At a time when Americans are
searching for causes of developmental problems, learning
disabilities, aggression and violence among children, it would make sense to consider faulty nutrition, food additives, tobacco additives, toxic
metals, pesticides and other endocrine-disrupting industrial
toxicants not to mention pharmaceuticals -- all of which many U.S. children are exposed to from the
moment of conception onward.
As a society, we need to be aware of the
impact this serious disruptive behavioral trend is having in 3 major ways:
The added expense to our schools, which
requires the support of our ever-rising property taxes
The impact on correctional institutions,
both from the point of view of the under-served child, and (again) the added
expense to Society.
The impact on our Nation of declining
intelligence and scholastic ability. Student achievement has
stagnated
or fallen in most subjects since 1970, with the largest and most
thoroughly established decline occurring in basic literacy.
There are already those who charge that a bias
exists in the system to "get rid of" children who need additional and
expensive support systems.
And in turn, this is reflected in the juvenile
justice system where (while little is heard of this fact, since race and poverty
are the more fashionable research options for delinquency) developmentally
challenged children are over-represented.
I read an expert opinion the other
day, which opined that there are two camps on the subject of ADD/ADHD: one
that believes it is an imaginary disorder invented simply to sell
medication, and the other which believes that pretty
much everyone could benefit from treatment.
There is a THIRD camp,
however, which acknowledges the existence of the problem, but believes,
with a great deal of evidence both scientific and empirical,
that dietary and environmental factors are the root cause.
The role of improper diet HAS to
be acknowledged, and proper feeding of our children addressed by (in order of
probability) Parents and religious organizations, school districts, and the
Government.
A friend and colleague of mine, Carol
Simontacchi, has written a book I cannot recommend too highly, which draws a
road map of the effect faulty diet has on the developing brain and the
susceptible brain of the adolescent. It is called "The Crazy
Makers - or How the Food Industry is destroying our brains and harming our
children" and can be
ordered from her website here - you will need to scroll down the page to
locate it: it is item #10. You will also find outlines for successful and
"do-able" strategies for the family.
She has given me permission to
quote the following from the book:
WHY DO TEENAGERS SELF-DESTRUCT
"When these kids try to destroy
themselves and the others around them, they are continuing down the
path they started when they were born, continuing the destruction of
their own brain cells ... From outcome studies that compare the test
scores of teenagers who eat well and teenagers who eat the typical
American diet, we can assume that some physical damage has been
done, or that something is not functioning correctly in the brain.
THESE KIDS WILL NEVER LIVE UP TO
THEIR POTENTIAL. WE WON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THEIR POTENTIAL
WAS." (Lynn: my emphasis)"
Even more alarming to me (bearing in mind that
either aspartame, sucraloseor MSG is in everything young people crave: potato chips, pops, even
milk) is the connection being made between obesity and these foods
- I use the term "food" lightly. Now we have to face the possibility
that our children's mental
acuity, their weight, and even their future fertility are all being affected
by these addictive taste enhancers. http://www.dorway.com/hypot.txt
Even in the face of increasing evidence of harm,
junk food manufacturers have continued to deny any connection.
We need to take note of these things, and work to
bring about an awareness of the motives of the makers of prepared foods and the
purveyors of fast foods: motives which do not include bettering the health
of this nation's children, whatever they say - but are related to their own
profits. Only when their bottom line is threatened do they make changes, and
even then reluctantly and inadequately. The recent introduction of so-called
"Whole Grains" is a case in point.
There is no doubt that parents today are facing
monumental challenges as a result of environmental and dietary changes in our
lifestyles.
If Albert Einstein and Winston Churchill, let
alone Alexander Graham Bell or Louis Pasteur, had been born in this age, I
wonder whether we would ever have enjoyed the fruits of their talents? They all
had Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and must have been holy
terrors to teach or control.
Nowadays, they would have been
drugged into compliance, along with approximately 3 to 4% of all
American children,
the percentage being higher for boys than for girls.
What is more, they would be prescribed these
drugs for a condition that was simply "voted" into existence, and on
the basis of tests that are of dubious validity.
