Essay: How Food Additives Affect Children with ADHD

Sample Essay

Words 1,173

This essay discusses the affects of food additives on children with ADHD. For a growing number of children, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD is the most generally diagnosed behavioral problem in the U.S. An estimated three to five percent of all children undergo a form of reduced attentiveness and concentration, excessive activity, distractibility, and impulsiveness that are its most well-known signs. It means one child has ADHD in every classroom in the country.

For a growing number of children, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD is the most generally diagnosed behavioral problem in the U.S. An estimated three to five percent of all children undergo a form of reduced attentiveness and concentration, excessive activity, distractibility, and impulsiveness that are its most well-known signs. It means one child has ADHD in every classroom in the country.

Food preservatives contain food coloring as well as taste enhancers such as MSG, preservatives like BHA and BHT. Salicylates are also infrequently added to food. A wide range of adverse effects are linked with food preservatives in approximately .03 to .23% of people and diagnosis is usually based on placebo-controlled oral aggravation tests (Wuthrich, 1993). Recognition of food additive allergies in children is estimated at 1 to 2% and is expected to be found in children already suffering from another intolerance where the additives aggravate an existing allergic reaction to some other substances (Fuglsang, Madsen, Savel, & Osterballe, 1993).

A common additive that has been associated with undesirable reactions is food coloring. The FDA is responsible approving of new colors and verifying whether or not a specific coloring can be used in food. Lists of colorings can be found on the FDA website. Color additives qualified for use in foods include:

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