Does anyone know if trace minerals help children with  ADHD?
440496
Everyone was very quick to label my child as everything from borderline ADHD to having it, to being oppositional and temperamental. They wanted to pop a pill in her mouth and I refused.  I watch her diet...keep her sugar and carb intake low.  I make sure she gets enough EXCERCISE and SLEEP.  She also has a checklist that keeps her focused on her daily "to-do's" and she is rewarded with encouragement as well as with special activities/treats when she consistently complies. Since this was implemented, the notes stopped coming home from school, the behaviour and report cards are fantastic.  Most of the meals are homemade, not from a box or drive-thru window.  I spend quality time with her. This has made a tremendous impact for everyone involved-she now has more friends.  I might also recommend a book, I'm not sure of the title...it's something like, "There's a Bible Cure for...." I beleive ADHD is amongst one of the books in the series.  I think you are on to something there, and again-preparing home cooked(and healthy) meals at home, can certainly help.
1184698
The US National Institutes of Health provides information sheets on all forms of nutrients, you can find the listing HERE\n\nhttp://ods.od.nih.gov/health_information/health_information.aspx\n\nTheir fabulous fact sheet on Iron is HERE\n\nhttp://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/iron.asp\n\nincluding which foods HAVE it and HOW MUCH! :)\n\nBest of all, this is from a site that is not trying to SELL you ANYTHING! You can TRUST this info! :)\n\nOnce you read the list, perhaps make a game of it with your child, search old magazines to find pictures of the foods listed, and see which ones seem of particular interest to your child. :)\n\nThen, you can simply use one of the innumerable Internet Recipe Finders\n\nhttp://search.yahoo.com/search?p=recipe+finder&ei=UTF-8&fr=FP-tab-web-t&x=wrt\n\nto find recipes that use the foods best meeting your child's needs and interests! :)\n\nBest wishes from an Anemiac! ;)\n\n\nPS  If that does not give you the information you need, and you don't mind countless pop-up ads, you could try looking at\n\nhttp://www.keepkidshealthy.com/nutrition/iron_requirements.html\n\nhttp://www.keepkidshealthy.com/welcome/commonproblems/anemia.html\n\nhttp://www.keepkidshealthy.com/nutrition/preventing_iron_deficiency.html\n\nThat site seems to offer credible information, but at the opposite extreme--selling, Selling, SELLING! :(
31067
Very valid question. My 8 yo daughter was recently diagnosed with ADHD and OCD.  While they are two completely different conditions, the presence of both conditions in one child can exaggerate the appearance of one or both conditions.  Medications and therapy definitely helps.
951974
The Principal of my kids primary school has banned all junk food at breaktime, only water and fruit or healthy snacks allowed. She started this in September and says the concentration and behavior of the children up until lunchtime has noticibly improved!\n\nSo i have to say if it is calming disruptive children then Im all for it.
977021
There is a great alternative to using medicine for ADHD\nTry taking all sugars away. My mom did that for my nephew because sugar is way to processed and cause symptoms of ADHD also you need to think about what other things these medicines can be causing.
552136
First and foremost, nutrition.\n\nRead nutrition/ingredient panels on food product labels very carefully.\n\nCorn syrup is an insidious food additive that is one of the main culprits in ADHD among children. The processed sugars create a mental state of hyperawareness that results in uncontrollable hyperactivity. It is extremely important that corn syrup, and related corn by-products, like corn starch, are completely eliminated from your daughter's diet.\n\nBe aware: canned and packaged foods, like ketchup, barbecue sauce, gravy, ice cream, wheat bread, frozen lasagna, TV dinners, pot pies, sugary snacks, candy bars, tomato sauce . . . are all corn syrup culprits. Again, look for corn syrup on ingredient labels.\n\nRelated to that: look for any kind of added sugars, like what you get in ice creams, candy bars, sauces . . . Look out for sugar!\n\nNext, try to regulate processed flour products. These are white breads, white pastas, and white rice. They are high-glycemic index carbohydrates, which means they are instantly converted to sugar when digested. You need to switch to whole wheat pasta, brown rice, wild rice, or basmati and whole grain bread (do not use wheat bread!)\n\nThen, try to get her involved in something physical: basketball, softball, martial arts, dance, a game of catch, bicycle riding . . . Physical activity is great for reducing the effects of ADHD.\n\nYou also need to reduce the amount of time spent watching TV and playing video games. These contribute to ADHD.\n\nI am very wary of using herbal remedies on children. Herbs are no more or less potent than over-the-counter drugs, and can cause serious health effects in children. You must consult with a pediatrician before using herbs.\n\nGood wishes for helping your daughter, and I hope you consider my nutritional suggestions.