Learn
more about this issue at http://www.adhdtesting.org/testing.htm
Dr. Peter Breggen. MD. (Director of the
Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology) wrote an impassioned letter
on the subject to the New York Times in May 1996, in which he pointed out that
some of the other factors in play here include a "spirited, creative
nature that defies conformity, inconsistent discipline or lack of unconditional
love, boring and oversized classrooms, an over stressed teacher, and anxiety due
to abuse or neglect. In my own clinical experience, many such children are
energetic, creative and independent youngsters struggling within the constraints
of an inattentive, conflicted or stressed adult environment. Thus we end up
drugging our best and brightest."
When you add an inadequate diet which causes
mis-firing in the brain to the kind of nature he describes, you are going to
have fireworks, no doubt about it.
Nobody will disagree with the conclusion that
using Ritalin, with its many harmful side-effects and potential for
abuse, is not the answer of choice. The popularity of Ritalin is to a large
extent based on the fact that immediate positive results are achieved: however,
there have not been many studies on the long term use of this medication.
Originally ADHD was perceived as a
short term problem, which would naturally disappear with age
The risks inherent in strong medication were
therefore acceptable since it was assumed the drug would be used short term
only. Now, we know that ADHD is not self-limiting: alarmingly, one of the only
long term studies of Ritalin use shows that at the end of 8 years, 80% of the
children continued to have ADHD symptoms. Not only that, but 60% of them had
worsened, developing either Opposition Defiant Disorder (ODD) or Conduct
Disorder (CD), both of which are considered worse diagnoses than ADHD. Even more
telling, there was NO statistical difference between the long term
success/symptoms of those treated with drugs versus those who used no
medications! (Am. J. of Nat. Med. Mar.1998, p. 9)
Additionally, a study published in 2007 showed that children
using Ritalin for over 3 years, have their height and weight affected adversely
by 1 inch and over 4 pounds. (Swanson, J.M. Journal of the
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, August 2007; vol 46: pp
1014-1026.)
There
is also an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, see details at http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/354/14/1445
Unfortunately the problem is not
going to go away simply because many of us disagree with the solution.
Are there other possible approaches?
Yes: this is a problem which a number of
highly successful holistic therapists have been addressing for many years,
starting with Dr. Feingold, and his well-known diet. He contended that many of
these youngsters are reacting allergically to colorings, sugars and some
substances in foods, and can be helped by removing those foods from the diet.
I have excerpted below some information by Peter Montague from
an article called ADHD & Children's Environment. (see Resources
for access to complete text)
"There is considerable evidence that
food dyes can worsen the symptoms of ADHD in some children, but government
authorities deny the evidence. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has
published a pamphlet called FOOD COLOR FACTS which states that "there is
no evidence that food color additives cause hyperactivity or learning
disabilities in children." The pamphlet, though published by the FDA, was
actually written by the
International Food Information Council, a trade association representing many
makers of food additives including General Mills, Kraft, Procter and Gamble,
Pepsi-Cola, Coca Cola, Monsanto (maker of aspartame), and Ajinomoto (maker of
monosodium glutamate).[2,pg.25] To make the statement that there is no
evidence that food dyes cause hyperactivity or learning disabilities in
children, the FDA had to ignore 16 double-blinded studies that have shown that
food dyes do worsen the symptoms of ADHD in some children.[2] (A
double-blinded study is one in which neither the participants, nor those
observing and recording the children's behavior, know which children have been
exposed to food dyes and which have not, the purpose being to avoid bias.)
In 1976, a study of U.S. children between the ages of 6 and 11 found they
ingested an average of 76 milligrams of food dyes per day (mg/day). Ten
percent of those studied ingested twice that amount, or 146 mg each day.
Since that time, the quantity of food dyes manufactured per person in the U.S.
has increased 50%.[2,pg.11]
While the possibility that confusion among some parents as to what parenting
actually is, may also be part of this growing problem, and
some
children diagnosed with ADD/ADHD may simply be in need of more parental
guidance, there is a very real danger that a "blame the parents"
approach can contribute to the raw deal developmentally children and their
parents receive.
