| Scientists now know that many factors can play a | | | | Test: A hair analysis can screen for toxic metals. |
| role in the development of Attention Deficit Disorder | | | | Solution: Consult with a holistic doctor or nutritionist who |
| (ADD)or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder | | | | specializes in nutritional balancing and hair mineral |
| (ADHD) in children. From food dyes and second-hand | | | | analysis. They should be able to provide you with |
| smoke to toxic chemicals and genetics, both internal | | | | products to help detoxify your child's body and |
| and external influences may affect the severity of | | | | supplement with important vitamins and minerals that |
| symptoms. Regardless of the cause, there are a | | | | may be too low. If your child is still being exposed to |
| variety of treatments to help decrease the effects of | | | | second-hand smoke, you may need to set new rules |
| ADD/ADHD in your child's life. Here are just a few to | | | | in your home or extended environment. |
| consider: | | | | Genetics |
| Food Dyes | | | | If you or a close relative have ADD or ADHD, |
| On June 3, 2008, the Center for Science in the Public | | | | chances are your child has it too. In fact, children |
| Interest (CSPI) petitioned the U.S. Food and Drug | | | | whose father's had the disorder have a 30 percent |
| Administration, urging it to ban eight artificial food dyes. | | | | chance of having it. |
| According to CSPPI, the following eight dyes are | | | | Test: While PET brain scans can measure the size of |
| believed to increase hyperactivity and other behavior | | | | the brain (People with ADD/ADHD have 3 - 4 percent |
| problems in children:o Yellow 5 and 6o Red 3 and 40o | | | | smaller brains than the rest of the general population.) |
| Blue 1, 2 and 3o Orange B | | | | and for low activity in the front sub-cortical system |
| It's not a new theory. Since the 1970s, numerous | | | | (People with ADD/ADHD actually have less activity in |
| studies from around the world proved that some | | | | this region because it controls impulses and attention), |
| children's behavior 'worsened" with the consumption of | | | | they can be costly and generally aren't covered by |
| the dyes. In fact, the British government is already | | | | insurance for ADD/ADHD consultations. A less |
| pressuring food companies to use safer colorings - | | | | expensive (sometimes free) and more accurate |
| thanks to the latest studies. | | | | assessment can be done with a professional cognitive |
| But dyes aren't the only consideration when worrying | | | | skills assessment. The tests measure the strength and |
| about outside causes of ADD and ADHD. Two recent | | | | weaknesses of underlying cognitive skills, including |
| British studies found that the preservative sodium | | | | things like auditory and visual processing, memory, |
| benzoate may be to blame. | | | | processing speed, comprehension, attention, and logic |
| Test: Omit food products with artificial food dyes from | | | | and reasoning. |
| your child's diet. Look for organic products or those | | | | Solution: If a professional cognitive skills assessment |
| that list only naturally colored ingredients (such as | | | | reveals weak brain skills in one or more areas, you |
| cereal colored with beet or carrot coloring). Whole, | | | | may want to consider cognitive skills training. While |
| non-processed foods are generally a better choice for | | | | some parents choose to put their children on Ritalin, |
| anyone. | | | | medication should only be used as a last resort. " Over |
| Solution: If your child seems more focused, less | | | | 50 percent of our ADHD students will discontinue |
| hyperactive or generally less anxious, talk to a | | | | medication while in training," explains Tanya Mitchell, |
| Registered Dietitian about better food options. When in | | | | Director of Training for LearningRx, a national brain |
| doubt, look for foods that are labeled as organic or | | | | training franchise. "A child with ADD/ADHD will almost |
| made with no preservatives. | | | | always have weak attention skills, but it often goes |
| Heavy Metal Toxicity | | | | hand in hand with other weak skills. In most cases, |
| High levels of toxic chemicals - like lead, copper and | | | | cognitive skills training can strengthen weak cognitive |
| aluminum - can be found in many ADHD children. | | | | skills drastically - as much as three to five age levels." |
| Though the cause can't always be traced, some | | | | Although many scientists theorize that there's an ADD |
| theorize that possible avenues could include tainted | | | | ADHD gene, no proof has been found. Until then, look |
| water, drinking from aluminum cans, and food prepared | | | | for solutions to decrease the symptoms of ADD |
| in aluminum cookware. Increased cadmium intake - as | | | | ADHD in your child's daily life. Even small modifications |
| found in children who are regularly exposed to | | | | can make a big difference. |
| second-hand smoke, may increase ADHD symptoms. | | | | |