I'm sure part of last weekend's 4th festivities included food that was colored red, white, and blue.
But did you know that food colors - specifically Red Dye 40 - has been shown to exacerbate ADD/ADHD.
Red dye 40 is a petroleum-based food dye that is used in tons of well known foods (particularly the processed, unhealthy kinds) such as:
- candy
- condiments
- snack foods
- salad dressings
- fruit bars
- sauces
- beverages
- frozen desserts
Even mouthwash and toothpaste aren't safe!!
And don't be fooled, just because it's called "RED" dye 40, doesn't mean it is only found in foods that are red! The dye can be mixed with other colors to produce a desired color and you'd never know (unless you check the ingredients!)
Consumption of Red Dye 40 has been linked with the following in both children and adults:
- migraines
- jitteriness
- inability to concentrate
- "mind storms" that lead to outbursts, depression, panic attackes, etc!
So, my tip today is to READ THE INGREDIENTS (although the better approach would be to minimize or completely eliminate all processed foods). Red Dye 40 goes by more than one name so be on the look out for the following as well:
Allura Red
Allura Red AC
C.I. 16035
C.I. Food Red 17
FD&C Red No. 40
Red 40
Red No. 40
If you haven't heard of Mel Robbins' 5 Second Rule, I wanted to share it with you today.
Our brains - as amazing as they are - can sometimes be the obstacle standing in our way of reaching our goals... whatever the goals may be.
That is why implementing the 5 Second Rule in our lives may be exactly what we need when we are aiming to make a change or reaching for a goal.
Check out the 5 Second Rule by clicking the link below. Then, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it!
Forest: This is an app that is great for those of us who have trouble putting their phone down while they work. Open the app, plant a ‘tree’ and the tree will grow as long as you don’t touch your phone. You can work towards building a whole forest and have calming sounds to accompany you. The app has even partnered with Trees for the Future and let users redeem their coins to plant a real life tree! This app does cost $1.99
Engross: This app is a time management app that improves focus and manage distractions. It works by breaking work into 25-30 minute intervals based off the Pomodoro Technique. You even get mini breaks even few minutes! The breaks and work are customizable to your preferences too. The distraction timer within is cool! You hit it when you are distracted then it will give you the statistics about when you are most distracted. That way, if you find you are most distracted between 1-3pm then you can tailor your day around that. This one is FREE!
Due: Yup, it sets up due dates for you. If you are the type that forgets the when, what, and where then this app can help you! You can even choose when you want the reminder about your due date. It will even send you notifications until you ‘complete’ your task. You can even snooze or change the date when need. It syncs between all the Apple devices: watch, phone and desktop so you won’t be able to miss a reminder! The cost is $6.99
LastPass: Do you forget passwords? Do you forget the password hints for your passwords? I know I do! LastPass has been a lifesaver for me. It stores all your passwords in one place so you can ‘click’ and your passwords fill in. LastPass keeps all your digital information secure. It’s free if you don’t need to sync across devices. Plans are $3 a month for personal use.
DO YOU STRUGGLE TO STAY FOCUSED? HYPER FOCUS? DISORGANIZED? HAVE ADHD? THINK YOU HAVE ADHD?
