The cure for ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

ADHD: The cure is in Plain Sight
by Melanie Segala,
The Managing Editor of Total Health Breakthroughs.

I’d like to share some staggering statistics with you. In the US, 4% of children aged 4 to 8 and 9.7% of children aged 9 to 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).1 That translates to around 4.5 million young people who have trouble paying attention in class, controlling their impulsive behaviors, finishing tasks, and acting and speaking appropriately.

At least half of these children are taking a powerful psycho-stimulant drug like Adderall or Ritalin to control their symptoms. While these synthetic chemicals are effective at controlling hyperactive and aggressive behavior, they come at a steep price.

Adderall is a cocktail of four different amphetamines. High-dosage and long term use have been linked to erectile problems and other sexual dysfunctions.2 Adderall XR has been taken off the market in Canada because of 20 sudden deaths and 14 strokes associated with its use.2

Ritalin (methylphenidate) is a central nervous system stimulant that is reported to be safer than its amphetamine-based cousins. Yet , it can still cause a number of side effects including dizziness, insomnia, confusion, and an irregular heart beat.3
While well-meaning parents and teachers rely on psycho-stimulant drugs to deal with children that might otherwise be unmanageable, an article I recently read makes me wonder if the cause and the cure of ADHD might be found at the dinner table and school cafeteria.

In 1997, the student body at Central Alternative High School in Appleton, Wisconsin was out of control and only getting worse. According to Dean of Students Greg Bretthauer, students were “rude, obnoxious, and ill mannered." On a typical day, the faculty would cope with discipline problems, drug use, truancies, expulsions, dropouts, and weapons violations. A police officer was on staff to help maintain order.4

That same year, Natural Ovens Inc. of Manitowac, Wisconsin began a 5-year study to find out if healthy nutritious foods could make a difference in reducing the number of behavioral problems and improving academic performance. The company took over providing meals and managing the cafeteria --junk food was banished from the school.

Instead, vending machines offered juice, water and energy drinks only. Gone was the typical cafeteria fare of pizza, burgers, tacos and fries. In their place, fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads and entrees free of chemicals and additives were offered.5 Natural Ovens had their own cooks prepare recipes the old-fashioned way. Students learned, maybe for the first time in their lives, how to eat properly. And the changes were dramatic.

Teachers reported that their students were calm and well-behaved. Dropouts and expulsions became almost nonexistent and students that were on a downward spiral turned their lives around. Academic achievement went up while discipline problems went down. Students became more focused in class and had more concentration to study.

The old argument that administrators used to justify feeding children junk food -- “we might as well, because they’re only going to eat it out of school anyway” -- proved to be unfounded. Once students made the connection between nutrition, learning, and behavior, the change stuck. They weren’t running to fast food joints after school for a junk-laden fix.

We can all learn a lesson from the young people in Appleton, Wisconsin. Bad food leads to bad behavior. And even worse -- a lifetime of failures and health problems.

The other day when I was discussing this article with our founder and driving force, Michael Masterson, he made an astute observation. Children all over this country have a metabolism that is off balance and burdened with toxins and chemicals from processed foods, too much sugar, and dangerous additives that affect neurochemistry. Our solution is to mask the problem with even more dangerous chemicals in the form of prescription medications.

How can we call this a cure?

It’s time we paid attention to nutrition as the first and most important influence on our health. If you have a child with ADHD or other learning or behavioral problems, take this article to your next PTA meeting Join other concerned parents and lobby your school district to offer fresh nutritious meals that are free of additives and genetically modified ingredients. The amazing transformation that occurred at a high school in Appleton, Wisconsin could take place in any school in the US that also made healthy nutrition a priority.

Start making the same dietary changes at home. Stop buying junk food and spend the money instead on organic produce and grass-fed meats. Your grocery bill may even go down! If you need some recipe tips, look in our twice-weekly issues of Total Health Breakthroughs. Nutrition experts Kelley Herring and Laura LaValle offer great-tasting, easy to prepare meal ideas that feature fresh organic ingredients and the nutrients our bodies need.

The bottom line is, you and your kids are worth it.

References
1. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/index.html.
2. http://www.adderall.net/.
3. http://www.drugs.com/sfx/ritalin-side-effects.html.
4. http://www.feingold.org/Bluebook/page-09-wisconsin.pdf.
5. http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/AmericanFamily/Story?id=125404&page=1.

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