Building a healthy foundation goes a long way to improving and managing focus in children with behavior difficulties as well as the signs and symptoms of ADD/ADHD. When your child is at optimal health, he feels good and he gets more out of his therapies, stimulants and any other coping methods that help him deal with the daily challenges he/she faces. This teleclass, presented by Jillian Burne, discussed fundamental food changes parents can make to better the lives of their children.
In case you missed it (or would like to refer back to it), you can find the recorded teleclass here.
Jillian discussed some of the root causes of ADHD-like symptoms. Here are some key points from a blog she wrote on some of the possible root causes of ADHD.
Root Causes of ADHD
Each individual is different, but when it comes to ADHD there are some commonalities that pop-up across the board. Working with Dr. Raphel Kellman at The Center for New Childhood Disorders I’ve learned it’s possible through blood work to look for and address the unknown underlying root causes. With Dr Kellman’s help we can map out a strategy for recovery. Below is a list of possible root causes that will provide you with a good starting point. In your initial evaluation we can determine if any of these things pertain to you specifically.
In my case, my delicate “constitution” was a clue that I was highly sensitive to gluten, as well as some other common foods. A TPO thyroid test showed that I have Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. Luckily, my thryroid is still very healthy. The number one cause of hypothyroidism in this country is believed to be Hashimoto’s. If you have a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, it’s essential to ask for a TPO test. I’ve learned that treating one and not the other won’t help you recover. Synthroid does not address the autoimmune component of Hashimoto’s, which is rooted in gluten-intolerance and food intolerances. These intolerances fire up the immune system causing it to indiscriminately attack healthy tissue. In the case of Hashimoto’s the immune system attacks the thyroid.
Poorly managed gluten sensitivity becomes Celiac over time with repeated exposure or with a stress trigger. It’s worth making a thoughtful evaluation of the amount of gluten in your diet if you have ADHD or experience any undesireable GI or neurological symptoms. Gluten can cause fatigue, brain-fog, poor memory, as well as gastrointestinal distress. Sticking to a whole foods diet of quality meats, vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds is key to recovery.
Possible Root Causes
- Gut abnormalities (celiac, dysbiosis, leaky gut)
- Carbs Vs. Protein (which do you favor?)
- Mineral deficiency (magnesium and zinc to name a few)
- Vitamin deficiency (check all the B’s and of course the hormone that masks as a vitamin – vitamin D)
- Amino acid deficiency (noteably tryptophan – great book on amino acids by Julia Ross)
- Thyroid disorders (I’ve seen everything from a rare T4 resistence to hypothyroidism to Hashimoto’s)
- Heavy metal toxicity (especially lead and mercury)
- Radiation (did you know bathing in sea salt and baking soda can help your body remove radiation?)
- Essential fatty acid deficiencies (before you start guzzling fish oil read The Inside Story of Omega 3 Fatty Acid)
- Autoimmune disorders (Graves, Lupus, Type I Diabetes)
To decide if this approach is right for you, I invite you to schedule a free initial consultation with me. During this free 15 minute phone session, we will discuss your overall health, diet and lifestyle to determine how I can best support you in achieving your goals.
See more of Jillian’s blog here.
Jillian has invited Mommybites moms to email her at Jillianburne@mac.com if you would like more information on some of the research being done on this topic, links to vitamins that she mentioned, or any other questions you may have.
Jillian will be hosting an elimination diet seminar on July 18th at FreshmadeNYC. To register go to her website: jillianburne.com and click on Events: 6 Week Summer Challenge. If you’d like to send Jillian a question, email her at jillianburne@mac.com. To schedule a consultation with Jillian, call her at 646-226-9312 .
Jillian Burne is the holistic health coach for the Hallowell Center in Manhattan. She is a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Jillian is dedicated to helping families and adults with ADHD manage their symptoms with diet and exercise. Her approach is geared toward effective changes that can be implemented in today’s busy, high-tech world. She’s combined her own personal experience with ADD, with her clinical experience and knowledge of all the most effective diet and lifestyle options available today into the ADHDFocusDiet—her answer to how to use food to maximize potential and performance. For a free 15 min phone consultation to see if the ADHDFocusDiet is right for you call 212-799-7777.
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The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog contributor’s. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Writers may have conflicts of interest, and their opinions are their own.
