ADHD and Diet

What does ADHD have to do with diet? According to recent studies, the two may be more connected than we previously thought. In fact, there are more and more studies emerging that reveal the connection between the food we eat and symptoms of ADHD. At Whole Child Wellness, we know from experience that food plays a role in the disorder and that we must closely examine a child’s diet for a whole-person approach to reducing symptoms.
After a recent study published by the Lancet headed by Dr. Lidy Pelsser of the ADHD Research Centre of the Netherlands, Dr. Pelsser boldly stated to NPR, “Food is the main cause of ADHD.” The study found that in 64% of participating children, ADHD symptoms could be contributed to a hypersensitivity to food. This assertion underscores the importance of the Whole Child Wellness Program’s diet and nutrition component. We know that food hypersensitivity can be one result of a hemispheric imbalance in brain activity, but we also consider food preservatives, dyes, and artificial ingredients potential contributors.
Another article published in the journal Pediatrics examined the effectiveness of several dietary methods used in place of traditional ADHD treatments that had proved “unsatisfactory or unacceptable”. Study results suggest that a whole foods diet rich in fiber, folate, and omega 3 fatty acids is most effective in decreasing hyperactivity.
Omega 3s are crucial for proper cognitive development, fighting inflammation, protecting the heart, insulating the body from the cold, and maintaining a healthy metabolism and weight. Fiber is crucial for maintaining proper digestive health, and folate has been long touted for its effectiveness in enhancing cognitive development and performance. Find below foods high in these important nutrients, and consider adding them to your family’s diet!

Foods High In Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Fish like tuna, mackerel, and salmon
Certain oils like coconut, flaxseed, sesame, and olive
Organic, grass-fed beef
Vegetables like broccoli and spinach
Avocado
Walnuts
Chia, sesame, and flax seeds
Foods High In Fiber
Whole grains
Beans
Fruit
Vegetables
Foods High In Folate
Sprouts
Asparagus
Beans
Soybeans
Dried herbs
Sunflower seeds
Dark green, leafy vegetables like kale, collards, broccoli, and spinach
Yeast extract

To learn more about the connection between diet and ADHD, we invite you to contact us at staff.drflemming@embarqmail.com .

Are you overwhelmed by the natural treatment options for ADHD?

Are you unsure which treatment will work for your child?

You are invited to attend a FREE informational lecture with Dr. Lois Flemming that will show you how to start---

"Healing the ADHD Brain"

 

Thursday, October 24th, starting at 6pm

at the Hope Family Resource Center

2820 Neuse Blvd

 (near the Craven Co Department of Social Services)

Brought to you by Dr. Lois Flemming, ADHD Wellness Expert and Director of Whole Child Wellness

Start your child on the path to wellness.....Whole Child Wellness!

When a scent is more than just a smell.

The very second you read these words, your brain is monitoring the light, heat, cold, sounds, smells, touch, and pressure all around you.  As sensory experience floods our system, it allows our brain to create meaning from our experiences.  Sensory specific stimulation can be a useful tool to stimulate the side of the brain you want to engage.   Floral scents will stimulate the left brain, spicy for right brain. 

 

 

In olfactory stimulation we use various scents or essential oils to stimulate your childs brain.  Olfactation is what is call an ipsilateral circuit.  It does not cross the midline like all other sensory information does.  Olfactory stimulation is done on the same side of the weak hemisphere, whereas all other stimulations are done on the opposite side of the weak hemisphere. 

A simple finger prick....

The IgG Food Allergy test measures the presence of IgG antibodies to specific food proteins.  If excessive intestinal permeability (leaky gut) is present, small amounts of food proteins enter the bloodstream.  The immune system builds an antibody to those foreign proteins, predominately as IgG.  IgG antibodies do not produce the immediate histamine response we associate with IgE antibodies--a runny nose or hives, for example. Therefore IgG reactions are often termed "food sensitivities" or "food intolerance."  IgG reactions tend to be more subtle-headaches, muscle aches or cognitive dysfunction.
A food elimination diet can be established based on results of this test and improvement of symptoms can be monitored. 

How Do You Lift Your Child's Spirits When the World Has Dragged Them Down?

Taken from www.ADDitudemag.com , a great source of information for parents of children with ADHD. 

> Remind him that we all know how great he is, and one day the world will know that, as well. -An ADDitude Reader
> I explain to her that even though things are hard sometimes, we are all stronger than we think we are. I show her things that only people with our "special brains" can do. I remind her that she is not alone, that her family is there. I do this while we cuddle on the couch. -Amanda, Georgia
> I remind him of what he has accomplished so far — and I just hug him. -A.W., Indiana
> I ask him what is making him feel bad. When I've listened for a bit, and he seems ready, I talk about something he is interested in. Then I give him "sideways" compliments, noting, as we talk, how good he is at noticing details, remembering interesting information, or anything that I can tie to the conversation. -Bonnie, California
> We joke a lot and don't take the world so seriously. If I can make him smile or laugh at something, that usually does the trick. Sometimes I do a silly dance or make a funny face. Later, when he is calmer, we discuss his problems. -Brooke, New Jersey
> I tell him that God doesn't make junk. Everyone is made the way they are for a reason. He needs to figure out what his purpose is. I remind him that no one is perfect, and admit some of my shortcomings to him. -Cathy, Ohio
> I hold him and tell him that I am thankful that God gave him to me, and that I wouldn't change a thing about him. Then we go out for ice cream and a movie. -C.C., Nicaragua
> I sit close, but not touching or looking at her, repeating the names of everyone who loves her. Eventually, I throw in a few things like "your cat gives you fluffy love." This makes her smile. -Carolyn, North Carolina
> Acknowledge anything, big or small, that your kid does well. -Tereza, New York
> I celebrate the way her brain works, pointing out how hard she works to finish her homework, how creative she is, and the entertaining solutions she comes up with. She's proud of her differences, and this builds her up before the world can make her feel bad. -Heather, Alaska
> I do something active with him. We go down to the beach to swim (he loves it) or take a long bike ride. -Sherran, New Zealand

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Chiropractic and ADHD

Chiropractic adjustments play an important role in helping balance the brain, because when the spine is adjusted, it sends information that travels to various parts that have been shown to be involved in ADHD such as the cerebellum and right hemisphere.  When complemented with exercises and activities that specifically target the weak or delayed hemisphere, the results can be phenomenal.
For example, in one study done by a chiropractic neurologist in New York, it was shown that, with the proper natural approach, 80% of ADHD children where so improved that they no longer met diagnostic criteria.  And that happened in just 12 weeks!
That doesn't mean that chiropractic will cure ADHD, but it will go a long way in helping the child behave better and function at their best.
Contact us today at drflemming@embarqmail to get your questions answered and find out how the Whole Child Wellness brain balancing program can help.