Simple tips to help the entire family flow with the requirements of school
By Charlotte Carreira
Dr. John Taylor, author of Helping Your Hyperactive Attention-Deficit Child, and Licensed Clinical Psychologist, sites that we all experience a form of brain chemistry imbalance when we overload on foods with preservatives, sugars, and chemical pesticides. The result is hyperactivity, mood swings, dyslexia, and challenges with memory retention, decision-making, problem solving and reading. Help your children (and yourself) by giving them the food that provides the basic nutrition their brains and nervous systems need as they grow and meet learning requirements with each year.
Dr. Taylor also provides the following helpful tips:
- Anything that helps stabilize & normalize blood sugar levels will help ADHD individuals become calmer and more focused.
- If you eat sugar, couple it with protein so the body stays balanced in its processing.
- More frequent, small protein intake will help with focus and attention.
- Provide a larger lunch, so children can eat small amounts during breaks and recess.
- The best types of foods to help in study: small tuna sandwiches, cheese & crackers, nut butters with celery, peanut butter & jelly sandwiches (peanut butters that contain only peanuts, no chemicals), nuts, algae snacks or whole food nutrition bars.
- Choose foods that are wild-crafted, low on the food chain, and harvested rather than manufactured, therefore, not laced with artificial dyes, preservatives and modifiers such as MSG, artificial sweeteners or nutra-sweet.
- Foods high in balanced amino acid profile & essential fatty acids help reduce behavioral problems. The profile of tuna, salmon, almond butter, flax seed oil and blue-green algae matches the optimal profile recommended by the Food & Nutrition Council.
- At least 8 glasses of spring or distilled water is good for the body, mind & spirit.
- Balance activities between outdoor and indoor. Learning & focused exercises can be supported with children reading to each other, helping each other with homework, board games or storytelling/writing of the days' activities.
- Protein before bedtime will result in an easier morning transition for most children.
- Fall is also a time of change, rest & restoration...getting plenty of sleep is vital.
My own children have whole food nutrition and supplements daily before school including cereals, protein smoothies, algae, enzymes, co-enzyme Q10, and acidophilus. After school or sports activities the algae chewables, tuna sandwiches, bean burritos, boiled eggs or high protein snacks before starting homework keeps them focused. Probiotics such as acidophilus and bifidus before going to bed is good for neutralizing the digestive tract as they sleep.The result is a happier, healthier family, with more focus and balance in our daily routine.
For more information, articles, tapes, books & resources on natural alternatives to working with ADHD/Learning Challenges, contact Charlotte.
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