He a l t h y family
Dr. La u r e n Go u i n , n.D.
Nourishing and Nurturing
Attentiveness in Children
O
ne child in every classroom will dispose them to this condition. Assessing for nutritional deficien-
receive the diagnosis of Atten- Currently there is medication on the cies is also an important consideration
tion Deficient Hyperactivity market for this condition, however often when looking at the diet of a child with
Disorder. It is at least three times more times children and parents complain of ADHD.
common in boys, with symptoms arising the side effects, and many times it is re- • The symptoms of iron deficiency, the
before seven years old. ADHD is a clini- ported to not be effective. 54% of par- most prevalent deficiency in children,
cal diagnosis given when patients hav- ents report looking into natural therapies include lack of motivation, inattentive-
ing a number of symptoms in a list of cri- as an option for their child. ness and inability to follow through with
teria, including being easily distracted, Children’s diets are one of the main tasks, symptoms often used to diagnosis
disorganized, fidgeting, lack of impulse focuses in natural medicine for children ADHD.
control and inability to follow through with ADHD. Studies have correlated • Essential fatty acids are fats that can
with tasks. A diagnosis of ADHD labels diets high in refined carbohydrates and only be acquired through the diet, the
the behavior a child exhibits; however, poor cognitive performance in children. body cannot make them. These fats
it doesn’t answer a fundamental ques- Poor blood sugar control may be a risk make up 80% of dopamine receptors in
tion. Why is the child experiencing factor for lack of attention and increased the brain, the neurotransmitter respon-
these symptoms? Parents and research- fidgeting. Simply switching a child’s diet sible for mood and motivation. Research
ers alike are trying to answer this ques- to whole, nutrient dense foods has been also suggests boys may require more
tion and finding unique deficiencies and associated with improvements in behav- omega 3 essential fatty acids than girls,
biochemistries in these children can pre- ior and performance. Blood tests look- possibly accounting for the gender dif-
ing at blood sugar and insulin levels can ference in ADHD. Omega 3 essential
confirm blood sugar dysfunction. fatty acids support mood, cognition and
Another dietary concern for children healthy immune system.
with ADHD is food allergies or sensitivi- • Magnesium deficiency was found
ties. Signs of immune reactions to food, to be as high as 95% in children with
beyond behavioral symptoms, could in- ADHD in one study. Magnesium relaxes
clude eczema, digestion disturbances, muscles and supports neurotransmitter
asthma, fatigue, headaches or rashes, function. Studies have shown it to re-
though often only a few symptoms are duce hyperactivity in children.
present. Recent research shows a strong • B Vitamins are important for support of
correlation between eczema and ADHD, neurotransmitters including dopamine
reinforcing that underlying immune re- and serotonin, and these nutrients can
actions could play a role in children’s potentially support better concentration
behavior. Another recent study showed and cognition.
that sleep disturbance is correlated with The diagnosis of ADHD should be
ADHD symptoms. Poor sleep has been considered a red flag to assess nutrition
documented as a common symptom of and lifestyle of the child. Proper nutri-
food allergies and sensitivities, address- tion, removing allergens that irritate the
ing the underlying cause can improve system and introducing supportive nutri-
ADHD behavior and restorative sleep. ents can often offer solutions to the un-
Food allergies and sensitivities can be derlying cause of ADHD.
determined by blood tests as well as by
a medically supervised elimination diet.
Dr. Lauren Gouin is a naturopathic phy-
One study found 24% of children with
sician with a family practice in Hartford
ADHD benefited from a medically su-
Hospital Wellness Center in Avon. For
pervised elimination diet, removing ma-
more information, contact her at Whole
jor allergens.
Health Associates, 860-674-0111 or visit
www.wholehealthllc.com.
See ad on page 22.
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