Can hyperactivity be caused by food in children
A lot of debate has been going on for a long time now whether certain foods cause hyperactivity, with the conclusion still being not just controversial but also confusing. Many contend that there is a lot of relationship between the food we eat and the hyperactivity of children. This has been strengthened by observations that show that certain food cause hyperactivity in children, while some others are found to have a positive effect on their behaviour. As a general observation it has been found that most children had an adverse reaction to artificial food dyes and benzoate preservatives and caused hyperactivity in even normal children.
A bird-eye view at foods and how some cause hyperactivity in children
1.Food allergy caused in many children can be easily predicted with observing the adverse symptoms like hyperactivity, skin reactions like eczema or hives,
stomach problems like diarrhoea, stomach ache, runny, stuffy nose and itchy watery eyes. The symptoms may vanish once the food is not taken. It has been found in the case of hyperactive children that once such foods are stopped these children are able to be calmer, sleep well and have more energy and feel physically, mentally and emotionally better, with their behaviour improving for the better.
2.It is true that correctly identifying the foods that cause allergies in children like hyperactivity would help eliminate these foods and then appropriate
steps can be taken to find alternative foods that could supply his/her needs for nutrition. Food additives mainly artificial food dyes and benzoate preservatives have been found to be main triggers for hyperactivity in children that may have allergies or not, with a popular diet formulated by Dr. Benjamin Feingold that was free of natural salicylates, artificial flavours and food dyes helping over 70% of hyperactive children to be free of the extremes of hyperactivity. Another study also showed that parents observed that food additives caused some degree of hyperactivity even in normal children.
3.Most health tips state that fruits and vegetables are healthy if included in a daily diet, but it is again good to observe that pesticides in fruits and
vegetables cause hyperactivity. Exposure to chemical pesticides like organophosphates that is found in celery, blueberries, and strawberries could cause hyperactivity in children. Another research finding is that higher concentration of urinary concentrations of organophosphates in urine of children lead to hyperactivity becoming a long term disorder. So switching to the consumption of organic fruits and vegetables grown without pesticides from a diet of organophosphate contaminated fruits and vegetables brought down hyperactivity to a large extent in children.
4.Excess of sugar and simple carbohydrates in diet could cause unusual erratic metabolism and lay the foundation for many other behavioural problems like
fatigue, irritability, violent behaviour and anxiety, with sugar in some cases making children lethargic due to the production of the sleep hormone serotonin. So it is advisable to avoid foods that contain excess of sugar like candies, soft drinks, and other sweet manufactured foods that also contain artificial food colours and preservatives. It is also best understood that consuming commercial snack foods and drinks that also contain a lot of processed starches could lead to lack of a balanced and nutritious diet rich in essential vitamins and minerals. All this could also lead to hyperactivity in children.
Understanding about foods that cause hyperactivity in children would be complete with understanding that eating a nutritious healthy diet that contain vitamins and minerals and fiber would help reduce hyperactivity in children. This could be best met with a specifically formulated diet prepared with care and with cultivating and maintaining a positive attitude within the home.