Who is Looking After Our Kids?
CHAPTER 3
Human Studies on Food Additives and nutrition
The elimination of foods with chemical additives and the substitution of unprocessed foods with higher nutritive values can have a profoundly beneficial effect on childhood and adolescent behavioral patterns. It also results insignificant improvement in scholastic performance. The truth of these statements has been demonstrated in a series of studies in schools and juvenile correction institutions. (1-4)
There were two phases to the studies.Phase one involved the lowering of sugar and the elimination of foods with artificial colors and flavors and the preservatives, BHA and BHT, in the school cafeterias of 803 New York public schools from 1978 to 1983.
The changes did not involve any increase in cafeteria budgets. The candy in vending machines was replaced with such things as fruit, popcorn, and peanuts. During the study, there was a 15.7% increase in academic rankings of students in these schools above the rest of the nation's schools which used the same standardized test. Before this 15.7% gain, the annual change in national ratings had not exceeded 1%.
The second phase introduced the same dietary policies into 12 juvenile correctional institutions located in different parts of the nation. In every instance, this change was followed by an average of 47% reduction in violence and other forms of antisocial behavior. The following table lists the changes that were made in the menus:
Permanent implemented changes in the Virginia and Alabama Diet Behavior Programs designed to control the consumption of low nutrient density (high sugar/fat) foods
1. Breakfast cereals with added sugars were replaced with cereals that were not pre-sweetened.
2. Canned fruits packed in syrup were rinsed in cold water before being served.
3. Kool-Aid. and soft drinks were replaced with a variety of fruit juices - orange, tomato, V-8. grapefruit, apple and grape.
4. Iced tea was served unsweetened.
5. Soft drink machines were replaced with fruit juice machines.
6. Table sugar was replaced with honey. (People tend to use a little less sugar when sweetening their food with honey rather than sucrose).
7. Refined white breads were replaced with whole wheat breads.
8. White rice was replaced with brown rice.
9. Processed foods were replaced with fresh produce when available at similar prices.
10. Snack foods high in sugar and fat were replaced with other foods. Candy bars, ice cream, cookies and refined carbohydrate snacks - pastries, potato chips, etc. - were no longer allowed. They were replaced with fresh fruits, fresh vegetables and a variety of nuts, cheeses, fruit juices and whole grain crackers.
11. The parents of each juvenile were requested for health reasons to refrain from sending their children foods that contained large amounts of sugar such as candy and pastries.
The key to successful control of marginally nutritious foods lies in the availability of a large variety of more nutritious alternatives which will be accepted just as readily. Accordingly, the original policy restrictions on selected high-sugar dessert foods and condiments - cake with icing, jelly, etc. - were modified to allow low quantities in most institutions.
References
1. Schoenthaler SJ et al. The impact of a low food additive and sucrose diet on academic performance in 803 New York City public schools. Intern J Biosocial Research. 1986;8(2): 185-195.
2. Schoenthaler SJ. Institutional nutritional policies and criminal behavior. Nutrition Today. May/June 1985:16-37.
3. Schoenthaler SJ. Diet and criminal behavior a criminological evaluation of the Arlington Virginia proceedings. Intern J Biosocial Research. 1987;9(2):161 181.
4. Schoenthaler Sl. Brains and vitamins. Lancet. 1991 ;337:728-729. Letters to the Editor.