Controlling Childhood Disorders with Diet

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD), asthma, and allergies are leading childhood disorders that are growing in numbers each year. Many of these are controlled with medication, some being controversial such as Ritalin for AD/HD. But what if you could alleviate some, or all of your child's symptoms with diet? Many researchers believe you can by eliminating foods containing substances that are unnecessary, but may cause an allergic reaction in some children.

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

AD/HD is a neurobiological disability that affects three-to-five percent of school-age children. It is characterized by symptoms of inappropriate impulsivity, lack of long-term attention, and in some cases hyperactivity.

When a child is diagnosed with AD/HD, it is usually recommended to place her on psychostimulant medications, such as Ritalin, and possibly an antidepressant and antihypertensive. These medications increase attention and decrease impulsivity, hyperactivity, and aggression. But these medications do not come without risks. Common side-effects are reduction in appetite and difficulty sleeping. Other side-effects include "stimulant rebound" - moodiness or hyperactivity as a result of the medication wearing off; possible slowing of normal height and weight gain; and the development of tics, involuntary motor movements such as eye-blinking, throat clearing, and shrugging. In some extreme cases, these drugs can cause stroke or heart attack.

Mary B. knows all too well the side-effects caused by these medications. Three years ago her then eight-year-old son, Jacob, began taking medication when he was diagnosed with AD/HD. Soon he developed sleeplessness and loss of appetite, which caused swift mood changes in his behavior. Frantic, she began looking for a way to address these problems.