We’ve long suspected that the typical Western diet might be the reason why so many children are diagnosed with ADHD today. The brain requires a healthy number of nutrients, essential fatty acids, and amino acids to release and regulate neurotransmitters (brain chemicals responsible for mood, attention, concentration, and impulse control). Although these nutrients can be obtained from a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables, the typical Western diet has little room for such healthy options. Why? This type of diet prioritizes the convenience of cooking rather than nutritional value. Unfortunately, these fast food meals are high in fat, refined sugar, and sodium, and offer few nutrients in return. Can such a diet be responsible for the increase of ADHD epidemic among children and teens today?
We’ve known for decades that exposure to toxins is one of the leading causes of ADHD, but it’s always unsettling to receive news that confirms this discovery. A 2006 issue of The Lancet recognizes that industrial chemicals (e.g. methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs, and arsenic) are one of the causes of neuro-developmental disorders, violent behavior, lowered IQ, short attention spans, and antisocial behavior. In the same year, a study by the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental health discovered that children who have high levels of a flame retardant called PBDEs in their umbilical cord blood scored lower on mental and physical development tests. More recently, a research study published in the journal Neurotoxicology in 2009 discovered a strong association between polyvinyl chloride (PVC) on floor paneling and the incidence of autism.
Many parents on the lookout for an alternative to Ritalin have resorted to buying one of the many high-powered energy drinks often marketed to young consumers. While children with ADHD need a little help channeling their pent-up energy into productive energy, an energy drink may not be the best way to go about it.
It’s alarming when you realize that many of the medications we take haven’t been tested for their long-term effects on our health. Take for instance the drug Labetalol, a medicine that is sometimes prescribed to women suffering from pregnancy-related hypertension or high blood pressure. A preliminary study in The Netherlands reveals that Labetalol may increase a child’s chances of developing ADHD if his or her mother took the drug during pregnancy.
It’s no big secret that exposure to lead, mercury, and other heavy metals increase the risk of ADHD and other neurological disorders. For centuries, the accidental ingestion of these heavy metals has impaired nervous system development and function. Only in the late 20th century did governments around the world prohibit the use of these products in the manufacture of water pipes and consumer goods. Today, researchers are starting to worry that fluoride, a common chemical compound found in toothpaste and drinking water, may have the same neurotoxic effects as heavy metals. Some evidence suggests that fluoride exposure may be the culprit behind the increased cases of ADHD in the 20th century.
Numerous studies have confirmed that ADHD indeed has a genetic basis, which is worrisome for parents who recognize the symptoms from their childhood experiences. As a result, many companies capitalize on this information by offering home DNA tests for various inherited conditions, including bipolar disorder and ADHD. Can a home DNA test predict the onset of ADHD in your child? How useful can such a test be?
Since the world’s first IVF baby was born in 1978, thousands of children were conceived with the help of in vitro fertilization (IVF), an assisted reproductive technology where the sperm and egg are combined in a lab to form embryos. Although research and emerging technologies have improved the success rate of IVF, one lingering question remains – do children born through IVF grow up as healthy as those conceived the old-fashioned way?
If you are aware that sugar can cause ADHD, then you may no longer buy sweets, pastries, commercial fruit drinks, and other sugary foods when you do the groceries. Instead, you purchase sugar-free alternatives and artificial sweeteners. After all, it would be cruel to deprive your child of these sweet treats. But did you know that sugar-free foods won’t necessarily help your child overcome ADHD? Sugar-free products contain substitutes that children with ADHD can be intolerant to. Below are two sugar-free ingredients that your child needs to avoid, and the surprising truth behind them.
Many allergies cause itchy skin or watery eyes, but some allergic reactions manifest themselves in hyperactive, even violent behavior. Allergy specialist Dr. Doris Rapp has worked with children for decades and is quite appalled to see so many of them being using off-label drugs (drugs that have not been fully evaluated for their safety) for their ADHD symptoms. Many cases of ADHD, she says, are actually due to allergic reactions to food, mold, dust, or chemicals. Watch this amazing video to see exactly how certain foods make a dramatic difference in a child’s behavior.
It’s quite shocking to see how eating the wrong food has such a profound effect on a child’s personality, outlook, and behavior. It’s just as amazing to know that getting rid of the allergenic substance was enough to turn a screaming, flailing child into a calm, peaceful one.
There are two ways to find out if your child’s ADHD symptoms are caused by allergies. The first is through a specialized allergy testing, which is only available among alternative medical practitioners. However, these tests have a serious limitation – although they can confirm any brain-based allergic reactions, they cannot identify exactly what food or substance your child is allergic to. The best way to go about doing this is to go on the allergy diet proposed by Dr. Rapp, also known as the rotation diet. It might be difficult to get used to the rhythm of a rotation diet at first, but you can stop it as soon as you have identified the food your child is allergic to. Start by rotating wheat products and dairy products as these contain gluten and casein, two proteins that are notorious for their impact on behavior and brain activity.
If your child is anything like the children you’ve seen in the video, and if nothing you have done made a difference in your child’s behavior, try to pick up a copy of Dr. Rapp’s book “Is This Your Child?”. This 600-page book is one of the comprehensive resources on allergies, ADHD, and other realistic solutions that will get rid of your child’s problematic behavior.
ADHD cannot be diagnosed by checking off a laundry list of symptoms because many disorders often cause similar problems. Celiac disease is one such overlooked disorder. You might have been aware that food intolerances and intestinal problems have a hand in causing ADHD symptoms. Celiac disease is a condition where a person is intolerant to the plant protein gluten, which is found in wheat and wheat products. When a child with celiac disease eats pizza, pasta, or any food with wheat in it, the immune system reacts by damaging the upper region of the small intestine. The initial damage only amounts to minor inflammation but if the child continues to eat foods with gluten, painful symptoms and impaired nutrient absorption can occur.
