Help for ADD/ADHD

By Dr. Len Lopez, Christian Post Guest Columnist Thursday, August 30, 2007

With school starting back up, a big concern for parents, teachers and students are, how can we help those who suffer with Attention Deficit Disorder ADD and Attention Deficit with Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD? Passing out drugs to calm and control kids is great for the parents and teachers. But the latest research shows that drugs to treat ADD/ADHD can stunt the growth of your child.

It was thought that once these kids quit taking these medications, there normal growth rate would return. It's not happening so if you are looking for some safe alternatives to help your child there are some simple and inexpensive things that can be done.

Making some Changes…

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Our major concern is blood sugar, because when blood sugar drops it hampers normal brain function. If the brain isn't being properly fueled, how can you expect a child or adults to think clearly, comprehend and process information, concentrate or stay focused on one subject? It doesn't happen if your blood sugar keeps dropping because of poor dietary choices.

The main source of fuel for the brain is glucose, sugar – carbohydrates! When your blood sugar drops because you skipped a meal or ate refined, processed foods – your brain will not function and process information accurately. This is one of the biggest reasons why children have a hard time staying focused and in control – their blood sugar drops and the brains main source of fuel, glucose is depleted. This holds true for adults! How many people become moody, irritable, or can't concentrate when their meals are missed or delayed? Their blood sugar dropped which affected mental clarity. So diet is very important!

Soft drinks, fruit juices and other beverages made with "high fructose corn syrup, maltodextrins and sucrose" are notorious for throwing your blood sugar off. As are fast foods, packaged, refined and frozen foods. Cereals, bagels, muffins, biscuits, pancakes, waffles, etc… made with processed and refined sugar and flours are a NO-NO! They cause your blood sugar to skyrocket up and rollercoaster down. Is that you or your child's typical diet? And you wonder why you struggle with ADD/ADHD.

Another contributing factor for ADD/ADHD are "hidden food allergens." Many traditional doctors only think allergies provoke rashes, watery eyes and sneezing, but there are thousands of studies implicating food allergens. Most food allergies are subtle and hard to correlate because they usually appear 24-72 hours after ingesting them. Yet they can cause mental disorganization and further contribute to your attention difficulties.

The common food allergens to avoid are dairy, wheat, corn, soy, artificial sweeteners, peanuts and MSG. It is important to refrain from ALL of these foods for a minimum of two weeks. Dairy includes milk, yogurt, ice cream, cheese, creamy sauces and soups. While wheat and corn can be found in breads, bagels, pancakes, waffles, crackers, cookies, pizza, etc. Basically anything made with flour!

The one thing you need to be adding to your child's diet are fish oils, the omega-3 fatty acids. Countless studies have shown the benefits of good quality fats that contain high amounts of EPA and DHA. Back in the old days, we use to swallow spoonfuls of cod liver oil, which happens to contain high levels of the good omega-3 fatty acids. Are you and your kids getting enough good fats?

Overcoming the negatives…

ADD/ADHD like any other health concern is a game of plusses and minuses. Nourish (add) your body with good nutrition and "stop" (subtract) doing things that make you worse. If you can't figure out why your kids are so difficult to manage – have you looked at what you've been feeding them? Is everything they eat processed or refined? Loaded with high fructose corn syrup? Void of any nutritional value?

Make the necessary changes over the next two weeks. Let your kids read this article to help them understand what they are going to be doing. This will make it easier for everyone to follow. If you are not sure what to feed your kids, try our NatraLean Health bars. They are a perfect meal replacement or snack specifically made without any of the common food allergens. They are loaded with 7 grams of the good monounsaturated fats, and have a nice balance of protein to help keep your blood sugar stable. Best of all they taste great.

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Dr. Len Lopez is the author of "To Burn or Not to Burn, Fat is the Question" and hosts the radio show "Action Steps for Health. He is a nutrition and fitness expert and speaks extensively on how to "treat the cause – not the symptoms. To learn more about health and healing take the "online health quizzes" or sign up to receive his weekly health journal Health Tips with Dr. Len.