Natural Approaches to ADHD

Nutritional Breakthroughs for ADHD by Angela Stengler, ND Could food allergies be causing your child's ADHD? After a child has been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder, many parents come to me with questions and concerns regarding their child's diagnosis and possible treatments. No one is really sure what causes hyperactivy in children, although there are plenty of culprits people point to--sugar sensitivities, environmental toxins, food allergies--but no one thing has been identified as the specific cause. Unfortunately, when a diagnosis is made, quite often the only solution provided to parents is a prescription for stimulants like Ritalin. However, drugs are not your only choice and there are natural therapies available to you that can safely and effectively treat ADHD in your child--and without any of the negative side effects caused by some drug therapies. I have outlined several below. Read them, and then consult with your pediatrician or naturopath to see which treatment would be best suited for your child. POSSIBLE CAUSES OF ADHD Food additives Over 5,000 food additives are present in the food supply, and according to Benjamin Feingold, MD, 40 to 50 percent of all hyperactive children have some sort of sensitivity to the artificial colorings, flavorings and preservatives used in many processed foods. Feingold bases his claims on 1,200 cases of learning and behavior disorders observed in childern that were linked directly to food additives. This seems to suggest that there is a direct correlation between diets high in processed foods and hyperactivity in children. How Villainous is Sugar? For some kids, sugar is a major factor in mood, behavior and attention patterns. It has been demonstrated that destructive, aggressive and restless behavior correlates directly with the amount of sugar consumed on a daily basis. Once again, diet is both the problem and the solution. Food Allergies/Sensitivities The most common food sensitivities in children are to the following foods: •sugar •cow's milk •wheat •chocolate •soy •citrus fruit •corn •peanuts Double-blind studies have shown that when children with ADHD follow a hypoallergenic diet, substantial improvement in their symptoms are demonstrated. It should be noted that food sensitivities and food allergies are not the same thing. Food allergies are present when a child exhibits severe reactions to allergens--like peanuts or albumen from eggs--present in foods. Symptoms can include, shortness of breath, breaking out in hives, vomiting or anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition which is characterized by the swelling of the throat and tongue. Food sensitivities are exhibited when a child is given food--like dairy products in the lactose intolerant child--which he is unable to digest properly. Commonly, he will experience indigestion, gas or irritable bowels as a result of eating these foods. If you suspect a food allergy in your child, make an appointment to get him tested. Dietary Steps You Can Take 1. Add more whole foods to the diet (whole grains, legumes, vegetables, fish) while eliminating (or at least decreasing) processed foods that contain white flour, processed sugars and hydrogenated oils (i.e, chips, cookies and sodas). 2. It goes without saying that you should make it your business to read the ingredient labels on all food products you buy for your children. Many parents don't realize that much of the pre-packaged food--including supermarket multi-vitamins and the so-called "fruit" drinks--they give to their children is loaded with artificial sweeteners, preservatives, dyes and other harmful additives that could be triggering specific behavioral and health problems in their children. If the chemical ingredients outnumber organic ingredients--or if they are the first few ingredients listed--on a food label, you may want to consider buying something else. Check labels on milk, meat and eggs too because many farmers feed hormones and antibiotics to their livestock. 3. Shop for organic fruits, vegetables and meats. These are foods that have been grown according to specific agricultural practices (typcially without using chemical pesticides or fertilizers). Hit the health food store for whole grain breads and healthy snacks to give to your kids in place of the processed ones they've been eating. Not only do these foods taste great, but they are much better for your kids overall health (many are lower in fats and sugars). 4. Natural sugars like those found in fruit and fruit juices, or natural sweeteners like honey, blackstrap molasses and rice bran syrup, should replace all processed sugars in your child's diet (this includes raw or brown sugars). If your child drinks a lot of soda make the switch to 100 percent fruit juices and dilute them 50 percent with water. Instead of those sugary breakfast cerals, try feeding your kids oatmeal topped with honey and fresh fruit, or give them naturally sweetened granola or muesli. They'll have more energy between breakfast and lunch, and their teachers will love you for it. 5. Eliminate all the foods listed under Food Allergies/Sensitivies from your child's diet for four weeks and see if their behavior improves. Wheat alternatives, such as oat, kamut and spelt, are available at most health food stores as are milk alternatives like calcium-enriched rice or oat milk. Both taste great and come in flavors like chocolate and vanilla. Yogurt made from goat's milk should be substituted for