ADD and ADHD: Getting the Right Nutrition Can Make a World of Difference

"You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks."~Winston Churchill

The CDC's most recent information on ADD/ADHD (2011), indicates that 6.4 million children between the ages of 3 and 17 have been diagnosed with either ADD or ADHD, 11% of all children in this age group. Boys are more likely to be affected than girls, and the numbers have undoubtedly grown since the information was put together. Attention issues affect not just kids, but their parents and teachers as well. Parents are being pressured to medicate their children and are not offered other alternatives. To assist those who are uncomfortable first reaching for a drug for their child, I have read 6 different books on the subject by various natural experts. I will summarize for you what I have learned and what you can do immediately to help your child manage these conditions.

One thing that seems to be agreed upon is that the conditions of ADD/ADHD are the result of a malfunction of the nervous system. The brain becomes overwhelmed with stimuli causing the person to either "turn off" or be overly wired. Some cases of ADD/ADHD are also accompanied by learning issues and motor development issues. You want to make sure you have received a proper diagnosis. Things like food allergies, a highly energized/creative/sensitive personality, and digestive issues can be mistaken for ADD/ADHD.

 According to Darrell Evans in his book Ritalin: A Psychiatric Assault on Children he explains that diagnosing children with ADD is difficult because of the 14 symptoms listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, 7 can apply to perfectly normal children; often fidgets with hands or feet and squirms in the seat, easily distracted by extraneous stimuli, talks excessively, often acts before thinking, needs a lot of supervision, runs about and climbs on things excessively, and has difficulty sticking to a play activity.

ADD-like behavior can be caused by high sugar consumption, underactive thyroid, high copper or other heavy metals, chemical toxins, under or over-active adrenal glands, enzyme defects, previous infections, Candida, or heavy metal poisoning. We need to figure out what is actually going wrong before giving drugs to kids.

Just like any other chronic problem, ADD and ADHD are the result of toxicity and/or deficiency. The growing prevalence of ADD/ADHD mirrors the growing presence of heart problems, obesity, cancer and asthma. Our children's bodies are overloaded by chemicals and their diets are deficient in important nutrients. The following things have contributed to the increase in these conditions:

• A decrease in the amount of fresh food consumed

• A decrease in the minerals in our soils due to factory farming

• An increase in the intake of processed foods

• An increase in the amount of refined sugar consumed

• Vitamin, mineral, neurotransmitter and essential fatty acid (omega-3) deficiencies

• Insecticide and pesticide use

• Heavy metal contamination

• Chemical cleaners

• Chemical building and decorating products

• Poor quality drinking water that is chlorinated and flouridated

• Electromagnetic contamination

• Food allergies

• Increased use of antibiotics

• Genetically modified foods

• Dairy and meat raised with antibiotics, hormones and steroids

• Skin products that disrupt endocrine function and are carcinogenic

• Vaccinations

• Doctors who prescribe a pill before taking into account these other factors

Poor kids! I think it is clear we need to clean up the food they are eating and do all we can to clean up the environment they are in so they can have the best chance of improving or managing their condition. The good news is that ALL of the books gave hope of out-growing or improving ADD and ADHD with natural therapies and diet. Read More