The
New York Times wrote a major article about this approach in 2007 -
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9506E7DC1131F931A15751C1A9609C8B63
which represents an important shift away form the "medication first "
knee jerk re-action.
Another problem that
calls for tears is Autism, a tragic disorder with disastrous
consequences for the children, their parents and our society. Yet
until about 2005, general public ignorance about the scope of the
problem prevails.
I quote excerpts from a letter by Anne McElroy
Dachel of NAA
(National Autism Association - http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/):
"For a long time, CDC officials simply
told the public that they didn’t know what the exact figures on autism were.
Since it is their job to know, eventually they accepted that it might be as
high as one in 166. We're being overwhelmed with these children and the best
the CDC can come up with to explain the soaring increase is that it's due to
"better diagnosing" and an expanded spectrum of autism disorders (ASDs).
I've heard many teachers also repeat this self-congratulatory reasoning:
"We just missed these kids 20 years ago. They used to fall through the
cracks."
As someone who has taught for 25 years, this amazes me. You don't
"miss" an autistic student. Teachers who've been teaching for 40
years talk about having classrooms of more than 30 students when they first
started teaching. Today, classes are much smaller, but teachers are
overloaded with the demands of teaching all the students with autism,
attention deficit disorder and other neurological problems. (Lynn: my
emphasis)
Furthermore, if it’s true that doctors and educators are just better at
recognizing students with ASDs, then where are the studies on previously
undiagnosed or misdiagnosed autistic people among older Americans? "
The most convincing evidence points to a link
between mercury in vaccines and this burgeoning epidemic. The National
Autism Association website gives you all the facts so you can decide for
yourself: this is the link to the information about thimerosal
and autism. http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/thimerosal.php
My opinion is that the actual burden of
vaccinations is as much of a threat as the mercury. The Mayo
Clinic has a schedule on its site, which shows by my count, 20
vaccines by the age of 18 months.
It is sad that the miracle of vaccination, which made such a difference in so
many lives, has now become a threat: However, I do not see that there can
be any question about the connection between the daunting number of childhood
vaccinations and the epidemic of autism. The government is vehemently
rejecting the possibility that mercury might be the culprit, at the same
time as it recommends discontinuing its use, and as I say, it is entirely
possible that simply the burden of so many viruses all at once is too much for
the sensitive systems of small children.
Many parents choose not
vaccinate their children.
Ethical
issues related to the vaccination of children - http://www.newswithviews.com/Tenpenny/sherri9.htm
Renowned pediatrician Dr.
Sears recommends this routine for children about to be vaccinated, to
protect against the effect:http://www.askdrsears.com/thevaccinebook/boost_your_childs_immune_system.htm
Vitamin A. This specific vitamin helps with neurologic
health. It also helps regulate the immune system’s response to infections.
Some researchers believe it can play a role in protecting the brain from
vaccine side effects. Give vitamin A once a day for 3 days prior to vaccines
and continue each day for 10 days after. Infants should get 1500 IUs daily,
toddlers and preschoolers 2500 IUs and older kids and teens 5000 IUs.
Another choice would be a total multivitamin liquid or chewable. A better
source of Vitamin A is cod liver oil, (Lynn: my emphasis) available at health
food stores. The label will say how much Vitamin A is in each teaspoon. You
should be aware that overdosing Vitamin A can be toxic, so do not exceed the
suggested amounts. I would suggest not using cod liver oil for any baby
younger than 9 months.
Vitamin C. This anti-oxidant vitamin can help boost the
immune system and may decrease vaccine side effects. Give this once a day for
5 days starting on the day of the shots. Infants should get 150 mg daily,
toddlers and preschoolers 250 mg, and older kids and teens 500 mg. Vitamin C
drops, chewables, and capsules are available at any health food .. store. The
amount of Vitamin C in the multivitamins discussed above (with vitamin A)
usually isn’t enough.
