The main thing to remember as a parent who is trying to create a healthier environment is that you


are not alone. You have integrative physicians, other parents and support groups that are all taking the road less traveled in this modern society.


Another concern from parents is that


the child is surrounded by children who eat whatever they want, watch television as long as they want and place video games at a higher priority than almost anything else. This can create a mindset that somehow the parents are punishing or abusing their child by not letting them do the same things that other kids do. While I defi nitely understand how diffi cult this can be, I also want parents to understand how these modern behaviors have negatively affected the health of our children. Childhood Obesity has more than doubled in children and nearly quadrupled in adolescents in the last 30 years. ADHD diagnoses have risen approximately 5% each year from 2003 to 2011. Autism Spectrum Disorder is up from 1 in 150 in the year 2000 to 1 in 68 in 2010. We have also seen increases in both Childhood Asthma and Allergies as well. Healthy food and healthy lifestyle changes can greatly help with the various symptoms of these disorders. So when a parent is concerned with what other people’s kids are doing, I simply tell them one thing: your child doesn’t have to live this healthy lifestyle, they GET to! The last concern I hear parents give is that other adult family members, friends, and, yes, even some school teachers have negative or dismissive comments about the implementation of a healthier lifestyle for the child. I have found that this mainly comes from lack of education on the part of the people that are making these comments. Many times it comes from the perspective that processed foods loaded in sugar are not harmful enough to contribute to these disorders and/or that prescription medications are the only option for some of these conditions. All a person has to do to fi nd how important lifestyle changes are to improving these conditions is simply research some of the leading integrative physicians in this country and hear the results that they are getting with their patients.


As far as medication, there may be times where medication is needed, but it is important to understand that a child’s life is a marathon not a sprint and many times the quickest way is not always the best or most effective. The United States produces and consumes 85% of the world’s Methylphenidate (Ritalin), a commonly-prescribed ADHD medication, yet in a 2012 global study the United States ranked 26th 21st


in Math, in Science and 17th in Reading


amongst other industrialized countries. It does seem that there is more to creating a healthier brain than simply taking a pill. There, unfortunately, will always be people in life who simply have a negative attitude towards things; but, generally, extended family members, friends and teachers simply want the best for the child. In these situations the parents simply need to stand fi rm in their decisions and give educational information when needed to help them understand this point of view. The main thing to remember as a parent who is trying to create a healthier environment is that you are not alone. You have integrative physicians, other parents and support groups that are all taking the road less traveled in this


modern society. Be very proud of yourself and believe me when I say I have seen the light at the end of the tunnel and the healthier child that awaits there.


Dwight Franklin, AP is an Acupuncture Physician and owner of Franklin Family Acupuncture. He is a graduate of Florida College of Integrative Medicine,


where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Studies and a Master’s Degree in Oriental Medicine. Dwight combines Oriental Medicine along with Craniosacral Therapy (a light touch therapy used to improve the fl ow of cerebrospinal fl uid throughout the brain and spinal cord) to get the best possible results for his patients. Although he treats patients of all ages, his lifelong goal is to change the lives of children suffering from ADD/ADHD, Autism and various mental and emotional health disorders through the practice of Oriental Medicine, Craniosacral Therapy and Food Therapy. He is offering two free workshops: Sept 10 & 17 at 7p. He can be reached at 270-339-3299. Franklin Family Acupuncture is located at 467 Lake Howell Rd, Maitland, 32751.


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