Reading Room

ADHD a label gone wrong

by Tammera J. Karr, PhD, BCIH, CNC, CNW, CNH

I had the privilege of working with three hundred ADD/ADHD from 1998 through 2002; individuals and two remarkable healthcare providers. One of the most important things I learned from Dr. Daniel Thompson and Dr. Jessie Landsberg, was the importance of turning a “label” into a “Badge of Power”. Dr. Landsberg, a remarkable lady who holds several degrees and worked for many years as a psychologist in the New York school system, shared her landmark studies on music in the classroom with me; She found marked increases in focus, concentration and productivity in students and teachers; when selected types of music were played quietly in the background.

Dr. Landsberg’s motivation to improve cognitive health for the young students in her school district came about after witnessing firsthand the effects of prescription medication on children. To take away the creativity, energy and health of children in order to bring about order and conformity in classrooms is troubling to many educators, healthcare providers and parents alike.

As a neurobiologist, Dr. Thompson shared with me information on how everything we eat affects our brain chemistry, not always all at once, but cumulative and generational disruptions that trigger a cascade of chemical responses, where alternant pathways direct brain hormones and nutrients astray. This was the start of my belief that “our cells carry the memories of our ancestors” and that many of today’s disorders and illnesses are the result of generational malnutrition, chemical toxicity and retarded natural movement.

“Children with ADHD are a trial to their parents, teachers and to themselves. And when the problem carries into adulthood, it can be a serious barrier to financial and social success”. [1] Are they?

In my research I see a common pattern; the baby-boomer generation is the “test subject generation, and the subsequent generations that follow are part of the study”.  What do I mean by this? The baby-boomer generation has been the first in many things, first to use synthetic birth control and hormones: resulting in the highest levels of breast and prostate cancer ever. The first to be exposed through diet to GMOs (genetically modified organisms) and toxic chemicals, and the first generation to use medications for behavioral, physical and emotional “disorders” in mass: antidepressants, ADHD medications, bi-polar medications, sleep aids.

According to an April 2000 Life Extension article on ADHD:

It is estimated that 2% to 20% of American school children suffer from attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the most common of the childhood psychiatric disorders. The syndrome is characterized by distinct patterns of disruptive behavior. The main symptoms of ADHD include reduced attentiveness and concentration, a short attention span, easy distractibility, impulsive behavior, and age-inappropriate excessive activity (hyperactivity). Children with attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder are hard to manage. They are disruptive at home and at school, have trouble in reading, writing, and often fail in their studies.

The symptoms occur in as many as 10% of boys and 5% of girls. The disorder declines with age, though up to 65% of hyperactive children still have the symptoms as adults. Although conventional pharmacological treatment of ADHD with stimulant drugs reduces symptoms of inattentiveness and hyperactivity, the most commonly prescribed, amphetamine-like drugs such as Ritalin® (methylphenidate) have the potential for addiction, growth suppression, and other serious complications.[2]

Boys learn differently from girls, researchers have found boys are tactile learners, standing, touching and moving aids in their learning, when placed in a school system that requires long periods of stillness, boys have greater difficulty. On average these children have high IQ’s and are often found to excel when placed in non-traditional school environments that teach skills in channeling their creativity, intellect and energy. In my opinion this is far better than a chemical lobotomy that may be destroying our country’s future innovators who challenge the “box of conformity”. Public teachers can only do so much; the first and most important educator(s) in a child’s life are their family.

According to Hippocrates (460-370 BC) “All diseases begin in the gut.” The Gut and Psychology (GAP) syndrome is used to describe children who fall into the gap in medical knowledge between nutrition, behavior and learning problems.[3] Autism, ADD / ADHD, learning difficulties, dyslexia, dyspraxia, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, behavioral and psychiatric disorders are dramatic examples of the gut-brain connection.[4]

The whole family must clean the ‘trash’ out of their diet, augmenting with whole food nutritionals that include trace minerals, proanthocyanidins, probiotics and enzymes, clean (heavy metal free) omega 3 fish oils found in salmon, cold-water white fish, and nuts, organic fruits and vegetables, and eliminate simple carbohydrates; candy, corn syrup, honey, sugar, foods made from white flour, white rice, and potatoes. Eat complex carbohydrates, to stabilize erratic blood sugars that contribute to brain chemistry imbalances.