However, there are also dietary connections which
can help or hinder the prognosis for a child. Salicyclates/phenols and
opiates in gluten and milk are the most serious. Here
is one mother's story about her son and dairy. Perhaps the most inspiring
part of this tragedy is how Mothers have taken matters into their own hands,
done their own research, and in many cases achieved inspiring results.
http://chetday.com/autismdiet.htm
Concerning Phenols In the
Diet
Autism
Awakening Diet Intervention
Concerning Phenols
Of all the confusions and misunderstandings around the diet,
the issue of phenols and salicylates - and which should be
avoided - is perhaps the worst of all.
Firstly and most simply: A salicylate is a type of phenol and
all phenols are types of alcohol (though not the types that
make you drunk).
The confusion begins with phenol because it is both the name
of a specific chemical and the generic name for a group of
chemicals - "The phenols". The specific chemical is
made up of two components: A ring of six carbon atoms and an
alcohol group. In chemistry, a carbon ring is often called an
"aromatic" ring because chemicals of this type
usually smell quite strongly. The specific phenol chemical is
a liquid and was once used as a surgical antiseptic (i.e. it
kills germs and bacteria). It is still used in some household
cleaners and mouthwashes. It is quite toxic. No-one would ever
dream of knowingly drinking it.
Phenol is also used as a generic term for ANY chemical which
has an aromatic ring and an alcohol (hydroxyl) group. There
are countless such chemicals including tyrosine, a component
of most proteins (of both animal and vegetable origin) and
adrenalin. It would be impossible to avoid eating phenols.
It's not like gluten. Where there is life, there are phenols.
Salicylic acid is a type of phenol. It is made up of three
components: An aromatic ring and an alcohol group (like all
phenols) AND something called a carboxyl group. Salicylic acid
occurs naturally in certain plants and is used in making
aspirin and in food additives such as dyes. When salicylic
acid reacts with certain other chemicals, the resultant new
chemical is called a salicylate. There are lots of different
salicylates.
If there is a problem for our kids in this area it is likely
to be with salicylates rather than with all phenols. Why?
Because in the gut, it seems that breaking down salicylates
can use up a lot of sulphate and one of the problems of our
kids is that don't have much free sulphate in their guts in
the first place (which is why some of us find Epsom Salt -
magnesium sulphate - baths to be helpful). If they use up
their sulphate to break down salicylates, they might not have
enough to break down other chemicals. Plus sulphate seems to
play a key role in helping to keep a healthy lining to the
guts. This all makes sense because we all know that one of the
problems of long term use of aspirin is that it can cause
stomach bleeding because eating a lot of aspirin can start to
affect the walls of the stomach.
(Lynn: This information comes from an article on autism
in Red Flags (www.redflagsweekly.com/mead/2002_sept26.html)
Dr, Rosemary Waring, a research scientist and physician in
Great Britain has found that autistic children suffer from
problems of sulfation. In other words, the body’s natural
detoxification pathways, heavily moderated by sulfur, are
deficient. Studies have shown that supplementation of sulfate
minerals can have a dramatic effect. For instance, bathing
with magnesium sulfate (Epsom Salts) can have an extremely
beneficial effect. Similarly, children who get transdermal
zinc sulfate also seem to do better. Sulfation is also greatly
aided by molybdenum and selenium. Lastly, transdermal
glutathione is an essential part of the sulfation chain.
Trimethylglycine also plays a part in sulfation - see Sulfur
and detoxification)
As well as
affecting the guts - or should that be "because they
affect the guts", salicylates have been fingered for
their role in causing hyperactivity in children (eg the
Feingold Diet) and also for sometimes causing skin problems
such as eczema and urticaria.
Feingold lists the foods which are high in salicylates as
being Almonds, Apples, Apricots, Berries (all), Cherries,
Chili powder, Cider & cider vinegar (apples), Cloves,
Coffee, Cucumbers & pickles, Currants, Grapes &
raisins, Nectarines, Oranges, Paprika, Peaches, Peppers (bell
& chili), Plums, prunes, Tangerines, Tea, Tomatoes, Wine
& wine vinegar (grapes), Oil of wintergreen (methyl
salicylate). Plus they suggest avoiding all foods which list
"natural flavors" or "natural colours" as
these are quite likely to contain salicylates.
