side effects, such as hyperactivity in children, as well as cancer and allergies.

What are food colorings and how safe are they for people with ADHD?

Food colorings are chemicals developed to improve the appearance of food by giving it an artificial colour. Food coloring is made from petroleum.

Not everyone agrees with the safety of artificial colors because some food colors are considered safe in one country, but are banned from human consumption in another, making assessing their safety very confusing.

Can food coloring cause attention deficit hyperactivity disorder?

Some studies indicate a relationship between artificial food colors and hyperactivity disorder in children. Some children are more sensitive to food colors than others.

A study of nearly 300 children by the UK Food Standards Agency in 2007 showed that consuming foods containing colors can increase ADHD in children. The study was conducted on children aged 3, 8 and 9 years. The children were given three different types of drinks to drink. Their behavior was then evaluated by teachers and parents.

The first and second drink mixtures contain artificial food colours

A third drink mixture is a placebo that contains no additives.

The researchers found that ADHD in 8- to 9-year-old children increased with both mixtures containing artificial food coloring. 3-year-olds' ADHD increased with the first drink. Symptoms decreased in about 73% of children with ADHD when food colorings and food preservatives were eliminated.

Diabetes and ADHD:

Excess sugar puts the brain into overdrive. Because glucose is the brain's primary source of energy, too much sugar can put it into overdrive. When the brain is overstimulated, it can lead to hyperactivity and mood swings. However, these behavioral changes are only short-term consequences.

Does sugar cause symptoms of ADHD?

Processed sugars and starches may have an impact on a child's activity level. These sugars produce a rapid increase in blood glucose levels because they enter the bloodstream very quickly. The child may become more active due to the adrenaline rush caused by high blood sugar

Decreased activity in the child is sometimes observed as adrenaline levels decrease. However, there is no evidence yet that sugar actually causes ADHD.

Sugar also has an addictive effect because it stimulates neurons in the brain's reward system, known as the limbic system. When activated, the limbic system generates heightened feelings such as pleasure, which promotes the consumption of more sugar.