Eat a high-protein diet, including beans, cheese, eggs, meat, and nuts. Add protein foods in the morning and for after-school snacks, to improve concentration.[5]

Removal of “approved” brain disrupters like fluoride from the daily routine.[6]^{, [7]}

Many famous individuals learned as children how to direct their ADHD into a positive benefit instead of a label or excuse. All of the named think “outside the box”, creative people who have made a success of their lives and advanced innovation in our world.

Bill Cosby, Babe Ruth, Harry Belafonte, Cher, Kirk Douglas, Dustin Hoffman, Robin Williams, Magic Johnson, Bruce Jenner, Leonardo DaVinci, Michael Jordan, Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, Orville & Wilber Wright, Benjamin Franklin, Henry Ford, Walt Disney

Great Characteristics of ADHD:  Creative, Artistic, Intuitive, Visionary, Inventive, Sensitive, Original, Loving

Today’s children are left to TV’s, computers, iPods and game stations far more than 20 years ago, the constant screen flicker and effects on the hypothalamus from florescent lighting serve to increase cortisol levels in everyone, especially children whose central and sympathetic nervous systems are highly sensitive.   Elevated night-time cortisol leads to impaired immune function, increased chemical sensitivities, mood shifts, depression and poor sleep.[8]^, [9] According to the World Health Organization, “health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. To maintain physical health, we need fresh nutritious food, regular exercise and restorative sleep each night.

When we take responsibility for our health and that of our families, part of that control is making sure the foods we eat are wholesome and safe; medications only treat the symptoms, food heals the body.

To your good health, and label free creativity.

Dietary Guidelines for Children with ADD/ADHD

Dietary Guidelines for Children with ADD/ADHD

Linda Rector Page N.D. Ph.D.

New research is supporting diet/behavior connection in children. (Adults, too, for that matter.)

According to the current issue of *Total Health Magazine*, nutritional factors such as food sensitivities/allergies and fatty acid deficiencies have all been linked to ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).

Here are some of the causes of ADD and ADHD: Mineral and EFA (essential fatty acid) deficiencies from too many refined junk foods; food allergies to corn, wheat and additives; prostoglandin imbalance; hypoglycemia; heavy metal (especially lead) poisoning causing excess amonia waste in the brain; prescription drugs that block EFA conversion in the brain.

As more studies and information become available, I’ll let you know.

But you can start NOW and change your children’s diet. Improvement is almost immediate — generally within 2 to 3 weeks. It certainly will get the kids off to a great start this school year.

I understand it is difficult to control what kids eat. In this day and age, it is near impossible. Most important is starting the day with full nutrition. And I don’t mean fortified nutrition. Forget the sugar cereals, please.

Try the Isagenix new childrens meal replacement shake mix. It is delicious and contains supreme, full nutrition for kids to help nourish the brain and body. (Long term brain nourishment can help straighten out even grave mental, emotional or coordination problems.)

It only takes about 20 seconds to prepare, and kids love starting the day with a cookies and creamy yummy shake. Every morning. Watch the difference. Let me know. (I have a friend who makes ice cream with the shake mix: Just use about 4 ounces of cold water, 4 ounces of rice milk, 2 scoops of shake mix, and lots of ice in a blender until the right thickness.) http://healthyhouse.isagenix.com/

Isagenix even has a “kid friendly” blender so they can fix it themselves.

A green salad for lunch with tuna, turkey, or egg salad is a good choice.

Snacks should be fresh foods – fruits and vegetables.

Eliminate carbonated sugary sodas. Even artificially sweetened. Try organic juices with sparkling water on ice.

Kids should drink plenty of pure water.

Fresh air and exercise and lots of rest.

Remember that brain nutrition is for everyone. If you or someone you love experiences spaciness, lack of concentration, unexplained depression, gloominess and frequent bad moods, and an inability to remember well, improvement may be had with nutrition.

Ginseng also helps to curtail the release of the stress hormone cortisol. This helps to boost brain activity and supplyes plant estrogens known to help brain health. http://www.healthyhealing.com/aisle95.html#56

Childhood Obesity

Childhood Obesity

By Herb Joiner-Bey, ND

And Laura Casanova

One and five American children are overweight.  Obesity is a major health issue for adults, it is even more of a problem for today’s children because over for weight children tend to become overweight adults.  Considering the problem that obesity can cause, such as heart disease hypertension, stroke, diabetes, and cancer, this could have a significant impact on the future of health care and our country.

According to the American obesity Association, 15% of children and analysis age 6 to 19 are considered overweight or obese, as defined by BM I, with an additional 15% at risk of becoming overweight.  Even worse is the fact that more than 10% of younger children between the ages of two and five are overweight.  The added pounds that contribute to certain health conditions and diseases in adults are also contributing to the same problems in children, with physicians reporting such serious health concerns as adult onset diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol in children as young as eight or nine years of age.