486579
Check the CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder).  The site has info for adults and employment problems, advocacy, health insurance, professional directory, and a resource center.
1157731
maybe there's lead in it.\n\nnickel, zinc, iron, magnesium, etc.
330785
Try this site: \nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypomagnesemia
996110
Pat, I would assume that any results would be directly related to the severity of the ADHD.  I know biofeedback has been used for ADHD but I'm sure that there's really a one-size-fits-all answer.\n\nBest Wishes
138472
Routine is essential. That is, simple, consistent routines. \n\nThey should be very specific, including (for example) when to take of shoes after school and exactly where to put them. That way shoes never get lost in the morning. When to eat, and how much.\n\nAny chore obligations should be written out, timetabled and strictly adhered to.\n\nSimple strategies for helping kids with ADHD:\n- Make sure your child is looking at you before you talk\n- Give short, clear instructions – one or two steps at a time\n- Use visual support for instructions, like a whiteboard or checklist\n- Have consistent daily routines\n- Establish some simple rules for behaviour at home\n- As much as possible, minimise situations that make your\nchild unnecessarily stressed\n- Praise your child for good behaviours and try to ignore minor irritations\n\nPlease email me for further information: tim0huxley@yahoo.com.sg\nand I will send you the details of some excellent contacts.
1063162
I'm a Naturalist.  I don't believe in synthetic drugs.  I suffered from migraines -- at twice your daughter's age, but I can offer some advice.  Take what you will.\n\n1.  Cut intake of carbonated beverages and refined sugars to a minimum.  Cut fats somewhat.\n2.  Add baked and parboiled potatotes to the diet.  Bread, pasta & rice are also helpful if not "oily".\n3.  Add milk (whole) to the diet - if she opposes "straight" milk, make milk shakes/smoothies and prepare dishes in which milk is essential (i.e., cereals, quiches).  Don't serve cold beverages/dishes) close to bedtime as it might interfere with her sleeping.    \n4.  Take caffeine out of the diet (sodas, etc.).  Buy caffeine-free soft drinks (for when she insists on them); decaffinated teas, etc.\n5.  Drink Peppermint Tea (decaffinated) is said to help sooth headaches/migraines.  Minimal sugar, if any, but discourage it.\n6.  Warm meals (as opposed to cold) as often as possible.  They are relaxing.\n7.  "Feverfew" is an herb said to cure migraines.  Health food stores often carry dried herbs.  Grind it, add to salad dressing or wherever you can - she won't taste the difference.  I don't know if it's available in capsule form -- but it's hard to trust manufacturers of herbal supplements to "know" what you're getting.  If available in capsule form, I recommend taking the contents out of the capsule and adding it to foods.  (I don't like the gelatin capsule sitting in the stomach long, or the sudden burst of contents once it breaks down; the herb more evenly distributed in food is healthier.)\n8.  Exercise - running, bike riding....  vigorous activity/play.  Exercise relieves stress and helps the nutrition of the body flow more evenly.\n9.  Yoga -- children's classes available some places -- they are relaxing, teach relaxation, and straighten the spine.  \n10.  Deep breathing, clearing the mind, and relaxing... when the headaches occur, after getting into bed, and whenever else it's convenient.  Cool cloths and dark rooms are helpful when having a migraines.\n11.  Get to the cause of any stress.  The stress may be minimal (or not), but refined sugars, caffeine, (etc.)... without proper balance of milk, potatoes, (etc.)... can inflame pulses causing migraines.  \n\nNote:  A baked potato or potato salad would be a healthier after-school snack for someone with migraines.  If there are activities during or after which she often gets migraines, serve a potato or milk... and see if that helps.\n\nWrite me if I can ever be of any help.\n\nGood luck.  (I know they are dreadful!)\n\nClar
523891
ADD and ADHD exist. Period. You cannot refute gravity anymore than you can refute the existence of ADD. The treatment methods however are very questionable. \nDrugs are for recreation, mmkay?\nNothing wrong with being ADD, ADHD, our schooling systems just don't fit their learning abilities. \nThey learn different.\nSome people are visual learners, some are tactile learners, some are auditory learners, different learning types for different thinking types. \nYou are taught that you can only write with 1 hand. That's bullshit too, anyone can learn to write with both hands it just takes practice. I am willing to bet that most people write better with their second hand than I with my first.
