What causes hyperactivity? In children, we believe that it is just a part of their age, but their diet could be contributing to their problem.

When people hear the word hyperactivity, they often think of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Hyperactivity causes a child to be active even at times when they don’t need to be active. It can lead to outbursts in class, uncontrollable movements and irritability. Wanting to keep still and not being able to do so can lead to problems within your child as they struggle against a body that seems to betray them.

The Link between Food Additives and Hyperactivity

Dr. Feingold is known to those who have children with ADHD. He has developed a diet that has been known to help these children. His diet eliminates about 300 food additives in an attempt to reduce behavioral issues. His diet shows that some children are able to be helped by eliminating certain foods. It bears noting that his patients were also exhibiting sensitivities to different substances.

Because food additives are mostly synthetic, it is hard to predict how they will affect someone. Some studies have shown that parents noticed changes in disruptive behavior in children who were drinking a fruit juice that contained food additives as opposed to those who drank 100 percent juice or a placebo. When the food additive was removed, the child’s hyperactivity was reduced. What the studies didn’t show was a marked increase in hyperactivity from previous levels when the food additive was reintroduced.

In normal life, a child will be exposed to more than one food additive at a time. There are additives in drinks, meats, and side dishes. Exposure to more than one additive can increase hyperactivity.

What Dr. Feingold recommends is removing certain food additives and seeing if there is an improvement in behavior. If so, then these eliminated foods are reintroduced until a single food culprit is found.

Food additives do affect children, but perhaps not to the extent that eliminating them will reduce hyperactivity. In conjunction with diet and medication, ADHD children received the most benefit and reduced hyperactivity.

While research is still being done, parents of children with ADHD may want to try modifying their diets in an effort to help reduce symptoms. This doesn’t mean taking away all of their favorite foods, but scaling back the food additives, particularly ones that have been deemed most harmful to not just to children, but to everyone.

Is there a link between hyperactivity and food additives? There may be, but the link is not yet definitive.