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Preservatives & ADHD

Preservatives are FDA-approved anti-microbial or antioxidant additives used in the food industry to prevent spoilage. They can be found in all processed foods, and also in fruits and vegetables purchased from grocery stores. Due to greater consumer awareness and concern for toxicity in our food, the FDA publishes lists of food preservatives, and the amount used in our foods.

  1. Feingold

    • Dr. Benjamin Feingold introduced a study in the 1970's in which he eliminated preservatives from the diets of patients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. The controversial study found that preservatives such as benzoate, nitrates, and monosodium glutamate worsened the symptoms of ADHD.

    Nutrition

    • According to Jane Oelke, N.D., Ph.D., author of Natural Choices for Attention Deficit Disorder, nutritional deficiencies interfere with mood, attention span, and general health. This can exacerbate the unique issues present in the ADHD sufferer.

    Diet

    • Diet alone is not responsible for the symptoms of ADHD, but when combined with conventional treatment as advised by a trained professional, ADHD can be managed effectively.

    Research

    • Research concerning the correlation between ADHD and diet is still inconclusive and limited to small studies, due to the comparatively recent attention to the legitimacy of this psychological ailment. Their results do not prove that ADHD is due to the individual's diet, simply that it exacerbates the symptoms.

    Metabolism

    • The FDA considers preservatives safe in small quantities, but the culmination of these chemicals from our daily diet forces the liver to work overtime to eliminate them from our bodies. The liver and small intestine are responsible for the removal of toxins and nutrients from our food, but they cannot function under the stresses our modern diets demand. ADHD studies such as those pioneered by Dr. Benjamin Feingold have shown that nutritional deficiencies might explain patients' hyper sensitivity to the harm these chemicals cause to the body.

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