370654
i guess it depends. how did you arrive at the conclusion that this little one has ADHD? is this only one doctor's opinion? and have you come to this only after pursuing a new diet for her? (lots of parents say that diet can help quite a bit--you'll have to google ADHD and Diet.) \n\nand why does this doctor think she has ADHD? has he/she done a battery of tests on her, or is this based on a simple visit? what has gotten you to this point? most children aren't diagnosed with ADHD until they become a disruptive presence in a classroom, so what are this little girl's symptoms? did you get to this because you were fed up with her behavior and the doctor is trying to make things better for you? \n\nhere's my take on it: i have taught in schools with kids diagnosed ADHD. some of them i believe truly had a chemical imbalance, and the drug worked on them. but most of them were having a range of behaviors that were disruptive, but mostly because of the environment. one study i read about said that ADHD symptoms might disappear for boys who take a 40-minute walk with their fathers in the woods before school. so it it really that this girl is in an environment that doesn't suit her temperament, or is being expected to behave contrary to her nature because of the adults around her? \n\nif you are having doubts about medicating your child, then you obviously have reservations. and thus, perhaps you shouldn't. i would certainly say that if it were my 3-yr old, i would be pursuing all kinds of research on alternatives to try first. because drugs should only be because nothing else works. if i've tried a few different diets suggested by researchers and given it a good long time to work, if i've tried hard to be more patient, and i've worked on adjusting her environment, if i've asked her what she thinks about it, and i've experimented with behavior management--then i'd consider pills. but not before.
517512
It is real, but people are being diagnoses who don't have it.  I heard one study that stated only 10% of the kids on drugs for ADHD actually had it!  Seems like everyone is just wanting to "fix" their kids with drugs.  Aren't they supposed to have a lot of energy? :)
1110986
I just emailed you! Lol! I have a 7 year old with autism who is on a gluten free/casein free diet. He is EXTREMELY hyperactive. Before I put him on the diet (he was almost 3) he would be even MORE hyper after eating foods with milk, and would have these crazy laughing spells. He already bounces off the walls, but it was obviously more so with the milk products, not to mention the stools he would have after eating them. I was changing like 10 pull ups a day. He would not even touch milk after I took him off of the bottle but he was addicted to cheese, and cereals/crackers with wheat in them.  AFTER I put him on the diet, within a matter of only a couple of weeks, he just stopped peeing on himself. Period, including at night. So to me I related that directly to the diet. I have wanted to give up on the diet sometimes, but you know, every time I let him have some foods which he normally doesn't have, he acts even more hyper than usual, and if you knew my son you would find that hard to believe! Lol! I have considered Feingold as well as vitamin therapy(B6 and Magnesium), but with my financial situation and stress level, any more changes would just be really hard for me to enforce right now. I also had completely takem him off of sugar for a long time, but I have caved and so he has it every now and then. I can't really tell if it affects his behavior or not. I am still looking for a solution that works, I am just kind of burned out by the trial and error of it all!
391240
My son has ADHD and so does my husband.  My son was on Ritalin and we didn't have any luck, He is 18 now and hasn't been on meds sice age 13. he has a lot of anger and frustration issues but he self medicates with Skateboarding. He says it helps him to escape and slow his brain down. And get rid of his aggression. My husband is on Strattera and Except for having a daily throw up session he says it helps him to concentrate and focus on his job.