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News.com.au
16 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘Could food be turning my child into a hyperactive monster?'
Welcome to Ask Doctor Zac, a weekly column from This week, Dr Zac Turner explores whether or not there's a link to food and hyperactivity in children. QUESTION: Dear Dr Zac, I'm really hoping you can help me with this one because I'm at my wits' end with my five-year-old son. I love him to bits, but lately he's been a real nightmare to handle. He is so hyperactive. One of my girlfriends from the school drop-off said it could be the food he's eating — that the chemicals in food these days can have detrimental side-effects on children. Is this true? I'd do anything to have my gorgeous son back to normal. – Toula, 39, Condell Park ANSWER: Dear Toula, Oh Toula — I hear you. I really do. First of all, bless your honesty (and your stamina). Five-year-olds are energetic at the best of times, but when they start bouncing off walls like a pinball machine on steroids, it's fair to start questioning everything – including the tiny, rainbow-coloured villains hiding in their lunch box. Let me be very clear: yes, the chemicals in some of our everyday children's foods can cause behavioural changes — and in some cases, even pose serious health risks. Let's start with the not-so-sweet truth: many popular Australian snacks for children contain artificial food dyes that have been banned in other countries due to health concerns. Yep — banned. As in, deemed too dangerous for human consumption. But here in Australia? We're still throwing them in the party bags. Take Red Dye No. 3 — it's been linked to thyroid tumours in animal studies and is being banned in the US from 2025. Yet, you'll still find it on the shelves here, giving glacé cherries and lollies that nuclear red glow kids can't resist. There's also Tartrazine (E102) and Sunset Yellow (E110) — both linked to hyperactivity in children and immune responses in sensitive individuals — and still commonly used in our food supply. To put it bluntly, our kids are being exposed to ingredients that are raising global health red flags. The really scary bit? These synthetic dyes don't just make food look exciting — they can actually impact a child's neurotransmitters, cross the blood-brain barrier, and affect behaviour and mood regulation. We're not talking about a sugar high here. We're talking about chemicals that have the potential to alter how a child's brain functions. And let's not forget — a child's body is smaller, their brain is developing, and their diet often revolves around colourful, processed treats. That's a dangerous cocktail. So yes, Toula — your friend at the school gate may be onto something. Your son's hyperactivity may well be related to what he's eating. It doesn't mean you're a bad parent. It means you're navigating a food landscape that hasn't kept up with science. And honestly? That makes me mad. The colour code red: What's still allowed in Australia — but banned elsewhere Australia's food shelves are stacked with colour — but some of those colours come with serious health concerns. These synthetic dyes are still approved for use in Aussie snacks, despite being banned or heavily restricted overseas due to links to hyperactivity, tumour growth, immune reactions, and behavioural issues in children. Kids are at greater risk: Their small bodies absorb more dye per kilo, and their developing brains are more vulnerable to chemical disruption. What can you do to help your son? Check the labels. Those sneaky E-numbers (like E102, E110, E129) are code for synthetic dyes. Once you know them, you'll see them everywhere — from yoghurts to cordials to 'healthy' snacks. Switch to naturally coloured foods. Look for brands that use beetroot, turmeric, spirulina — you know, actual food, not petroleum by-products. Cut back on processed snacks. If it looks like it belongs in an art supply store, it probably doesn't belong in your pantry. Support better food regulation. Demand transparency from manufacturers and stronger labelling from regulators. If it's not good enough for Europe or the US — why is it good enough for our kids? Final word Artificial food dyes were never about nutrition — they were about marketing. But now that the science is catching up, it's time our regulations did too. Toula, you're not imagining things. If your son seems like a different kid after eating processed snacks, it might be because his food isn't really food. The good news is, change starts with knowledge — and one less sprinkle-covered meltdown at a time. You've got this. — Dr Zac Got a question? Dr Zac Turner is a medical practitioner specialising in preventative health and wellness. He holds four health and medical degrees, including a Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Sydney, a Bachelor of Nursing, and a Bachelor of Biomedical Science. He is a registrar for the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine and is completing a PhD in Biomedical Engineering at UNSW. Dr Zac is the Medical Director of Concierge Doctors, a chain of holistic medical clinics across Australia.
