Attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder otherwise known as ADD and ADHD will be the topic for today and of course some healthy habits.

The Mayo Clinic defines ADHD as being a chronic condition that affects millions of children.  ADHD had a combination of challenges which can be any or all of the following, difficulty sustaining attention, hyper activity, impulsive behaviour, low self esteem, poor performance in school, challenges with relationships.  ADHD has no cure but can be managed. ADD has the same list minus the hyper activity. More boys are diagnosed with ADHD or ADD than girls.

In my opinion ADD and ADHD is an overused term and is absolutely over diagnosed.

Let me give you an example; male 8 years old, diagnosed ADHD, is experiencing all six of the aforementioned symptoms of ADHD and the end result is the “system” school and medical want him medicated.  The parents brought some school work to show me. I asked him to read the sentences, he struggled, I asked him to print the sentences, he couldn’t.  No wonder he has low self esteem, poor performance in school etc. etc. he actually had a learning challenge that I actually have no idea why it wasn’t picked up earlier but my point is, it wasn’t.  This is one of more than a handful of children I have personally worked with that in fact were labelled ADHD but were not.

There are some children that can be set “off” into hyperactivity, which results in attention deficit by some foods.  This I can agree with.  Different children, different food sensitivities.  The obvious food triggers are sugar, wheat and I don’t just mean a slice of bread but wheat is in a tremendous amount of foods, diary and additives like MSG.  Did you know MSG is a neuro toxin and crosses the blood brain barrier?  Some other neurotoxins are aspartame, fluoride, splenda as well as many pharmaceutical drugs. Look up what neurotoxins do in the body.

Some children actually do have a challenge with focus or attention and because of this they get frustrated, seem to have impulsive behaviour, low self esteem, poor performance in school and challenges with relationships. One of the best foods that can be added to anyone’s food intake to help with their focus is bee pollen. You have to start very slowly with bee pollen, no more then 1/8 of a tsp and slowly increase in quantity and times taken throughout the day.  Of course if you have an allergy to bees you need to take one granule and place it in the palm of your hand. Close your hand for a few minutes.  When you open your hand notice if there is any swelling or red marks where the bee pollen came in contact with your hand. If you did you need to only take 1 granule at a time and work your way up to 1/8th of a teaspoon or refrain from taking it.  I personally prefer bee pollen granules to capsules. Bee pollen can be taken straight or add it yogurt, peanut butter, just use your imagination.

Depending on the individual child you may need to add calcium magnesium, good fats like lecithin, coconut oil and EFA’s.  Of course there are some great homeopathic medicines to help with ADHD and ADD.

I want to make one last point.  Some children don’t learn well sitting in rows in school.  Some children are athletic or creative and require an outlet during the day. I find it interesting that many children who can sit for hours playing a video game get labelled hyper or attention deficient.  You cannot sit for more then 20-30 minutes and have total focus on a game and have attention deficit.  Many adults have a hard time sitting through 30 minutes of a lecture, so how do you expect children to be any different.

Diane Elms D.H.M.H.S. CCI, CCII, Homeopath, Specializing in Drugless Cancer Care, 2006 Iridologist of the Year, if you have any health related questions contact diane@choicesforhealthandharmony.com or 905 768 0848.