| By nature, children are active and full of energy. | | | | served in an atmosphere free of tension and meant to |
| However, when children's hyperactivity is accompanied | | | | be consumed in a leisurely fashion. |
| with a perceptual motor impairment, emotional instability, | | | | 2. Strongly avoid the following from their children diet |
| and short attention span, failure to finish things, not | | | | plans:a. Food additives and food coloringb. Exposure to |
| listening, poor concentration, impulsive and aggressive | | | | environmental toxinsc. Excessive refined sugar intaked. |
| behaviors; then we are dealing with ADHD (Attention | | | | Aspartame as it is a neurotoxine. Processed foods |
| Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) children. | | | | and meals made from white flour such as white bread, |
| The guidelines of the American Academy of | | | | white rice, cakes, etc...f. Tans-fats and hydrogenated |
| Pediatrics (AAP) require that a child exhibit impulsivity | | | | vegetable oils, processed foods are full of them. Read |
| or inattention - with or without hyperactivity - severe | | | | carefully the Nutrition Labels when you shop from |
| enough to cause functional impairment in 2 or more | | | | supermarkets.g. Avoid large meals and fasting. |
| settings over a period of at least 6 months before a | | | | Frequent small meals and snacks are much better. |
| diagnosis of ADD can be reached. | | | | 3. Strongly advised to add the following in your kids |
| There are a lot of concerns about the supposed | | | | meals:a. Increase their water intake.b. If he insists to |
| "epidemic" of ADD in kids nowadays. The frequency | | | | drink juice, the best choice is apple juice with no sugar |
| of ADD with hyperactivity has been reported to be | | | | added.c. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables as well as |
| from 4 to 20 percent of school-age children. There are | | | | fish and whole grains, brown rice, oats and lentils.d. An |
| greater incidences in boys than girls. In fact, 10 boys | | | | increased amount in vitamin C and antioxidant rich |
| have it for every 1 girl. | | | | foods, because this vitamin is a week chelator and it |
| Over two million American school-aged boys take the | | | | will bind and eliminate heavy metals. Examples: Kiwi, |
| drug methylphenidate "Ritalin" which is often the first | | | | raspberry, peaches, blackcurrant, lemon, guava, |
| choice of treatment in mild cases of ADD, and it is | | | | broccoli, cauliflower, tomato, green cabbage, peppers, |
| apparently often improperly prescribed to children who | | | | and Brussels sprouts.e. An increased intake of Zinc |
| do not even have ADD. Therefore, I urge the parents | | | | rich foods as it helps with memory and learning |
| to acknowledge themselves with the short and long | | | | problems. Also, it is stated that ADHD kids have Zinc |
| term side effects of this medicine before giving it to | | | | levels that are only 2/3 the level of those without |
| their child, especially if he is under 6 years of age. | | | | ADHD. Examples: Pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, |
| Actually, medications should never be the only | | | | sunflower seeds, all bran cereals, pine nuts, pecan nuts, |
| treatment or even the first treatment and medicines in | | | | cashew nuts, fish and eggs.f. An increased intake of |
| themselves do not promote long-term positive | | | | Magnesium rich foods. It is known that 95% of children |
| changes because when children stop taking them, they | | | | are deficient in magnesium. Examples: tofu, legumes, |
| find that none of their problems have gone away. On | | | | whole grains, green leafy vegetables, wheat bran, |
| the other hand, I do encourage counseling and it is very | | | | Brazil nuts, soybean flour, almonds, cashews, |
| important that the whole family try to get involved. | | | | blackstrap molasses, pumpkin and squash seeds, pine |
| Parents should know that just the presence of a | | | | nuts, and black walnuts. Other good dietary sources of |
| warmly supportive adult can diminish inattention and | | | | this mineral include peanuts, whole wheat flour, oat |
| hyperactivity in a child with ADD. | | | | flour, beet greens, spinach, pistachio nuts, shredded |
| What parents don't know is that many cases of ADD | | | | wheat, bran cereals, oatmeal, bananas, and cocoa |
| may simply be reflecting poor nutritional status | | | | powder. Many herbs, spices, and seaweeds supply |
| especially earlier in life during physical, mental and social | | | | magnesium, such as agar seaweed, coriander, celery |
| development. | | | | seed, sage, dried mustard, basil, fennel seed, and |
| Nutrient deficiency exists in a significant number of | | | | cumin.g. An increased intake of food rich in omega 3 |
| children with ADD. Food additives and food allergies | | | | because boys with ADD have lower levels of it. |
| are the major factors in ADD with hyperactivity. | | | | Examples: oily fish such as mackerel, herring, sardines, |
| Children with ADD are often "unusually sensitive" to | | | | salmon, and tuna. Also, we can find omega 3 in dark |
| diet and nutrition. This is why they will react to food | | | | green vegetables, canola, sunflower, flaxseed oils, and |
| additives when others are fine. Thus, food allergy | | | | walnuts.h. An increased intake of food rich in Iron. |
| testing and heavy metal presence assessment are | | | | Examples: Pumpkin seeds, dried figs, organic raisins, |
| very important. Why the heavy metal assessment you | | | | dried apricots, almonds, watercress, red kidney beans |
| might ask me, this is because learning disabilities seem | | | | and spinach.i. Adjust the types of fats your family eats. |
| to be characterized by a general pattern of high levels | | | | Use: Extra virgin olive oil, organic canola oil, and |
| of mercury, cadmium, lead, copper and manganese as | | | | sesame oil for cold food such as salads. |
| determined by hair analysis. What is interesting is that | | | | 4. Finally, give your ADD child the following |
| poor nutrition and elevation of heavy metal levels | | | | supplements:a. A high potency multi vitamin and mineral |
| usually go hand in hand, due to decreased consumption | | | | formulab. Magnesium 400 mg/dayc. Vitamin C 500 mg |
| of food factors known to chelate these heavy metals | | | | dayd. Flaxseed oil as prescribed on the bottlee. Vitamin |
| or decrease their absorption. | | | | B6 50mg/day |
| The ADD child completely falls apart when his blood | | | | To conclude, when your child is diagnosed with ADD |
| sugar is too low and becomes hyper when it is too | | | | or ADHD, there are lots of things you can do to help |
| high. This shows how nutritional states affect directly | | | | him improve other than just give him medications. First, |
| the brain. Fortunately, correcting any underlying | | | | you have to make sure that he is correctly diagnosed, |
| nutritional deficiency results in an almost immediate | | | | you should go for food allergy testing and heavy metal |
| improvement in mental function as proved by several | | | | presence assessment, and seek counseling where all |
| clinical studies which have shown that nutritional | | | | the family is involved. Second, you have to work on his |
| supplementation can improve mental function in | | | | diet plan by avoiding certain food and by adding others |
| school-aged children. | | | | in addition to supplementing certain nutrients that will |
| Therefore, the parents with ADD children should do | | | | work on his deficiencies and improve his brain |
| the following: | | | | functioning and his overall wellbeing. |
| 1. Provide the child with nutritious and attractive meals | | | | |