Didn't the summer holidays fly by? It's back to school already... The freedom of running, jumping and playing is replaced with the requirement to sit still all day and pay attention!
For many students, this is difficult to do, especially hour after hour and day after day. But if a student cannot follow classroom rules properly, trouble brews! Often, parents are asked to see the family physician, to assess the child for a possible ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) diagnosis.
ADHD SYMPTOMS
ADHD describes a group of symptoms including inattention, hyperactivity and impulsive behaviour. Fidget-ing, restlessness, constant talking, inability to sit still, to play quietly or to wait one's turn are other possible symptoms.
POSSIBLE CAUSES
Genes may make a child more susceptible to this disorder. However, several other, often more controllable factors, are usually involved. The increased number of childhood vaccinations is one suspected culprit in neurological disorders such as ADHD. Fluoridated water may also be another. Exposure to environmental toxins such as mercury, lead, second-hand cigarette smoke, pesticides, PCBs and other harsh chemicals may also contribute to the problem.
Allergies also play a role. For example, people with chemical sensitivities may have ADHD symptoms when exposed to perfumed or chemical-laden soap. Permanent press and stain-resistant clothing also contain offending chemicals that can cause ADHD symptoms in sensitive individuals.
FOOD ADDITIVES
In the diet, artificial food dyes and other additives may cause ADHD-like symptoms. The pretty, but artificial, food colors that make fruit jellies red and gelatin desserts green, are made from petroleum (crude oil), which is the source for gasoline! Do you realize that even the red dye in a red toothbrush can permeate the thin lining inside the mouth, causing ADHD symptoms in a sensitive child?
Artificial flavors are often combinations of many chemicals. One source for vanillin (imitation vanilla flavouring) is the waste product from paper mills.
Artificial preservatives also cause problems. No wonder! BHA, BHT and TBHQ, three major food preservatives, are made from petroleum! They may not always be listed in the ingredients, either. Worse yet, these chemicals may actually be listed as "antioxidants," since they prevent food fats from spoiling! There are many good natural antioxidants, but these chemicals are much cheaper.
Artificial colors and other food additives have been around for over 100 years. But, back then, children had an occasional candy or sucker. Nowadays, the average child consumes food additives daily, perhaps even several times daily, because chemicals are normally found in processed foods. And, since children have smaller bodies, chemicals affect them more dramatically than adults.
Artificial sweeteners also compound the problem. They are considered neurotoxins, meaning they are toxic to the nervous system.
Processed food additives have an especially harmful effect if they are combined with sugars, such as fructose. When children consume fruit juices and processed foods loaded in high fructose corn syrup, they tend to have a higher rate and severity of ADHD symptoms. Many children with ADHD symptoms react poorly to most grains, especially wheat.
DRUG THERAPY
For ADHD, the conventional medical approach includes a drug, such as Ritalin. However, like other drugs, it does have side effects. Since it stimulates the nervous system, it can potentially increase body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure. Appetite suppression, aggressive behaviour, hallucinations, heart attack and stroke are more potential side effects of ADHD drugs.
OTHER OPTIONS?
Fortunately, there are natural ways to relieve ADHD symptoms. I will talk about this in Part Two.
Meanwhile, whether or not you are affected by ADHD, it would be interesting to notice how much you consume food additives in your daily diet.
Dr. Gail Smolinski, Doctor of Natural Medicine, has her Doctor of Naturopathy degree and is Board Certified in Traditional Naturopathy and in Nutritional Wellness.
Dr. Gail offers Low Intensity Laser Therapy, health consultations, bioenergetic therapies, detoxification footbaths and a wide variety of professional health products at her natural health clinic. You may contact her at 306-783-1261.
This column is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease. It provides general information about health and nutrition. It is run bi-weekly, space permitting.
