Happy Tuesday! Just checking in...have you had your ADD moment yet today??? I know before changing my diet I used to get them a lot. Walking into a room and forgetting what I went in there for. Forgetting what I was saying mid-sentence. It was pretty bad. As adults it a bit easier for us to laugh off, but for kiddos ADD can be not only be frustrating and isolating but it can cause tension at home, poor school performance and poor social skills. Good news is that as an adult or as a child, there are many natural ways to remedy ADD and its symptoms.
According to Sanford Newmark, MD, author of ADHD Without Drugs: A guide to Natural Care of children with ADHD, there are 5 main areas to consider and treat first before resorting to drugs. Currently, there are 2.5 million children on Ritalin, yes 2.5 million. Are our kids Ritalin deficient? No, often they are nutritionally deficient and on stimulation overhaul.
ADD is very often misdiagnosed. Kids who are not being challenged enough in school or who may not have a good personality fit with their teacher often act out because they lack the ability to communicate their frustration. Sometimes children (and adults) are misdiagnosed with ADD, while other, more serious issues such as depression, anxiety, or learning disorders are overlooked.
Here are a few suggestions from Dr. Newmark to help reduce and sometimes eliminate the symptoms of ADD. No matter what age you are these changes can help heal a broken brain, eliminate brain fog, increase energy and productivity during your busy day.
#1: Nutrition
Food is the most powerful drug we put in our body, it has the ability to create heart disease, diabetes, cancer and ADD/ADHD. The good news is that food has the same power to create tremendous health. Often we start our day, or our kids day, packed with sugar: pop tarts, breakfast cereal (even the "healthy" ones are packed with sugar and artificial ingredients), toast, pancakes, the list goes on and on. We start our day on a sugar high and then have high expectations of how well we perform for the rest of our day. How much sense does that make? None at all. Starting your day off with a nutritious breakfast, and continuing throughout the day, can make a world of difference in the rest of your day.
#2: Allergies and Food Sensitivities
Did you know that the dyes found in food often cause ADD/ADHD symptoms in kids? Take away the artificial food dye and wa-la, ADD/ADHD symptoms disappear like magic. This is not the only food allergy or sensitivity, there are a lot out there, but this is one that is often overlooked. Gatorade, Vitamin Water, drinks that we think are "good" for us and our children are packed with artificial coloring that really hinders brain function.
#3: Omega 3's
These all too important fatty acids are key for optimal brain and body function. Omega 3's reduce inflammation in the body (some research says that ADD/ADHD is a result of microscopic inflammation of the brain), improve cellular health, improve circulation, reduce blood pressure and reduce triglyceride levels.
#4: Mineral Deficiency
Basic mineral deficiency can lead to ADD/ADHD symptoms. For example zinc, magnesium and iron deficiencies have been shown to produce ADD/ADHD like symptoms. To find out if you are depleted in these minerals have your doctor do a simple blood test to find out what your levels are.
#5: TV and Video Games
New research is showing a direct relationship to the amount of TV or video games a child watches or plays and their chance of being diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. Both very overstimulating can hinder a child's ability to focus or concentrate for a period of time.
For you or your kiddos these are some basic things that you can integrate into your life to increase productivity (at school or at work), decrease fatigue and stress, improve overall mood and quality of life. I hope that you can make some changes and see how easy it can be to get rid of those ADD "moments" in your life.
Know that you are not alone in this journey. We have many resources to help you on your path to optimum health and wellness. Feel free to post questions here or email info@discovermassage.org. Have a happy, healthy, ADD-free, week!
Information from this article was taken from The Huffington Post. Click Here to see the full article.
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