“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”
~Hippocrates

Stacy D. Fehlinger Certified Health Coach Owner ofHealthy 4 Life, LLC(678) 719-2283 LongevityCoachStacy@gmail.comRegister for a complimentary 30 minute consultation with Stacy at Healthy Habits Strategy Session.

Are You Dealing with Your Child’s ADHD
(Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
or
 NDD (Nutrition Deficit Disorder)?

You probably know a child or maybe even your own child that has been diagnosed with ADHD.  In fact, ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed condition by Pediatricians in the U.S. 5.4 million school aged children have been diagnosed with ADHD and out of those diagnosed 66% take medication to control the condition.

However, a child’s nutrition can play a major role in ADHD.  Your child may actually be suffering from NDD instead of ADHD. The symptoms of both conditions are really similar. If you think your child may suffer or has been diagnosed with either ADHD or NDD it’s very important for parents to really look at what the child is eating.  NDD does not mean that a child is malnourished. Instead, it means that the child is not eating the right types of food and probably is eating a diet high in processed foods.

Treating ADHD with Nutrition
First, I am not advocating if your child is currently taking medication for ADHD that you either reduce the amount or stop giving it to your child.  You should never stop taking a medication or change the dosage without first discussing it with your Pediatrician.  I am asking you to observe and, if necessary, make some nutritional changes in your child’s diet to determine if changes in their diet and lifestyle affect their symptoms.  Complete the following steps to determine if certain foods or food additives are contributing to your child’s symptoms.

• Keep a food diary for one month to rule out food allergies. Common food allergies include dairy, tree nuts and gluten.
• Avoid artificial sweeteners, colors, MSG and preservatives. Read the labels on food in your pantry fridge and freezer and keep a list of all items you have that contain one of these ingredients. Note how often your child eats one of these additives on your food diary.
• Note in your food diary how much and what type of sugar your child eats. Excess sugar can greatly affect mood and behavior.

Additives and the Growing Child’s Brain
A child’s brain is 4 times more vulnerable to the effects of food additives. The blood/brain barrier is not fully developed and children are most affected by food additives from birth to 10 years of age.  Our brains are 60% fat and pollutants and food additives are stored mostly in fat tissue. MSG and aspartame cross the blood/brain barrier.

Treating ADHD with the Right Food Diet
Children diagnosed with ADHD or NDD should eat a real food diet which includes a variety of nutrient dense foods. This includes lean protein, complex carbohydrates and the right fats (polyunsaturated and monosaturated fats found in olive oil, avocados, nuts, seeds and nut butters).  Children with ADHD must eat right to optimize the brain’s performance. Every day should include a high protein breakfast and grazing on small meals throughout the day.  Good nutrition enhances every ADHD treatment intervention. No ADHD treatment can overcome eating junk food.

Supplements and Minerals Important for Children Diagnosed with ADHD

• Omega 3’s – 2 6 oz. portions of seafood, especially salmon, per week gives a growing child the right amount of Omega 3’s.  If your child does not like fish, there are several children’s Omega 3 supplements on the market. Be sure to read the labels to avoid food additives. Many children’s supplements contain food dyes and other additives.
• Zinc – regulates dopamine and serotonin levels.  These levels may be low in children with ADHD.
• Iron- increases production of dopamine
• Magnesium – relaxes the mind and calms the nervous system

Pills & Skills – Other Ways to Treat ADHD
Again, I will emphasize that you should never reduce or stop taking any medication prescribed by your Pediatrician. Below are some other suggestions for dealing with ADHD:

• Behavior modification therapy
• Exercise – this boots the brains neurotransmitter levels which affects focus and attention, exercise also increases blood flow to the brain and increases the nerve growth factor; more activity = more receptors and less activity = less receptors
• Sleep – kids need plenty of sleep and many children with ADHD have a hard time getting to sleep at night and staying asleep; it’s very important to maintain a set sleep schedule so that the child receives the proper amount of sleep for their age

If you are dealing with a child that has already been diagnosed with ADHD or you think that your child may suffer from the condition, I hope you find this information helpful. I would love to hear from you if you have tried any of the other alternative treatments and if improving their diet decreased their ADHD symptoms.

Healthy Regards,

Stacy

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