5. Artificial food colors and dyes
Processed and packaged foods often contain artificial food colorings and dyes. These additives make the food look colorful and attractive, but they may exacerbate ADHD symptoms. The exact mechanism of how these chemical-based colors and dyes affect ADHD is unknown. Yet, keeping the intake of foods containing artificial colors and dyes at a minimum is important for the health of every child.
6. Refined sugar
Some parents believe that high sugar consumption causes hyperactivity in children, especially those with ADHD. However, experts state that an intake of high sugar and ADHD related hyperactivity isn’t correlated. Yet, in general, a high-sugar diet isn’t good for anyone, let alone children. Research shows that high sugar intake in childhood exposes a child to chronic health issues, such as obesity, tooth decay, and type-2 diabetes. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, three in five Americans aged two and older do not follow the recommendation of consuming a diet where less than 10% of their total daily calories come from added sugars on any given day. Hence, limiting your child’s sugar intake is a wise decision, even if it does not directly affect behavior.