ADHD is not "all in the head"
 Did you know that ADHD is not "all in the head" and it is not purely a genetic condition? Environmental factors (including diet, history of medication use, toxin exposures among others) are the leading causes of neurobehavioral disorders like ADHD. The good news is that ADHD can be reversed with an appropriate holistic or integrative approach. While stimulant medication can help manage some symptoms of ADHD; Integrative Medicine offers hope for reversal.
Good Fats are important for Brain Health! Work good fats into your diet such as Omega 3s (sources include fish like wild salmon or seeds such as flaxseed) and monounsaturated fats (like that found in avocado). Here's a recipe for avocado pudding--a great way to get your child to eat nutrient-dense avocados. This recipe can be made gluten-free, casein-free, egg-free, soy-free, and nut-free! Click here for the recipe
Epidemic Answers' Volunteer Highlight
This edition's volunteer MVP is Maria Rickert Hong. Maria is a contributor to the Epidemic Answers blog and is also the face behind Facebook, Twitter and other social media--enriching us all with interesting research and the latest news. Thanks for your great work, Maria! To follow us on facebook, click hereTo read some of Maria's excellent blog articles, click here.
It's winter, do you know your Vitamin D levels?
For the vast majority of Americans, especially those who live north of Atlanta, Georgia, sun-derived vitamin D is in short supply. Unfortunately, vitamin D deficiency can contribute to any number of health conditions, including ADHD. In fact, according to the vitamin D Council, "current research has implicated vitamin D deficiency as a major factor in the pathology of at least 17 varieties of cancer, as well as heart disease, stroke, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, depression, chronic pain, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, muscle wasting, birth defects, periodontal disease and more." Want to know if you or someone in your family is vitamin D deficient? Click here to learn more.
Detox Your Life Tip #1: When buying fruits and vegetables be aware of the "dirty dozen" --the fruits and vegetables most heavily sprayed with pesticide. Buy organic if you eat these: 1. Celery 2. Peaches 3. Strawberries 4. Apples 5. Blueberries 6. Nectarines 7. Bell Peppers 8. Spinach 9. Cherries 10. Kale/Collard Greens 11. Potatoes 12. Grapes (Imported) See the Environmental working group's Dirty Dozen List along with their "Clean Fifteen" by visiting their website at www.ewg.org
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What's gluten got to do with it? Could a gluten sensitivity be affecting your child's mood and behavior? Read registered dietitian Vicki Kobliner's take on the Gluten-Mood Connection in Natural Nutmeg (go to page 16) Learn more
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Epidemic Answers Winter Newsletter
This edition of the Epidemic Answers newsletter puts a spotlight on ADHD, a condition affecting at least 1 in 10 American children. Read on to learn more about ADHD and how you can help a child (or adult) recover from ADHD and associated neurobehavioral disorders.
In This Edition: - Gail Szakacs, MD, integrative physician specializing in ADHD and autism spectrum disorders, provides some insight into the root causes of ADHD and what can be done to reverse the symptoms.
- Read a case study where a child recovered from ADHD without using medication. Mark Hyman, MD, used a functional medicine approach to reverse the symptoms of ADHD in a 10 year old boy named Clayton. Read an excerpt from Dr. Hyman's bestselling book, The UltraMind Solution to learn about Clayton's recovery.
- New Research on ADHD
ADHD Without Drugs
By Gail Szakacs, MD
What is ADHD?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD) is an increasingly common behavioral disorder characterized by
impulsivity, inattentiveness, and hyperactivity. According to
Swanson, et al in
Neuropsych Review in 2007, there was a 400%
increase in ADHD over the past 20 years and a 7-fold increase in prescription
medications for ADHD. Although it is largely
diagnosed in children or adolescents, ADHD also affects adults and the negative
impact it can have on learning, school or work performance, and personal
relationships is universal.
Are Pharmaceuticals the Right
Treatment Choice?
Pharmaceuticals may act as a patch and cause
improvement, but they often mask signs and symptoms of underlying medical problems
and thus are often ineffective. In
those with co-morbid psychiatric illnesses, the medication used for ADHD
(usually stimulants) can even be dangerous.
Spencer, et al proposed that many with ADHD have
undiagnosed bipolar disorder and stimulant medications used in ADHD may
exacerbate that problem.
Clayton's Story
Excerpted from The UltraMind Solution, by Mark Hyman. MD
Clayton had problems for most of
his young life. Almost from the moment he was born he was sick. He had
perpetual ear infections, colds, flu, and serious nasal allergies. He felt VERY
poorly a lot of the time, and as a parent that was extremely difficult. The
last thing you want is for your children to be sick, and Clayton was sick
almost all the time.
What was even stranger was that
Clayton had a very difficult time sleeping. Obviously, when you have kids, you
expect that for the first six months or year they aren't going to sleep through
the night. But even by the age of 10 Clayton was still waking up every night
and having such a hard time going back to sleep that he would wake us up and
get in bed with us.
If you're a parent, you can
imagine how hard that was for everyone in the house. We were all sleep
deprived. For poor Clayton it was worst of all. It was like he barely slept for
the first 10 years of his life–he must have felt like he was going crazy.
These
problems were difficult to manage, but it was when Clayton started school that
we realized how severe his problem actually was. Once we were able to compare
his development and social skills against the other kids in his class, it
quickly became clear that Clayton had a real problem. Read on
Recognizing ADHD, Know the Signs and SymptomsSome common signs and symptoms of ADHD include: - difficulty paying attention
- excessive daydreaming
- does not seem to listen
- impulsivity--acting and speaking without thinking
- difficulty taking turns
- consistently interrupts others
- forgetfulness
- constantly in motion, fidgeting, or squirming
Latest Research on ADHD
ADHD and the Impact of Diet Changes In a recent study out of the Netherlands, researchers found that children with ADHD saw symptom improvement by following an elimination diet (removing foods to which they were sensitive/allergic). Read more in this Lancet article.
The evidence is mounting. Children with ADHD do better off of artificial food colorings and common food allergens (e.g., wheat, dairy, egg, soy, corn.). See a recent review study published in Clinical Pediatrics
Children with ADHD show significant improvement by supplementing their diets with Essential Fatty Acids (such as Omega 3s), and other nutrients such as Zinc and Magnesium. Read the research here.
FIND HELP
Looking for a healthcare practitioner who can help recover your child from ADHD? See our links to provider directories of healthcare practitioners who use holistic or integrative approaches to the treatment of ADHD.
Do you have a physician or other healthcare practitioner that has helped your child recover from (or improve the symptoms of) ADHD? We'd love to add them to our growing provider database. Email us at info@epidemicanswers.org.
Resources for Parents of Children with ADHD
Does your child have ADHD? The following books may provide some answers and useful tools to help you understand and improve your child's condition.
Healing and Recovery by Kenneth Bock, MD
Why does my child have ADHD?
Understanding Learning and ADHD
Get Help From Other Parents! Want to connect with other parents and caregivers who have recovered, or are recovering, their children from ADHD, food-allergies, asthma, or other chronic illnesses and symptoms? Join the Epidemic Answers online discussion group by clicking here: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Epidemicanswers/
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