http://www.care2.com/greenliving/help-your-child-focus-naturally.html
Help Your Child Focus Naturally
By Sara Novak, Planet Green
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is thought to affect between three to five percent of children. Many take prescription drugs to address symptoms associated with ADHD. According to an editorial in the British Medical Journal, eliminating artificial color additives and preservatives from the diets of children diagnosed with ADHD should be considered part of the standard treatment. Of course you should consult your pediatrician before making any changes to your child’s treatment for ADHD, but since diet is heavily linked to child’s focus issues some dietary changes could naturally increase your child’s focus in school. Consider one of these suggestions:
Foods with refined sugar, too many carbohydrates, and corn syrup are said to aggravate ADHD. Food allergies, heavy metal toxicity, and caffeine found in sodas can make focusing difficult. Additionally, essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency has been linked to ADHD in many cases. So skip the junk food, processed foods, and sodas. If you think your child could have EFA, try using flax seed oil. Add flax seeds to smoothies or oatmeal.
A hungry child has trouble focusing. When blood sugars are low brain function decreases. Serve your child whole foods like fruits, oatmeal, and whole grain toasts. On a special day, try my sweet potato pancakes:
- Sweet Potatoes Pancakes
1 cup grated organic sweet potatoes, roasted and mashed
3/4 cup whole organic wheat flour
1 tbsp sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp sea salt
2 tbsp olive oilBeat all of the ingredients together until smooth.Pour mixture into skillet with olive oil until the mixture is brown on one side (it will bubble). Do the same with the other side.Serve with good quality organic butter and real maple syrup. Serves 3
This is the easiest way to ensure that your child isn’t eating tons of additives. Here’s a guide to packing a greener lunch.
Planet Green is the multi-platform media destination devoted to the environment and dedicated to helping people understand how humans impact the planet and how to live a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle. Its two robust websites, planetgreen.com and TreeHugger.com, offer original, inspiring, and entertaining content related to how we can evolve to live a better, brighter future. Planet Green is a division of Discovery Communications.
More from Megan, selected from Planet Green (26 articles available)
related stories
-
planetgreen1
(1 comment)
-
(6 comments)
- planetgreen1
Robyn
Melissa
Deepak
Eric
Dave
Dr. Brent
Isha
Susan
Delia
Michelle
Wendy
Megan
Hilary
Ann
Judi
Ronnie
Kelly
Lily
Terri
Betsy
Cait
Andrew
Jana
Annie B.
Veronica
9 comments
add your comment »Boris,
Just count yourself lucky that you don't have a child with this problem. It doesn't matter what it is called, the symptoms are what make a child miserable when they cannot make themselves focus or control impulsivity. We have tried every medication on the market and most accepted alternative medicine/treatments.. and yes, our kid is in fast-moving physical excersize daily. Most kids are wiggily and active and loud, but this is not what we are talking about, this is when it becomes a huge problem in their lives. Do you think it is really that simple? It is my guess that you don't have ANY children.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
very useful info. thanks to everyone's comments I have learned something or a few somethings once again! Thanks.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
While you are at it, consider whether your child may be one of those affected by chemicals in the environment - including cleaning products, pesticides, fragrance chemicals, endocrine disrupters. As Director of the Toxics Information Project (TIP), I've heard from numbers of parents whose children had radical improvement when they cleared their classroom of such toxic products - along with those permanent markers. For more info, see: www.toxicsinfo.org/TIPS_kids.htm www.toxicsinfo.org/healthyschools.htm
www.toxicsinfo.org/healthconnections.htm
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Re. the recipe: really best to skip the sugar. It's in so much already to begin with.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Boris, I wish that ADHD symptoms could be addressed simply by providing more physical and mental stimulation. Trust me, as a parent of one child with severe ADHD symptoms, it is not that easy. Keeping kids off junk food, food dyes, preservatives, ect is absolutely essential as is supplementing the diet. My son found that fish oil helped his concentration more than medication did.
In addition to fatty acid deficiency, there has been a strong correlation with zinc deficiency and zinc is involved in over 200 processes in the body. There are also many people with allergies or sensitivities to corn, wheat, and dairy so avoiding these foods is helpful in reducing the symptoms.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Why even give hyperactivity a fancy name like "ADHD"? I don't believe it's a disease at all -- it's NORMAL. Many kids simply have a lot of nervous energy. Sure, a good diet will help them focus, but so will challenging their minds and exercising their bodies. Talk with them, give them interesting books to read and to discuss, and then run 'em... hard. Get them involved in sports or other high-energy physical activity. "ADHD" will dissipate naturally if kids get what they need, mentally and physically.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
I ground flax seeds, put them in the jar and in the fridge.I springle it on soup, cereals, pancakes, salad. They even taste great.To go easily to restroom take tsp 3times day and make sure you drink plenty of water after it. And if you are new to it start by 1 tsp.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Put a little uncooked rice in the coffee grinder after grinding the flax seeds and turn it on for a few seconds. That will clean it faster and easier than using a brush.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
flax seeds only work if they are uncooked, and freshly ground. If not ground, they pass through your system unchanged, and if ground longer before, the vitamins are too delicate to last. I just put them in the coffee grinder; I brush it out between ingredients.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Facebook account: