Anger Issues and Food Coloring

[GoDukes]

Hey everyone, I'm new here and I've seen a lot posts about anger issues with their kids. I replied to a couple of posts but I thought it might be helpful to just post my experience on it's own in case someone is interested. I have an 8 yr old son with ADHD. A couple of years before he was diagnosed we had a tough time teaching him to control his emotions, especially anger. He would rage over the littlest things. As a shot in the dark based on something we read, we removed artificial food coloring from his diet. (Red 1, Blue 3, etc.) We noticed a dramatic difference in his behavior within a week or two and he seemed to be able to calm himself down a lot easier. He would let go of things that bothered him quicker. He has been on this restricted diet for three years now.

A few months ago he just started flying off the handle again most every day. Just raging over little things until it would turn in to crying. Somehow it occurred to me that he had been playing with that colored slime stuff a lot recently. Of course that stuff is often made with food coloring... I thought maybe it was absorbing through his skin. I went online and found some other parents with the same experience. So we took the slime away and things were better within a few days.

I have no idea how common this is, and it didn't end up helping with his ADHD symptoms as far as focus and hyperactivity, but I wanted to mention it in case some of you were feeling desperate like I was a few years ago, and willing to try about anything. It may be worth a try and it doesn't cost anything. It will be hard at first because artificial color is EVERYWHERE! White marshmallows, jars of pickles, candy, drinks, cereal. If it helps one of you, though, then I'm glad I mentioned it.

Good luck to you all! -Doug

[Pajamasam36]

I have heard about food coloring sensitivity . I haven’t been able to try no food coloring with my son because he has ODD which means I mention something and he does the opposite. We quit buying g soda pop with cafe and sugar so now he drinks Caden free diet Soda and this did make a big difference in his Tourette symptoms .I did quit buying licorice, top Raman and skittles. I have noticed when I don’t buy sweets he doesn’t eat them. I also quit making cookies and cakes! I have noticed better behavior with a more strict diet. However we have a long way to go! Thanks for posting about your experience! I am glad you are having such success! We are not going to give up on controlling his diet! Theee is definitely something to sugar Caden and food coloring or poreseevatices that creates more symptoms in my sons adhd ,odd and Tourettes!

[daemaitehn]

We have also noticed this with our child. I would recommend shopping at Aldi if possible since MOST/ALL of their products have no synthetic colors.

We still double check, but anytime we find something with artificial colors, its not an Aldi brand product.

[AngelamarieQ in reply to daemaitehn]

Interesting.

[cinvela12]

healthykidshappykids.com/20...

This articles supports your findings! Thanks for sharing

[Evelynhill]

You are absolutely correct. My 3 yr old grandson will most likely be diagnosed with adhd. He has been to a behavioral therapist for a few months now because of angry outbursts. With her help we have dine away with most sugar and all dyes. It really does work. We are now going for allergy testing soon to tweak his sensitivities to all foods. He has eczema also that has cleared up in most places and only flares up after going to his dad's home for visits. Thanks for your post. Diet IS EVERYTHING!!!

[GoDukes in reply to Evelynhill]

Glad to hear you are getting him allergy tested. We did that too and though he had no food sensitivities, we found he was allergic to dust mites. Can you imagine everywhere dust is?

[ConcernedMomma511]

Thank you so much for sharing, this is very helpful to me , I am also new at this, but I have learned a lot by reading this chart,glad yo hear your son is doing better , I am going to try to cut on these food colorings too, mine loves chocolate chip cookies of course skittles, I am also going to check his yogurt, he loves yogurt, thanks again and good luck to all with their little ones it indeed is a struggle

[ConcernedMomma511]

Thank you so much for sharing, this is very helpful to me , I am also new at this, but I have learned a lot by reading this chart,glad yo hear your son is doing better , I am going to try to cut on these food colorings too, mine loves chocolate chip cookies of course skittles, I am also going to check his yogurt, he loves yogurt, thanks again and good luck to all with their little ones it indeed is a struggle

[AngelamarieQ]

Thank you for this information. I guess I have to stop giving my daughter gummy vitamins.

[GoDukes in reply to AngelamarieQ]

There are definitely gummy vitamins out there with no food coloring. I get some at Target for my kids.

[AngelamarieQ in reply to GoDukes]

Thanks! I’ll check them out.

[MNmom99]

Yes! I’ve noticed the food dye with our son as well, we are way more aware and look closer at ingredients, sour patch kids, jello, even things you think may think aren’t even red in color have the dyes. If our son has any he rages and gets hyper it’s sad knowing some of these can cause our children these reactions I wish there were more from FDA to require products not have these harmful ingredients. Thank you for posting this and helping others be aware 🙂

[Indymama94]

Thank you for this we need to try this with our kiddo!