According to this article in the New York Times, researchers have for the first time “conclusively and scientifically” confirmed the link between some artificial additives and increased hyperactive behavior in children. The study specifically focused on food colorings and sodium benzoate, a common preservative.
The researchers discovered that children in both age groups were significantly more hyperactive and that they had shorter attention spans if they had consumed the drink containing the additives. (New York Times, 9-6-07)
The findings definitely supports what many of us parents have long felt to be true- that feeding our children more natural food and less preservative crap is the way to go.
For me, the news comes at a time when I am loading up at the grocery store on supplies for CJ’s lunches. I stand in the snack aisle, contemplating the blue applesauce, Spiderman fruit snacks, Oreo cookies, and goldfish crackers. Just how bad are they? I wonder. Because the bottom line is, CJ loves this stuff.
After reading the NY Times article, I’m much more inclined to give these products a wide berth.
Fruit snacks? Out
Fruit? In
Blue applesauce? Out
Apple? In
Cheese crackers? Out
Cheese? In
No matter what they find, it always comes back to this. Whole and natural food is best. Always.
And so I reaffirm my commitment to avoid the overly-processed-and-so-colorful-it-can’t-really-be-food food in favor of the somewhat-boring-but-not-loaded-with-toxic-substances food.