So should you avoid all these foods for your kids? Well, I
don't and if you look carefully at Feingold you'll see that
they don't either. What they suggest is that you remove all of
them to begin with and then re-introduce them one by one to
see which have negative effects and which don't.
Remember that there are many different types of salicylates
and some kids seem better at handling some than others. For
example, my Calum reacts badly to several foods on the above
list (e.g. blackcurrant, tomatoes and oranges). But other
foods produce no noticeable effects at all (e.g. apples,
grapes and strawberries). Then again he can't eat egg yolks or
prawns and they are not on the list at all. Neither are
bananas which many of our kids react badly too.
It's a drag but it looks like we just have to face it: After
gluten and casein are removed, almost all of us find a heap of
other things we have to avoid for our kids as well. And after
a year in the game I have come to the conclusion that whatever
list you consult for advice, at the end of the day there's no
getting away from it: Every kid is different and will have a
different pattern of things to avoid.
In
addition to dairy and gluten, many autistic (Lynn:
and ADD/ADHD)
children don't tolerate:
corn
soy
egg yolk
tomato
oranges
red grapes
colored fruits and vegetables
beef
Foods
high in phenols (frequently craved) include:
tomatoes
oranges
cocoa/chocolate
bananas
red grapes and colored fruits
apples
cow's milk
Here is a study on a connection between L-Carnosine
and autism. http://autismcoach.com/Carnosine%20Study.htm
In fact, many of the dietary
interventions, nutritional supplements and vitamins which help children
with ADD/ADHD are also helpful for children with autism.
A
2005 study,published
in Medical Hypotheses, (2005 64, 312–315) examines 206 children under
the age of 3 diagnosed with autism, and comes up with a connection
between ear infections and the antibiotics prescribed for them. This is
such sad information. As a holistic nutritionist, I have been
warning parents for 20 years that ear infections are not visited on
their children from above, but are almost always an avoidable
consequence of improper nutrition - usually connected with a dairy
intolerance. http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2005/1/emw194276.htm
Previous
research has found that children with food allergies are more
likely to have a "disturbed balance between beneficial and
potentially harmful bacteria in the large intestine, and benefit
from the addition of probiotics.
An article in Gut
(July
2002;51:51-55)
says definitely that "a healthy balance of
gut microorganisms is essential for the normal development of the immune
system." The establishment of such a balance in infancy is thought
to nudge the immune system away from allergic reactions to harmless
substances in the environment. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12077091&dopt=Abstract
In the above investigation, the team of researchers
evaluated 21 breast-fed infants who were previously diagnosed with
eczema and therefore had a heightened risk of allergies. Infants were
weaned to whey formula that either did or did not contain good bacteria,
and stool samples were tested for the presence of good and bad bacteria.
Those who did not get the good bacteria-laden formula were more likely
to have higher concentrations of "bad" bacteria. What's more,
the presence of these bad bacteria appeared to be related to immune
system responses and the extent of eczema."
Lynn: It has been determined
that the very same neurochemicals exist in the colon as in the
brain, and therefore, incredible as it may sound, the balance
(or imbalance) of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract
can definitely have an influence on brain function.
Dr. Leo Galland has found
that food allergies are most likely to be a factor if any
of these questions can be answered with a "yes":
Does the child have eczema, asthma, hay
fever, hives, or a chronic runny nose.
Does the father or mother have severe allergies
or headaches
Does the child have a "geographical
tongue", i.e. irregular flattened patches that look like
countries on a map.
Does the child's ears turn red for no apparent
reason and
Does the child crave single foods - other
than sweets.
I think it is important to make a
distinction between raw milk and pasteurized milk. Ever since my
children were little, even now that they are grown and gone, I
have been once a week to a farmer to pick up good Jersey milk, which I
make into butter, kefir and yoghurt. This was originally an
instinctive decision on my part, but if you look in RESOURCES
below, you will find scientific support.
