State May Ban Food Additives Linked to ADHD

Maryland is poised to become the first state in the nation to require food packaging to include warning labels if the product is made with certain food coloring additives that have been linked to ADHD.

"Evidence linking Red 40, Yellow 5, & other synthetic food dyes to behavioral probs in children has been mounting for 30 yrs," said David Schardt, a nutritionist from the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

European regulation, according to CSPI, are already more strict: "For instance, the syrup in a strawberry sundae from a McDonald's in the U.K. gets its red color from strawberries; in the U.S., the red color comes from synthetic Red 40. In the U.S., synthetic food dyes are common in brightly colored foods popular with children, including candies, soft drinks, breakfast cereals, & snack foods. Sometimes the sunny synthetic colors are designed to simulate fruits or vegetables, as in the case of a "Guacamole Dip" produced by Kraft, which gets its green color not from avocados but from Yellow 5, Yellow 6, & Blue 1. The "artificially flavored blueberry bits" in Aunt Jemima Blueberry Waffles are blue thanks to Red 40 & Blue 2, not blueberries. "

Which food colorings should you look out for? If Maryland's food warning bill passes, these chemical additives would bear the following warning:

Warning: The color additives in this food may cause hyperactivity & behavior problems in some children.
•Blue 1
•Blue 2
•Green 3
•Orange B
•Red 3
•Red 40
•Yellow 5
•Yellow 6


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Dr. Mark Hyman's Practical Plan for Brain Health

Why have brain problems ranging from depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, and autism to dementia, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's reached epidemic proportions?

Are we all simply destined to lose our focus, concentration, and memory while becoming depressed, anxious, and tired?

The answer is no, according to the compelling new book, The UltraMind Solution from Mark Hyman, MD, the three-time NY Times bestselling author in the cutting-edge field of functional medicine.

Dr. Hyman's book drew fulsome praise from some of America's leading wellness-oriented doctors. You can learn more about The UltraMind Solution by going to The UltraMind Solution Web site.

Dr. Hyman says that seemingly separate brain/mind problems – poor memory, lack of focus, anxiety, depression, autism, Alzheimer's, dementia, ADD/ADHD and more – all stem from a common syndrome he calls “broken brain”.

Hyman says that the solution to broken brain syndrome lies in the underlying biology that runs cells, organs, and interlocked immune/hormone/nerve systems.

Dr. Hyman tested and refined his approach while he was co-medical director at Canyon Ranch for 10 years, and later in his own private medical practice in Lenox, Massachusetts.

You may have seen Mark Hyman on The Today Show, Good Morning America or on public television discussing this groundbreaking solution … the same one that he used to help cure himself of chronic fatigue syndrome over a decade ago.

Dr. Hyman describes how imbalances in the seven core systems of the body – nutrition, hormones, immune function, digestion, detoxification, energy metabolism and mind-body – explain all the symptoms and diseases we think are “brain” problems.

The heart of the plan is a comprehensive diet and lifestyle change that consists of four basic components that last for six weeks:
A healthy eating plan.
A basic brain-supplements regimen.
Lifestyle changes including exercise, relaxation, sleep, and mental exercises.
A clean and green lifestyle to reduce exposure to environmental toxins.

Eating Too Fast May Lead to Weight Gain

People who tend to eat quickly could be tripling their risk of being overweight. Researchers questioned more than 3,000 men and women about their eating habits; those who ate rapidly and continued consuming until they felt full had a higher body mass index (BMI), consumed more calories, and were more likely to be overweight than participants who didn’t eat quickly and didn’t eat until they were full.

Try eating mindfully: turn off the television, put down the newspaper, and focus on appreciating the tastes and textures of food - you’ll discover that your eating pace slows markedly. Mindful eating is associated with successful weight loss and more importantly, promotes long-term maintenance of a healthy weight.

Red Dye linked to Behavior Problems in Children

Red dye No. 40 is found in hundreds of foods, including Twizzlers, Doritos, Twinkies, chocolate cake mix, and vanilla frosting. A recent British study linked it to possible behavior problems in children.

For years, food dyes, additives and preservatives have been blamed for problems such as hyperactivity, inattentiveness and impulsivity. However, controlled studies were unable to substantiate these claims despite anecdotal evidence from parents.

Low-Carb Diets May Affect Cognition Skills

A new study from the psychology department at Tufts University shows that when dieters eliminate carbohydrates from
their meals, they performed more poorly on memory-based tasks than when they reduce calories, but maintain carbohydrates. When carbohydrates were reintroduced, cognition skills returned to normal.

"This study demonstrates that the food you eat can have an immediate impact on cognitive behavior," explains Holly A. Taylor, professor of psychology at Tufts and corresponding author of the study. "The popular low-carb, no-carb diets have the strongest potential for negative impact on thinking and cognition."

While the brain uses glucose as its primary fuel, it has no way of storing it. Rather, the body breaks down carbohydrates into glucose,which is carried to the brain through the blood stream and used immediately by nerve cells for energy. Reduced carbohydrate intake should thus reduce the brain's source of energy. Therefore, researchers hypothesized that diets low in carbohydrates would affect cognitive skills.

"Although this study only tracked dieting participants for three weeks, the data suggest that diets can affect more than just weight," saysTaylor. "The brain needs glucose for energy and diets low in carbohydrates can be detrimental to learning, memory and thinking."

Pursuing Goals, Not Goods is Key to Happiness

According to Ed Diener, a psychology professor at the University of Illinois, Champaign, true happiness lies in the pursuit of deeply held goals, not in fleeting pleasures or possessions. It means making a conscious decision to be resilient, adjusting and finding happiness in the face of adversity.

Diener is the co-author, with his son, Robert Biswas-Diener, of the new book, "Happiness: Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth."

Positive psychology is a movement which rejects the model of disease and dysfunction, focusing instead on emotional hardiness.

Yoga May Ease Menopausal Symptoms

A pilot study of the effects of 10 weeks of yoga practice on 11 midlife women's menopausal symptoms was conducted at the University of Washington in Seattle. Qualitative analysis of participants' interviews provided information not captured in quantitative measures. The women reported feeling relaxed and physically better after yoga class. Many viewed yoga as a skill they could incorporate into daily life to reduce stress and manage their menopausal symptoms. The class setting provided an opportunity for individualized instruction, peer interaction, and a structured time for self-care. Factors that made it more challenging to practice yoga at home included responsibilities to others as well as limited time, space, and energy. Women suggested providing a more flexible class schedule, increasing peer support, and providing more instruction on developing a home practice. This information will be incorporated into plans for future studies.