Why avoid artificial food colours?

I talk a lot about the need to avoid artificial food colours and E211 preservative. I hear of other parents who say the same thing.

But why is it so important? Why do we need to make it such a big issue?

Well, it's simple - these artificial food additives affect the way our children live, grow and learn. And to me, that is critical.

The additives in our food have a profound effect on some children, including my son. Even small amounts can send them off to a faraway place where hyperactivity reigns supreme and common sense virtually disappears.

In my son's case, having a dose of these food additives is like putting him on some form of 'party drug' (or so I would imagine). He often jumps around untamed, doesn't listen or think and has no sense of focus or reason.

Many children are active and busy, my son included. But the impact of artificial food colours is so much greater than simply having a busy child. In our case it a major issue because my son seems to move into another realm where he is often difficult to reach. His behaviour goes down hill and his focus is out the window.

And then, when the additive effects finally wear off, he will often collapse in a crumpled heap of tears or tiredness, seemingly unaware of the exhausting trail he has left behind.

My son went through a bad phase in kindergarten a few years ago (before we really got on top of his eating habits). At one point his teacher said to me: "I can always tell when your son is going to have a bad day because I can see it in his eyes when he comes into class."

I've never forgotten that comment, and in hindsight it was so true. His eyes do change when he is on these food additives. They are wider and wilder, they do not focus, and they do not seem to see things quite the same as we do.

The impact of food colours and E211 in those days was significant. He would lose concentration and had no sense of reason, which meant he was always in some sort of trouble. He also became unruly and dysfunctional in class, and he stopped being invited to other children's birthday parties.

More importantly, he did not learn effectively and slipped backwards in class. This was not because he was academically incapable, he is actually quite smart young lad, but it was because he was living in a kind of drug-infused (additive-infused) fog which prevented him for thinking clearly and learning effectively.

Since managing his diet more closely, however, and eliminating all artificial colours and 211 preservative from his food, my son has been much more productive. He is still busy and active but he listens more, he can focus well and he is keen to learn new things.

To me this is a critical factor in why we need to eliminate these negative additives from our food. Yes, it is always good to eat fresher, healthier and additive free, but more importantly we also need to stop inhibiting our children's ability to learn and develop on a social, emotional and academic level.

If we want productive, happy and functioning children who are willing and able to learn and develop, then lets give them a good start and eliminate all those artificial colours and unnecessary preservatives that simply get in the way.

Our modern world is challenging enough. Let's not make it any harder for our children to learn and explore it and establish their own roles within it.