Is ADD or ADD/ADHD A Big Fat Lie?

Pesticides have been linked to the dramatic increase in ADD/ADHD. Lowered children's IQs, increased problems focusing and solving problems, as well as reduced physical coordination are linked to exposure to organophosphates between pregnancy and grade school, studies show. And some common items in your child's diet make it worse.


Organophosphates are pesticides commonly sprayed on fruits and vegetables, so even if the mother ate a "healthy" diet during pregnancy, her chances of having a child with ADD/ADHD increased by 30-50%, depending on her level of exposure.

A 2010 study analyzed the levels of organophosphate residues in the urine of more than 1,100 children between 8 and 15 years of age, and found that those with the highest levels of the breakdown products of organophosphate pesticides, also had the highest incidence of ADHD.

Food colorings and additives also have been shown to increase hyperactivity and allergies. And then there are simple carbohydrates and sugar.

It has been proven that we can only really learn when we are in a calm and relaxed environment. Yet our children are experiencing a cauldron of chemical reactions in their little bodies. It is not only the chemicals themselves but also their interaction with one another, amplifying their effects.

With all of these chemicals, food colorings and sugar in their blood stream, is it realistic to expect that children will sit quietly in a classroom, pay attention to the teacher and learn what is being taught?

The most common breakfast food, cereal, will give the child a boost of energy (which is labeled as hyperactivity) and then his/her energy will crash in one hour or two (which is labeled as 'problems focusing'). If the child has a candy then, this cycle will repeat itself throughout the day, leaving him/her depleted, completely unable to learn and exhausted in the evening. (As a side note, this eating pattern is a sure way to have hypoglycemia, Syndrome X, and eventually diabetes.)

Moreover, without the proper tools to express himself/herself clearly how can he/she manage these energy variations when the two most basic antidotes for it, protein and exercise, are not readily available?

What can your child do to release this excess energy from his/her body? They will fidget in their seat, start talking to their peers, laugh, and disrupt the lesson. Because their brain chemistry is off kilter they can't concentrate on what is being taught. And then they're sent to the school nurse to be assessed and the diagnosis many times is "ADD/ADHD." They go home with a note from the school's nurse and a prescription for either Ritalin or Adderall, adding insult to injury.

So how to reverse this trend?

Start with diet and exercise. Choose protein and complex carbohydrates from whole grains and vegetables as your child's main fuel sources, especially for breakfast.

Include exercise in your child's daily routine, even if it is a 5 minute brisk walk around the house or 10 jumping jacks after getting up.

Recent studies prove that serotonin, one of the hormones that regulate our mood, sleep and learning ability, is largely produced in the gut.

Improve your child's intestinal flora by giving him/her probiotics as a supplement and/or by including organic yogurt and fermented foods in his/her diet, such as sauerkraut, pickles, fermented lemons or oranges.

As you improve their intestinal flora, their serotonin levels will increase, making their moods more leveled throughout the day and affording them a better night's sleep. Which, in turn, will lead to a decrease in hyperactivity and better learning.

When you implement these simple changes for your child you prevent him/her from being labeled as ADD/ADHD.

Plus you will avoid the side effects that harsh prescription drugs bring.

What else can you do to help your child?

For over 2 decades Dr. Chrys has helped children and adults improve their health naturally, blending the best of Western and Eastern methodology, and she found the missing element that improves health rapidly.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Chrys_Ghiraldini

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