Many people are finding Pycnogenol helpful
in ADHD, and the possible connection may be that it helps
block the allergic cascade. Dr. Packer of the University of
California, Berkeley has suggested also that it has an effect
on communication between brain cells. I have had parents whose
children were not helped by anything else find this effective,
and have been recommending it ever since I went to a
conference presented by two clinical psychologists (Steven
Tannenbaum, Ph.D and Julie Paull, Ph.D. of St. Louis) who
themselves both suffered from adult ADD, and had experienced
beneficial results from using Pycnogenol. The usual
recommendation is 3 mg per 10 lbs. of body weight.
A 2006 study in Germany was even more
positive, finding a significant reduction of symptoms in
children with ADHD using pycnogenol.
Read a report on the study at http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-06/mg-nsp061306.php
Another possibility we
cannot ignore is that
Candida is playing a role
Many of the children who suffer from
these developmental problems had recurrent ear infections as infants,
and have undergone many courses of antibiotics. This alters the balance
of the entire digestive tract by killing the friendly bacteria needed to
keep balance: probiotics (together with the substances needed to sustain
them, such as FructoOligoSaccharides ) are needed to restore homeostasis
in this very important area.
Hypoglycemia
(low blood sugar) can be a common underlying
cause of behavioral problems
A fasting blood glucose test
will give a certain indication of this diagnoses, but symptoms
themselves can give a clue: if the child is worse when hungry and
improves after (nutritious) food, hypoglycemia may be suspected. Some of
the drugs prescribed to treat ADHD are appetite suppressants,
which may aggravate hypoglycemia, since a child often has anorexic
symptoms when on the drugs.
Additionally, cravings for high
carbohydrate and high-allergy foods are not only part of the allergic
cycle, but can also indicate the child is low in certain
macro-nutrients, such ascalcium and magnesium.
It is a fact that mineral deficiencies are common in people with this
disturbance, and supplementing with them frequently makes quite a
difference.
Dr. Jonathan Wright adds new
perspective to the puzzle when he points out that a majority of children
with this problem have low levels of hydrochloric acid, an acid
produced in the stomach and necessary for digestion to proceed normally.
It is particularly important for the proper absorption of calcium (see
above!).
The drawback to this information is
that it is not a good idea to experiment with HCL use in children. One
possibility is administering some Swedish Bitters, a
mixture of bitter herbs such as Gentian, which have much the same
effect: and if the result is positive, contact a Natural Health
Professional for guidance on how to use actual HCL.
Another approach is to us
Trimethylglycine. This compound slowly releases HCL, and raises
stomach acidity safely. Bearing in mind the recent interest in
Secretin as a therapeutic agent, it is interesting to note that
secretin will only be produced if there is sufficient acidity in the
stomach.
Remember, one of the things HCL does
is facilitate the uptake of calcium and magnesium. Never
underestimate the importance of these minerals for children.
Adding other digestive enzymes for better absorption of food can
also be very helpful: remember, allergies start when substances foreign
to the body are absorbed into the blood stream whole from the digestive
tract via the bloodstream, and perceived as invaders by the body's
defenses.
Eliminating sweets, allergens and
highly refined foods in favor of nutrient dense snacks and high protein
meals with fresh fruits and vegetables, can go a long way towards
helping control ADHD. While I would never suggest replacing healthy
foods with supplements, the fact that many children absolutely cannot be
coaxed or coerced into eating their vegetables makes it handy that there
are now tasty chewable supplements of fruits and vegetables that can be
added to their vitamins.
A study in Pediatrics (1993)
reported thatthyroid dysfunction is much more common in children
with ADHD than in the general population. The problem seems to be almost
evenly divided between hyper (high) and hypo (low) thyroid. It would in
my opinion definitely be worth having a Thyroid Stimulating Hormone test
done. If it were my child, and a problem were detected, I would then
consult a holistic M.D. to see what could be done nutritionally before
resorting to synthetic thyroid hormone, since long term use of that drug
can have unpleasant side effects .
Some very interesting recent
research points to a connection between ADHD and faulty
metabolisation of essential fatty acids. Also, that
cod liver oil mitigates the re-actions to vaccinations in
autistic children
A recent study in the American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition found about 40% of afflicted
children showed low levels ofEFAs,
manifesting also in such symptoms as dry skin and hair, and excessive
thirst.
Children who have those tiny rough
bumps on the back of their arms are likely manifesting signs of that
deficiency. I highly recommend the use of cod liver oil with EPA and DHA
for any affected child.
Ear
Infections and Cod Liver Oil - http://bastyrcenter.org/content/view/711
An interesting study in the Journal
of Clinical Investigation in 1996 focused on DHA, and found a
measurable effect on stress as manifested by aggressive behavior. I feel
that when this information is combined with the results of a 1998 Lancet
study (Aug.29th) which found that DHA and ARA (Arachidonic
Acid) caused significant improvement in an infant's ability to solve
3-step problems, and a British study (Lancet 1992) which found an
8 point difference in the IQs of children who were breastfed and
therefore received DHA, and those who were formula fed, the connection
between these Essential Fatty Acids and brain function can hardly be
exaggerated!
DHA is available as a free-standing
supplement from Algae, as well as in the form of Fish Oil and Cod
Liver Oil.
Docosahexaenoic
acid (DHA) is an omega-3 fatty acid that is essential for the
development of the nervous system and vision during the first six months
of life. Lack of sufficient DHA may be associated with impaired mental
and visual functioning as well as attention-deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD) in children. The breast milk of American women is
lacking in this nutrient, and supplementing with it during pregnancy and
while nursing brings endless benefits.
Considering
also that it has been found to be valuable in preventing
depression, it may well play a role in overcoming post-partum
depression.
Dr. Jay Lombard (co-author of the book
The Brain Wellness Plan, and assistant clinical professor of
neurology at New York Hospital) defines ADD/ADHD as affecting "an
array of neurotransmitters. What happens ... is that the brain
stem area inadequately produces or delivers neurotransmitters that are
involved with certain cognitive processes, or the receptors for these
transmitters do not receive them effectively." He adds that
new types of analysis such as PET scans show actual areas of low
blood supply in the ADD/ADHD patient's brain. He
mentions specific amino acids ( Tyrosine, GABA, Taurine, Phenylalanine,
which also affect sulfation)
as being helpful, and also promotes the role of 3 nutritional
substances, CDP-Choline, Quercetin and Skullcap.
The first because of its role in significantly raising Choline levels in
the brain, the latter two because they are phosphodiesterase inhibitors,
and can increase available energy in brain cells by increasing cAMP - he
states "it is my opinion that increasing cAMP is one of the most
important aspects for treating a variety of brain disorders, including
ADD/ADHD." (Interview in Natural Pharmacy, Vol. 4 No. 6, June
00)
Since Amino Acids are broken down from
protein in the process of digestion, and since low levels of digestive
enzymes can inhibit this process, this is yet another reason to consider
adding a digestive enzyme to the regimen.
The connection between the brain
and the stomach is affirmed yet again in the suggestion that
chemical changes in the gut may affect mitochondrial CoQ10 levels,
essential for the proper supply of energy to brain cells. To quote a
relevant report:
"…Inflammatory bowel disease and
MMR might both trigger the release of cytokines from tissues
which share antigens either with products of injured mucosal
cells or with the MMR vaccine. The antibodies raised against
injured mucosal cells could be directed against any of the
many hormones, including serotonin, or nerve elements in the
inflamed gut and which are also present in the brain."
As I have said so many times before,
when there are therapeutic approaches which threaten no side effects,
which also have the advantage of addressing the problem rather than the
symptoms, and particularly when we are talking about the sensitivity of
the immature system: doesn't it make sense to try these approaches first
before resorting to drugging our children into a zombie state so that
the authorities can deal with them more easily?
I know this is not put with a high
degree of tact, and I know that there are compelling factors on the side
of those asked to face a classroom of unruly kids every day - but I feel
the health of our children has a higher priority.
