| Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy | | | | be the last choice in anyone seeking out ways to deal |
| food -Hippocrates | | | | with this disorder. |
| In the US, other than prescribed medications, there are | | | | These are the issues that needs to be addressed and |
| no other federally-approved treatments for ADD | | | | have proven to help control a great number of ADD |
| ADHD. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is still | | | | ADHD cases: |
| supporting drug therapy as the treatment for this | | | | - the nutritional needs of the individual |
| disorder. Findings of many studies point to availability of | | | | - any existing behavioral issues |
| "natural" treatments; therefore, a rising number of | | | | - toxins present within the individual's environment |
| health professionals are proposing behavioral and | | | | Not many have found the need for medications, even |
| dietary interventions to supplement. | | | | if it is during emergencies. |
| What can be said about prescription medication is that | | | | Many researchers suspect, and are now investigating, |
| it is still new to the practice of medicine but plant | | | | the correlation between food allergies and behavioral |
| extracts and other holistic remedies have existed | | | | problems. These researchers have gone so far as to |
| before our time. Modern medicine possesses the | | | | suggest that more than 60% of individuals suspected |
| wondrous capability to alter natural substances to form | | | | of having ADD/ADHD might be "cured" by eliminating |
| a chemical derivative that has absolutely nothing to do | | | | such toxins as sugar, artificial colors and preservatives, |
| with the original material in its final form. | | | | soy, milk, chocolate, wheat, some citrus fruits, and eggs |
| It is, however, very interesting that it was the advent of | | | | from their diets. |
| chemically-based foods, sweeteners, additives, and, | | | | Elimination diet is one of the most recommended |
| yes, medications that signaled the advent of the ADD | | | | method of stabilizing ADD/ADHD like behavior. Here is |
| ADHD "epidemic". | | | | a short guide for implementing elimination diet. |
| Are there any possible connections? | | | | 1. Begin by eliminating foods, or food groups, that might |
| ADD/ADHD is a result of the appearance of chemical | | | | be responsible for the symptoms. If dairy products are |
| substance which has the ability to produce biochemical | | | | suspected, eliminate all dairy products. Should the |
| reactions within the body. It is then capable of altering | | | | symptoms improve, dairy can be added back into the |
| the body's functioning to elicit unnatural symptoms. All | | | | diet, one food at a time. When and if symptoms return, |
| this of course is the result of changes in the | | | | the food, or foods, that were most recently introduced |
| environment change the natural bodily function. | | | | are the probable culprits. |
| The rise in cases of ADD/ADHD have risen in | | | | 2. You can start eliminating food such as diary, wheat |
| concurrence with the widespread usage of chemical | | | | products, sugar, eggs, nuts, soy products, corn, and |
| additives, preservatives, and substances. This further | | | | citrus fruits and juices because they are usually the |
| testifies that natural malfunction of the human body is | | | | type that are responsible for these symptoms. |
| cannot the major cause of ADD/ADHD most cases. | | | | 3. Try to carry out food elimination for two weeks and |
| The toxin environment created by unnatural | | | | during that time, breathing, and general health should be |
| substances is what causes failure in for the body to | | | | closely monitored. |
| function properly. | | | | 4. Foods should then be introduced one at a time and |
| As the use of chemicals has increased, so have the | | | | for the period of three days minimum. Introducing food |
| rates of ADD/ADHD diagnoses. | | | | should be done at three days interval until a reaction |
| The reality is that some individuals are more sensitive | | | | appears. |
| to extraneous toxins than others. Just as some people | | | | 5.Make sure to read food labels! Some products |
| are more prone to reacting to allergens whereas | | | | contain the offending foods as an ingredient and will |
| others are not affected by them at all, some people | | | | produce a reaction. |
| are simply biologically programmed to have a more | | | | Food diary is another method that can be used to |
| severe reaction to toxins than others. | | | | detect food allergies. This method is done by recording |
| The body of a highly sensitive individuals can react in a | | | | all foods, beverages, snacks, candies, etc. that are |
| way such as developing symptoms like fidgeting, | | | | consumed. This is also extended to inoffensive |
| distractibility, impulsivity, hyperactivity, forgetfulness, and | | | | substances as gum, medications (even over the |
| behavioral problems when placed in a toxin | | | | counter meds), and candies. Don't forget to record |
| environment but if these individuals are removed form | | | | down breathing, and general health in the diary as well |
| the environment then the symptom can be reduced or | | | | as sleeping patterns, activity levels, and attitude. |
| even disappear completely. | | | | Patterns should be detectable according to what was |
| The issue of ADD/ADHD treatment is that many | | | | ingested at the end of the month. |
| people knows that the toxin effecting sufferer of ADD | | | | Elimination diets and food diaries are now being used |
| ADHD must be removed from them and this goes for | | | | to uncover toxins that may be responsible for such |
| removing the individuals from the toxic environment too | | | | conditions as Autism, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, |
| but the vast number of us are still unclear about how | | | | general food allergies, Fibromyalgia, inflammatory bowel |
| to go about doing that. With the many non-medication | | | | disease, and even depression! |
| method available today, prescribed medication should | | | | |