Gail Miller who has a lot to offer as a Mum of an ADHD person.~ her website, her book Is diet a big factor in ADHD people's behaviours and problems?   The doctor that says no... diet has nothing to do with it  The doctor that says yes... and read this to know what you can do to help  Additives can cause problems says another doctor's research  Why can't my child behave?  The controversial Feingold diet. It may be a solution for you  Books with recipes and ideas for diet for everyone  So do you think diet may be a factor? We have found labs with excellent reputations that can test your  ADHD person to see what they are lacking. Most are online and all will help!

Gail Miller

Gail's Book has had excellent reviews, and  is available with online ordering, direct from the UK.We have set up a direct link to a UK internet bookstore if you want to get a copy. Click on the book for the link.

 
 

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 From the National Institute of Mental Health

Understandably, parents who are eager to help their children want to explore every possible option. Many newly touted
treatments sound reasonable. Many even come with glowing reports. A few are pure quackery. Some are even developed by
reputable doctors or specialists--but when tested scientifically, cannot be proven to help.

     Here are a few types of treatment that have not been scientifically shown to be effective in treating the majority of children
or adults with ADHD:

biofeedback
restricted diets
allergy treatments
medicines to correct problems in the inner ear
megavitamins
iropractic adjustment and bone re-alignment
treatment for yeast infection
eye training
special colored glasses

A few success stories can't substitute for scientific evidence. Until sound, scientific testing shows a treatment to be
effective, families risk spending time, money, and hope on fads and false promises. " 

So now we can say we have got that side of the story out of the way, lets find out more from those who think we are what we eat! 

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Past issues of this ezine have covered diet

From a web site that sells an ADHD online magazine, click on this link to browse through the rest of the site. We couldn't find the name of the author to acknowledge him/her. Helping a child with hyperactivity, irritability, learning problems, headaches, fatigue, depression, and/or chronic allergies is like solving a jigsaw puzzle. You have to identify the important pieces of the puzzle and fit them together to complete the puzzle. Here are possible biological pieces to your child's "ADD/ADHD jigsaw puzzle":      - Lead toxicity (rare but extremely important for those who have it).  - Iron deficiency if your child is tired, pale, inattentive and irritable  - Thyroid abnormalities (rare, extremely important for those with it)  - Poor diet  - Food and food additives sensitivities,important for many ADHD  - Essential fatty acid deficiency if your child has excessive thirst, frequent urination, dry skin, dry hair, dandruff and/or brittle nails  - Yeast allergy (important for those children who have taken many antibiotics)  - Inhalant allergies and chemical sensitivities  < - Vitamin and mineral supplements

If your child is taking stimulant medication such as Ritalin, Adderall or Cylert, don't stop this medicine without
thoroughly discussing this treatment with your doctor. What are the pros and cons of medication?

First, the pros:

-These drugs work quickly so you'll know if they're going to help or not (the dosage may have to be
adjusted by your doctor).

- The medications are relatively inexpensive and have been used for many years. For families with children
who are about to be expelled from school or where the family structure is falling apart, stimulant
medication may provide some relief. Many of the parents I've interviewed in our study at Purdue
University commented that medication had been a life saver.

What are the cons?

- About 30% of children with ADHD do not respond to medication.

- Some children experience side effects such as appetite reduction. This may lead to a reduced intake of
foods containing essential nutrients. This problem can be somewhat overcome by giving medication
after meals and offering only healthy foods.

Some children may be especially difficult to manage late in the day and evening when the medication has
worn off. This can be a trial for families who are tired and stressed out at the end of the day.

children on stimulant medication complain of frequent stomachaches and headaches.

- One to two percent of children on stimulant medication may develop tics.

- Medication does not answer the important questions, "Why is my child hyperactive? What is
physiologically causing this behavior?" It's like taking an aspirin for a headache--it helps the
headache but does not address the basic cause of the pain.

- Many parents do not like the idea of medicating their children for any length of time

-Some children don't like the way the stimulant medications make them feel.

- Surprisingly, some long term studies of children who have taken stimulant medication do not show that
these individuals are better off than those who did not take medication.

>So there are no easy answers to these issues. But many children with ADHD have significantly improved or
achieved "normal" behavior after searching for and correcting biological factors.

North Shore Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, Manhasset, New York.

The attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) is a neurophysiologic problem that is detrimental to children and their
parents. Despite previous studies on the role of foods, preservatives and artificial colorings in ADHD this issue remains
controversial. This investigation evaluated 26 children who meet the criteria for ADHD. Treatment with a multiple item
elimination diet showed 19 children (73%) responded favorably, P < .001. On open challenge, all 19 children reacted to many
foods, dyes, and/or preservatives. A double-blind placebo controlled food challenge (DBPCFC) was completed in 16 children.
There was a significant improvement on placebo days compared with challenge days (P = .003). Atopic children with ADHD
had a significantly higher response rate than the nonatopic group. This study demonstrates a beneficial effect of eliminating
reactive foods and artificial colors in children with ADHD. Dietary factors may play a significant role in the etiology of the
majority of children with ADHD.

The Feingold diet~ controversial for many, and a real solution for others.

 Why Can't My Child Behave?

by Jane Hersey The Feingold® Association of the United States announces a new book which brings Dr. Feingold's work up to date.   About the Book & Author   PART ONE -- Introduction to diet, learning, & behavior   PART TWO -- Additives: those funny things in food   PART THREE -- Coping Skills   PART FOUR -- The Cost to Society

Why Can't My Child Behave? is written by Jane Hersey, editor of the Pure Facts Newsletter; in its 480 pages, the
book comprises 15 years of experience in the Feingold Association -- experience helping thousands of new
members help their children, and experience being a member and watching her own children grow. Our Price: $US22.00
click on the book for a direct link to a safe and secure online bookseller.