Researchers at Yale University school of medicine found that obese children tend to have a combination of health problems, a condition called metabolic syndrome, that increases the risk of early development of Type II diabetic and heart disease.  Results of the national health and nutrition examination survey, which examined trends in systolic induced all it blood pressure among children and adolescents between 1988 and 2000, found that blood pressure has increased over the past decade among children and adolescents.

One study found that overweight children are more likely than normal weight children to be victims of bullying or be police themselves.  Another study found that obese children rated their quality of life as low as did you and cancer patients because of teasing and weight related health problems.  Experts continue to point a to cope or its in the obesity epidemic: poor diet and lack of exercise.

Poor diet it should come as no surprise that a major contributor implicated in the rising childhood obesity may be directly linked to our nation sweet tooth particularly the enormous consumption of high fructose corn syrup (H. F. C. S.) by Americans.  In ingredient in an majority of foods and beverages, H. F. C. and this is the sole calorie sweetener and soft drinks in the .  Intake of H. F. C. S. increased by more than 1000% between 1970 and 1990 far exceeding any other food or food group.  A study of H. F. C. S. and beverages concluded that the increasing consumption of H. F. C. S. hasn’t temporary relation to the epidemic of obesity, and the over consumption of H. F. C. S. and cold calorie sweetened beverages may play a role in the epidemic of obesity.  In addition consumption of refined sugar has increased with the average person consuming 150 pounds of sugar a year.

Sherry Lieberman, Ph.D., C.N.S, FACN, a nutrition scientist and exercise psychologist has found that children are served less healthy food and middle school than they are in elementary school after fourth-grade children move into fifth grade, they eat fewer servings of fruit, non-fried vegetables, and milk while the number of servings of high fat vegetables such as french fries and sweetened drinks increases.

Lack of exercise one children participate in school physical education programs they still may not be getting in a vigorous physical exercise.  The amount of time children spend watching television also has contributed to a lack of physical activities, but it appears in videogames may play a greater role, with researchers finding a strong correlation between the amount of time children play video games and their weight.

Remember this: most of what your child eats depends on what you buy at the grocery store, and study showed that children are more likely to be active if their parents are active.  Children learn the eating habits from their parents, so it’s important to set a good example for your children.  If you lead a healthy life chances are they will also.

Dietary Recommendations:

Until they are 2 or 3 years of age children need about 40% of their calories from fat, and they need 0.5 g protein per pound of body weight per day.  After 3 years, fat calories should be about one third of total calories.  Protein should decreas to 0.5 g of protein per pound of body weight for 4 to 6-year-olds; and to 0.45 g for 7 to 14-year-olds. Boys between 15 and 18 need 0.4 g per pound of body weight; girls of the same it age need 0.36 g of protein per pound.

Children need to eat a variety of whole foods including fruits, vegetables, and grains to obtain the nutrients and vitamins they need.  Many children, however, are lacking in essential nutrients such as iron, zinc, folate, magnesium, and calcium.  Of these, calcium and magnesium are considered key minerals in preventing obesity.  These nutrients are most readily available in lowfat dairy products: green leafy vegetables: and unrefined grains and nuts.  Eating more fiber rich whole, organic unprocessed plant foods will help to lowering the number of calories eaten was each mouthful of food.

Many experts recommend supplementing your child’s diet with a good multivitamin from health-food store or prescribed by your child’s doctor.  B vitamins are particularly important, as are chromium and magnesium.  Fish oil is good because it can help control the insulin response, improve memory skills, reduce high blood pressure and aid in ADD /ADHD management.  Parents should eliminate junk foods and sodas, which are the main source of high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils, and they should limit refined foods such as white flour and sugar.  It will help if your child has protein for breakfast, such as a smoothie made with lowfat unsweetened yogurt and fruit or an egg because starting the day with protein can reduce the number of calories  eaten throughout the day.

The Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research offers the following tips for getting your child more active:

• Shut off the television. There is a direct relationship between hours spent watching TV and obesity
• Get active yourself. Children of parents who exercise or six times more likely to be active in children of sedentary parents.
• Promote activity, not exercise. Tag, hide and seek and hopscotch are all exercise.  Play games your children enjoy.
• Be creative. Let a child choose a different activity each weekend: hiking, swimming, and in-line skating are a few options.
• Make chores a family affair. Have your children help garden, shovels snow, and wash the car.