Hyperactive Children? Banish Synthetic Dyes from Their Diet

A new study published in the British journal Lancet found that all children—whether they’re predisposed to hyperactivity and attention deficit concerns or not—can be negatively affected by synthetic food dyes. The problem for American parents is the FDA, while acknowledging the connection between hyperactivity and synthetic dyes, missed out on the chance to force food producers to clearly label products that contain these dyes.

So what are parents to do? Well, despite having no big warnings on the front of the label, you can still read the nutrition facts and ingredient list to watch out for these common additives: Yellow #5, Yellow #6, Blue #1, Blue #2, Green #3, BHT, TBHQ and BHA. On the flip-side, you can try to boost your child’s intake of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA to help promote a better attention span.