products made from cow's milk (the same is true for cheeses, too). Other Potential Factors Could food allergies be causing your child's ADHD? NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES & ADHD Nutritional deficiencies are a widespread cause of learning and behavior problems in children. Studies have shown increased intelligence in children who added multivitamin supplements to their daily diets. Thiamin, niacin, vitamins B6 and B12, copper, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium and zinc are nutrients that play a vital role in proper brain and nervous system function. Many ADHD children can benefit from an extra 500 to 1,000 milligrams of calcium and magnesium in their diet. Food sources are the best means for incorporating these important nutrients into your child's diet (especially as laid out in the previous dietary steps), but if your child can't drink milk or doesn't like to eat his green leafy veggies, vitamin supplements are the next best answer. American Kids Iron Deficient Surprisingly, the most common nutrient deficiency in American children is iron deficiency (again, a direct result of a nutrionally deficient diet). Studies have linked iron deficiency with decreased attentiveness, a narrow attention span and decreased voluntary activity. These symptoms are usually reversed after supplementation. A severe deficiency in iron can lead to anemia, which in turn can lead to listlessness, tiredness and low energy levels in children--symptoms which make it difficult for children to pay attention in school. If you suspect that your child is anemic have him tested by your physician. Always have your child tested for iron deficiency before administering iron supplements. Legumes, green leafy vegetables, blackstrap molasses and lean red meats are the best sources for iron. Look for liquid iron supplements, which are easier for kids to take, and are less likely to cause constipation or stomach upset--two of the occasional side effects of iron supplementation in children. What Are Smart Fats? Current research shows a link between learning and behavioral difficulties and deficiencies in essential fatty acids (EFAs) like docosahexanoic acid (DHA), one of the most important essential fatty acids. EFAs are commonly referred to as Omega 3 and Omega 6 fats. Oils, like evening primrose oil, flaxseed oil and borage oil, are high in EFAs. DHA plays a pivotal role in brain and retina development in babies, and the richest sources of it are a mother's breast milk and fish oils. Researchers at Purdue University looked at the levels of essential fatty acids in children, especially DHA, and found that kids with ADHD tended to have significantly lower levels of essential fatty acids in their blood. Children with ADHD should be given vitamin supplements that contain a combination of essential fatty acids that includes DHA. Nursing your children for as long as possible, and--when they are older--getting them to eat deep water fish like salmon, halibut and tuna are ways to ensure they get enough essential fatty acids into their diet during the crucial developmental years (when the body is still growing and in need of quality nutrients). Phosphatidylserine Phosphatidylserine (known as PS) is a specific brain nutrient that can be supplemented to help promote proper brain and neurological function. It works to balance the cell-to-cell communication that occurs in the brain. I recommend giving PS by itself to children with ADHD or in combination with DHA or the herb ginkgo biloba (which has excellent research supporting its benefit on memory and concentration). PS appears to help improve concentration and have a calming effect on hyperactive kids. Most PS supplements are soy-based. Typical dosage for a 12-year-old would be 200 to 400 milligrams daily. Consult your naturopathic physician or nutritionist for specific dosage requirements for your child based on his age, size and weight. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS Heavy Metals Finally, numerous studies have found a strong relationship between childhood learning disabilities and body storage of heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, copper and manganese). Heavy metals are stored in the bones and fatty tissues of the body, like the liver and the kidneys, and high levels in very young children can hinder proper development of the brain and central nervous system. Lead is the primary culprit of heavy metal toxicity in young children, especially among toddlers living in old houses where they eat the lead paint that chips off of walls and windowsills. A child who is suffering from mild lead or heavy metal poisoning may not exhibit any specific symptoms, so a hair analysis is the best screening test for heavy metal toxicity and mineral imbalances. What Can You Do? Adding calcium and magnesium supplements to your child's diet is one way to counter potential lead poisoning (in the body, lead competes with calcium. A child exposed to high levels of lead paint dust will absorb the lead and excrete the calicium). January 1999 Dr. Angela Stengler is a certified naturopathic physician based in Oceanside, California. Women's and children's health are the focus of the practice run by her and her husband, Dr. Mark Stengler. In addition to maintaining her medical practice, Dr. Stengler hosts a weekly radio show on natural medicine, and she is the author of several books on the benefits of alternative medicine, which you can find at her Web site, The Natural Physician.