In 1974, Dr. Ben Feingold's book, Why Your Child is Hyperactive, burst onto the scene, shaking up the medical and industrial establishments in the United States, as well as abroad. The effects continue to this day. What looked like a modest little book about a doctor and the children he helped has had a positive effect on the lives of many thousands of people. It has triggered far-reaching changes in what we eat and how health, learning and behavior is perceived. But while the affected industries are well aware of the enormous potential of Dr. Feingold's work, most of the public is not. This is why you may have had to search long and hard to find our association, and it is why you may be having trouble gaining the cooperation of those around you. This book can help.

 It's contents are:

PART ONE -- an introduction to diet, learning, and behavior    Tell Me About Your Child    The Ages and Stages of ADD/ADHD    Questions Parents Ask    Four Days of Feingold: a Trial Diet    Can a Diet Help Improve Your Child's Behavior?    Our Kids -- on the Program for More than a Decade    How Can I Gain My Child's Cooperation?    How Do I Actually Begin?    Stage One

PART TWO -- Additives: What are all those funny things in food?    Food Colorings    Flavorings    The Troublesome Antioxidants    Five "Little" Food Additives    Other Additives    Salicylates: What's Wrong with Apple Juice?    Foods: from Bread to Wine

PART THREE -- Coping Skills
 

If You Hate Cooking    Saving Money on Food    Low Cholesterol Diets and Feingold    How do you Deal with Cheating?    When Dad Won't Cooperate    Grandparents    Parenting the Feingold Teen    Health and Illness    Seasons and Holidays    Your Child in School    Social Skills Deficits    How Food Additives Affect the Brain    Medication for ADD On the Program Away from Home ......Church ......Camp ......Restaurants

Travel Abroad    Babies and Adults    Non-foods can Trigger Reactions ......Carpet, Cosmetics, Paint, Perfume    Other Problems ......Arthritis ......Asthma ......Autism ......Bedwetting ......Depression ......Ear Infections ......Eye Muscle Disorders ......Hives ......Seizure Disorders ......Sleep Disorders ......Tourette Syndrome    Food Allergies

   To further review the book, Why Your Child is Hyperactive having seen the contents above, click here
 

The A.D.D. and A.D.H.D. Diet! : A Comprehensive Look at Contributing  Factors and Natural Treatments for Symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder       and hyp  by Rachel Bell, Howard Peiper, Nina Anderson (Editor), Doris Rapp  Our Price: $9.95  A reader from usa , January 23, 1999  excellent alternative to giving children drugs   I highly recommend this book to all teachers, doctors and parents. I am very grateful to the authors.    irjvdls@pacbell.net from U.S.A. , April 15, 1998   A good book, informative, alternate solution and a choice. Good information to read. It gives a person education on a subject that could influence a treatment for an ADD or ADHD child. It is good to know that medication is not the only choice a parent has for a child's treatment.

Carbohydrate-Addicted Kids : Help Your Child or Teen Break Free of Junk   Food and Sugar Cravings-For Life!  by Rachael F. Heller, Richard Ferdinand Heller

Doctor, What Should I Eat? : Nutrition Prescriptions for Ailments in Which  Diet Can Really Make a Difference  by Isadore Rosenfeld, Asadore Rosenfeld

Eat Right for Your Type :  The Individualized Diet Solution to Staying Healthy, Living Longer & Achieving Your Ideal Weight  by Peter J., Dr. D'Adamo, Catherine Whitney (Contributor), Dr. Peter J D'Adamo Click herefor direct ordering  A reader from St. Louis, Missouri , May 19, 1999 A truly extraordinary book deserving the broadest audience  I have long believed that in matters of health "one size does not fit all," and Dr. D'Adamo finally and  brilliantly explained why a diet that works for one person might fail for another. This book represents  a breakthrough insight into diet and, more importantly, all aspects of health. Whether you are  interested in the science, the anthropology, or the diet concepts, this book is an absolute must read.

Antioxidant Power: 366 Delicious Recipes for Great Health and Long Life  by Dolores Riccio

The Complete Book of Alternative Nutrition : Powerful New Ways to Use  Foods, Supplements, Herbs and Special Diets to Prevent and Cure Disease  by Selene Yeager, Jennifer Haigh, Sari Harrar, Prevention Magazine hea, Sar I. Harrar

Eat Smart, Think Smart : How to Use Nutrients and Supplements to Achieve  Maximum Mental and Physical Performance  by Robert Haas, Hilarie Porter

Eat to Heal : The Phytochemical Diet and Nutrition Plan  by Kristine M. Napier

Food Smart!: Eat Your Way to Better Health by Cheryl Townsley

• American Heart Association Low-Fat, Low-Cholesterol Cookbook : More Than 200 Delicious, Heart-Healthful Recipes for the Whole Family by Scott M. Grundy (Editor), Mary Winston (Editor)

• Body Beauty Foods Reader's Digest "Food That Heal" Cookbooks:More Than 100 Delicious Recipies to Improve Your Health Boost Your Immune Systemby Hazel Courtney, Kathryn Marsden, Hazel Courteney 

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The list of Test labs to see if you need to change the diet of your ADHD person is on a separate page so click on this link to get there.