A Rainbow of Colours

By Christina Della Rocca, N.D.

With today's time-strapped parenting, we tend to cut and paste from the mirage of safety choices in order to maintain some semblance of balance. So, a responsible and loving parent will often overlook the slice of birthday cake their child will consume a couple of times a year. If only the detrimental ingredients we're speaking of were consumed a merely couple of times a year one could certainly throw caution to the wind. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Food colourings are hidden in so many of the foods we eat all day long and they pose some potentially serious health concerns.

My mother always told me that everything lies in the presentation. And when it comes to kids, who are used to the rainbow of over-stimulation and colour they have grown accustomed to, the more visually appealing the item, the better it is perceived to be. So, the cake you find at most children's birthday parties covered in icing and swirled into their favourite Disney character to match the party theme, may well be visually captivating, but what about the potential health threats caused by the artificial ingredients present in the birthday cake and so many of the other foods and treats our children love?

Tartrazine, a yellow color dye, commonly used all over the world, appears to cause the most allergic and intolerance reactions of all the azo dyes, particularly among asthmatics and those with aspirin intolerance. For more than 30 years now, tartrazine has been linked to hyperactivity in children with or without ADD and other behavioural problems. This yellow enhancing dye is found in drinks, cakes, custards, snacks, cereals, ice cream, and confectionary. It is fed to chickens to make their egg yolks more yellow, found in some drugs and vitamin supplements, soaps, cosmetics, moisturizers, hair care products, and the list goes on.

Allura Red dye, can cause severe urticaria, difficulty in breathing, and even anaphylaxis, and in rare cases acts as a system depressant. Carmine, also a red color dye, derived from the female cochineal, a South and Central American insect is used to enhance foods such as candy, jam, yogurt, sausage, marinades, sauces, and cola drinks.

Over the last several decades an increasing number of children have been diagnosed as hyperactive, and the overwhelming research shows that food colours might be a significant link and that dietary changes can help. Many of the children on Ritalin or other behavioural drugs could certainly benefit from reducing their consumption of foods containing tartrazine alone. In fact, some schools have noticed a major difference in student's behaviour after banning snacks with tartrazine. Other researchers estimate that banning artificial colors could prevent 30% of ADHD cases.

Every parent wants the best for their children whether it is the best schools, music teachers, sporting coaches, peer groups, and anything else that is important to their family. While removing foods laden with a rainbow of artificial colouring in them may seem daunting it will certainly be a wise investment in the health and well being of the ones we love most.

What is a parent to do you ask?

Reading labels is an absolute must

Stick with fruits and vegetables

Eat "certified organic" foods as much as possible

Serve homemade baked goods as much as possible

Teach your children about colour-enhanced foods so they understand

Christina Della Rocca, N.D. Integrative Wellness Therapist: Corporate and Personal Exercise Plus wellness Solutions, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . (514) 572-7600