Tentative links between food colorants and hyperactive behavior

A very preliminary review of the literature (okay, truth: I've only checked the WebMD site) hints as links between food colorants and hyperactive behavior.  What this means: while hyperactive behavior isn't the same thing as ADHD, and while the links are tentative and have only been demonstrated in the short term, cutting out food colorants on a trial basis is certainly worth a shot.  Depending on how heavily your family's diet currently leans toward convenience foods, it might not be all that difficult to set a 2 week trial period and see if you notice any change in behavior.  

Try this first: Based on common sense, but not yet based on hard science, I recommend starting with breakfast.  Check labels on what you and your kids are eating for breakfast.  First, just notice whether or not there are food colorants on the ingredient list.  No?  Good for you!  Yes?  That gives you something to work with!  Commit to 2 weeks of colorant free breakfast and see if that makes a difference.  Consider it your own little experiment.  Unless you have a real Fruit Loops addict on your hands, it can't do any harm to try.  Let me know how it goes!

<reposted from the OnTrack Academic News Feed>