Please, if your
child is affected in this way, consider a "first
strike" approach of diet, food sensitivity testing and
nutritional supplements.
Ask your Doctor and your child's teacher to be supportive for
a trial period. In the unlikely event of failure, the other
option, after all, will still be there!
As for the potentially more serious
problem of autism, knowledge and information are power. Read the
reports on the effects of mercury on the system, and consider signing
the Citizens'
petition on the National Autism Associations website.
Scroll down on their page for the petition itself. Make sure the
Government takes the rights steps to protect our children. http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/petition.htm
If the future of a Nation rests on the
abilities of its children, we are definitely at a crossroads. It
is fortunate that there is a growing instinctive acknowledgment of the
link between children's' mental health and their diet: this link needs
to be strengthened at every turn by informed mentors. I would challenge
the National PTA to become more viscerally involved in this issue, and
instead of taking a wishy
washy laid back approach, (though the Food
pyramid for kids 2 to 12 is a good step) to put it on the line
for parents, along with a scientifically supported synopsis of what
faulty nutrition means to their kids and their destinies.
How about it, PTA??
Dietary
Support network for parents of an Autistic Child
- http://www.autismndi.com/parentsupport/
An
Experimental Intervention For Autism - Understanding and Implementing a Gluten & Casein Free Diet
- http://www.princeton.edu/~serge/ll/gfpak.html
Death
by Ritalin - a
website with great information, and many useful links.
http://ritalindeath.com
"ADHD &
Children's Environment" - the full text can be
found at
www.chetday.com/adhdenviron.html.
http://www.chetday.com/adhdenviron.html
Coca
Pulse Test to determine allergies - http://www.toddcaldecott.com/coca_pulse.html
More
information about HCL
(betaine hydrochloride)
More
information about the role of
gluten in inflammatory disorders
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2002-09/sumc-srf092402.php
One
Man's detailed Dietary journey - an amazing testament to
perseverance. http://www.eklhad.net/adhd/
Recent reports show that ever more
children are being put on these drugs at ever younger ages. For
detailed information about the shaky methods of diagnosing ADD/ADHD,
and about the drug used to control it, go to www.methylphenidate.net/
Source
for Transdermal Glutathione - http://www.kirkmanlabs.com/products/antioxidant/l-glutathione/LGlutathione_Lotion_Spec226.html
Additives
Do cause Temper tantrums! (Duh) - http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99992971
Tartrazine
and ADD/ADHD - http://www.feingold.org/Research/ward90.html
Helpful Groups
Interactive
Autism Network - links families and research - http://ian.kennedykrieger.org/
"This dynamic exchange could lead to new discoveries
about causes, diagnosis, treatments, and a possible cure for this
puzzling group of disorders"
http://www.safeminds.org/ a private nonprofit organization founded
to investigate and raise awareness of the risks to infants and
children of exposure to mercury from medical products
http://ablechild.org/
Parents for Label & Drug Free education
Chelation
of Mercury for Autism Treatment - http://www.healing-arts.org/children/holmes.htm#wethink
http://www.unlockingautism.org/
Hyperactive
Children's Support Group - http://www.hacsg.org.uk
Children
With Attention Deficit Disorder, (CHADD),
499 Northwest 70th Ave., Suite 308, PLANTATION, FL 33317
(305) 587 3700 www.chadd.org Approach with caution - this
organization has questionable pharmaceutical contacts.
Consider
the possibility your child may have a vision problem -
http://www.visiontherapystories.org/add_adhd_drug_free.html
A
main stream study which accepts and expounds on the
possibility that nutrition and ADHD may be connected -
http://www.jpands.org/vol8no2/ottoboni.pdf
Pediatric
Autoimmune Psychiatric Disorders - OCD, Tourette's -
http://www.latitudes.org/articles/vojdani.pdf A compassionate assessment, and a link
to Streptococcal infections
List
of Foods containing salicyclates. - http://nz.lifestyle.yahoo.com/health/reference/22082008/salicylates/index.html
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