ABC News
21 minutes ago
- ABC News
Compass: Series 39 The Wayside Weddings
ABC iview Home Watch all your favourite ABC programs on ABC iview. More from ABC We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.
ABC News
21 minutes ago
- ABC News
Daria Kasatkina's French Open win ensures 37-year first for Australian tennis
Daria Kasatkina has overcome the same feeling of burnout that sank her fellow Australian Alex de Minaur at the French Open, and now feels rejuvenated by reaching the fourth round at her "spiritual" tennis home at Roland Garros. On the venue's famed Simonne Mathieu 'greenhouse court', Australia's newest tennis recruit was left thrilled how her stagnant game suddenly bloomed in humid conditions with a 6-1, 7-5 defeat of former world No.2 Paula Badosa. Kasatkina's victory conjured up the rare but sweet smell of Paris success for her adopted tennis home as, for the first time in 37 years, there will now be an Aussie in both the men's and women's last-16 draws in the same year. In 1988, Nicole Provis, who went on to reach the semis, and Pat Cash, both made the second week. Now the onus is on Kasatkina and Alexei Popyrin, who plays his fourth-round match against Tommy Paul on Sunday night from 7pm (AEST). On Monday, Kasatkina will face Mirra Andreeva, her 18-year-old French-based Russian friend. The vlogging pals ended up sharing an ice bath after their early showcourt progress, and Kasatkina, in her first slam under the Australian flag, sounded as if a weight had been lifted from her following a tough spell when her form and motivation slumped. Echoing the lament of de Minaur, who said he was burnt out and mentally fatigued after his shock second-round loss, Kasatkina admitted it felt like a "super important" win for her. "It means a lot especially the last couple of weeks were a bit rough for me. I couldn't find myself on court, I felt a little bit flat, like with emotions and stuff," said the 28-year-old, whose form hasn't been great since she gained permanent Australian residency two months ago. "I felt little signs of burnout or something like that. I'm really happy I got back on track here in Roland Garros, one of my favourite tournaments." Of de Minaur's complaints about the overcrowded schedule, she added: "I agree with Alex, because our schedule is pretty rough." "We have a completely packed schedule. It's not normal, but it can happen that the person who is travelling all around the world all the time giving their best, living the life of tennis player, sometimes can feel he's tired, that sometimes you are just not super excited to go on court. "I mean, this can happen. This is our job but I think everyone can relate that sometimes you don't want to wake up to go to your job. "Yeah, we are super lucky at having this opportunity to do what we love and get paid for it and travel around the world. It's a nice life, but sometimes when you give everything to something, you feel tired and you need some rest." But the 17th seed said she felt much better on court, dominating the first set against an out-of-sorts world No.10 Badosa before having to dig deep when the Spaniard, with more firepower but little of Kasatkina's all-court guile and superb defence, dragged her into a "tense" second-set scrap. This triumph, still greeted by a standing ovation from the largely pro-Badosa crowd, was comfortably Kasatkina's best since her allegiance switch as she powered out to win eight of the first nine games, then nullified Badosa's biggest weapons, frustrating her into many of her 41 "unforced" errors. Kasatkina smiled about how she transforms when returning to Roland-Garros, where she was a semifinalist in 2022, quarterfinalist in 2018 and the girls' champion in 2014. "The courts, amazing, super-good quality, the atmosphere. I won here as a junior. When this happens, it just stays forever in you and automatically the place becomes special," she said. "It's my 10th professional Roland-Garros, every time I'm coming here, I feel comfortable. I know every corner of the stadium. I don't know how it works, honestly, on a spiritual level, but somehow this place, it's been always nice to me." AAP
