Aspartame is now being blamed for many issues, especially when it comes to children with hyper issues. I switched to a regular diet for my child, which includes plenty of fruits and veggies, and put her back on sugar. I try to keep processed ones out; yet, the Aspartame was worse than these! There is a lot of disagreement when it comes to foods and beverages with coloring and additives. Follow your instinct; you know what your child and family need the most.

I have gone through something similar with my 1yo recently. He would react badly and have tantrums withing minutes of eating certain foods. I looked at the labels and was able to narrow it down to two or three additives that I avoided. Unfortunately we found out that he is actually allergic to one of them (330). www.fedupwithadditives.info is a fantastic website that gives plenty of info about allergies and intolerances, and hasa comprehensive list of additives and preservatives, their names, purposes and has red-flagged the dangerous and problematic ones. It's my handbook for life at the moment.

Hi,

I took my youngest to a naturopath, and they did a 'food allergy test', and even though he isn't allergic to anything, the naturopath gave me a list of foods etc to avoid, and my Joe's behaviour is sooooo much better since cutting out the preservatives and artificial colours, even though it is a pain trying to find good food that doesn't have preservatives in it! I find sugar makes him super hypo, and even wheat (like weetbix) affects his behaviour... And a lot of pre packaged nuts and dried fruit have preservative in them too.... I bought a dvd called "Fed Up - With childrens behaviour", and it is all about food additives etc that are not good... I would not recommend cutting out dairy products though, even though our naturopath told us to cut that out, as I have been doing a lot of reading up on soy milk, and have stopped giving it to my son because of what I have read about it, plus a friend of mine said that unless the soy milk is made from fermented soy beans, the "milk" is toxic and as far as she is aware there is only one brand here in Australia that makes it from fermented soy beans, and she couldn't remember the name of that brand!.... I don't see a major difference in my son's behaviour from dairy anyway, and he loves his yoghurt and milk... Anyway, I am just rambling on now, so will go! good luck!

Buy the book Additive Alert by Julie Eady - it is absolutely fantastic and it suggests healthy snacks in place of those with additives. She also has a website which is www.additivealert.com.au and that talks more about additives and her books. It really is interesting and to test it out I fed my son a batch of shake and bake pancakes that had maple flavour added to them and he was so hyperactive - he wouldn't sleep and he wouldn't stop running around. But when I make pancakes myself using all natural ingredients he is completely fine. I would definitely suggest a preservative and colourfree diet as you won't know yourself after the change and while your son is still so young he will easily forget what the junk food was all about - not like trying to get a tween or a teenager to change their ways. Hope this helps and good luck!

i grew up on a sugar free diet as i was a very hypo child. i found mixed nuts and dried fruits were the best (specaily home made ones).  i loved my fruit and still do, fresh squeezed juices where a hit with me and my sister. 

try and only give him "hypo " foods as a treat. or take him to a park and let him run wild gets rid of the energy very quickly.  

heres a site that might help you a little.

www.healthbrands.com.au

under the kids section go to the Q&A and theres info on preservatives.

try switching to fresh fruits and nuts as,  one gives your son a healthy advantage, gives him more natural energy and he will learn to reach for them before junk foods full of preservatives.

even now ill go for fruit over a bag of lollies or a soft drink.  hope this has helped you a little

hey juzzy!!

im going back a long time now, but when my first was about 3 he was classed as hyperactive and was advised on not having any preservatives or colouring. It was hard to go shopping and look for things but we did well in the end, he was a good eater which helped! We couldnt believe the difference in his behaviour!!! He was a different kid......within a week of us being hard on him and ourselves with his diet he was the child he was meant to be instead of being a wild child and doing naughty things, he couldnt even sit to read a book before hand or watch a little tv...all that changed, began reading books with us as he could sit for more than 2seconds!! here is a site you could check out, i just googled it! LOL...looks ok! hope i helped a little

naomi xxx www.naturalnews.com/023640.html