Below is a copy of our eating program for Attention Deficit Disorder - ADD ADHD kids. It is not a very strict program, unless you are used to having most meals at your local fast food restaurant. The information on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder presented here from the ADD Information Library is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace the expert and professional advice of your physician, psychologist, or therapist. Always seek help from qualified professionals in the field of attention deficit disorder. Always consult your physician.
This program is recommended for every member of the family. It’s not just an ADHD program. It’s the same program that we put professional athletes and business executives on for optimized performance, with only minor changes. We have found that it really helps about 25% of the ADHD kids that try it. The most common feedback that we get from parents is, “Well, it helped my kid somewhat, but I really feel great!”
Results fall into a “Bell Curve.” A few will do great, a few are completely unaffected, and most do somewhat better - but it is not enough as a stand-alone intervention. Please have realistic expectations. But please try it. It just may be a big help to your family.
First, what NOT to eat for TWO WEEKS:
1) NO DAIRY PRODUCTS, especially cow’s milk. This is the single most important restriction. Instead try Almond milk, Rice milk, or Better Than Milk. Drink water instead of milk. In fact, drink lots of water. The brain is about 80% water, and increasing your water intake to 7 to 10 glasses per day might be helpful all by itself. Sodas, Gatorade, teas, icees, etc., do not count as water. Only water counts as water.
2) NO YELLOW FOODS. Especially Corn or Squash. By the way, bananas are white. Just don’t eat the peel.
3) NO JUNK FOODS. If it comes in a cellophane wrapper, don’t eat it.
4) NO FRUIT JUICES. They have too much sugar content. One small glass of apple juice has the sugar content of eight apples. Later on you can have juice, but even then dilute it with water 50/50.
5) CUT SUGAR INTAKE BY 90%. If you can, cut it down to zero. Sugar is in just about everything, but give it a try. Do your best without going crazy.
6) CUT CHOCOLATE BY 90%. No more than a single piece, once a week.
7) NO NUTRASWEET. None. Period. And while we are at it, no Splenda either. These artificial sweetners just are not made for optimal brain performance.
NO PROCESSED MEATS and NO MSG. Only get meats with labels that say, “Turkey and Water,” etc. If the meat has chemicals listed that you can’t pronounce, don’t buy it.
9) CUT FRIED FOODS BY 90%.
10) AVOID FOOD COLORINGS WHENEVER POSSIBLE. See if your child is sensitive to any particular colors, such as Reds, Yellows, etc. For now, though, avoid all if possible.
SUMMARY: Just eat foods that God made for a while. Eat like people did in the 1940’s. Watch old Leave It To Beaver re-runs to see how the Cleavers used to eat. Go to a used book store and get a Betty Crocker’s Cook Book for recipe ideas. There really are about 10,000 meals that you CAN eat, but not much in the way of “fast foods” or “convenience” foods.
AFTER TWO WEEKS begin adding these foods back into your diet, one food every other day. Eat A LOT of that food every day for four days. If you have a problem with one of the foods, you will see some kind of a “reaction” within four days. The reaction can vary from big red splotches on the body to ears turning bright red to explosive temper outbursts. If there’s a problem, you’ll know. If there’s no problem, enjoy the food.
What TO eat to FEED THE BRAIN:
1) FOR BREAKFAST SERVE HIGHER PROTEIN, LOWER CARBOHYDRATE MEALS. Say, “Good-bye,” to Breakfast cereals and milk. Serve 60% Protein and 40% Carbohydrates for breakfast. Other meals should be 50% / 50%.
2) PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTS might be needed to get the added protein for breakfast. They are often very helpful in the afternoon as well. Here is our favorite recipe for a Protein Shake:
a) Make a cup of coffee, using one of General Mills’ International Coffees, or something like that, with a flavor that you or your child will like (yes, I know I’m breaking my own rules here, as these coffees have dried milk and some sugar, but I’m trying to get your kid to actually drink the thing, and also get some caffeine mixed with the protein.). Pour the hot coffee into a blender with about 6 oz of ice. Turn on the blender for a bit.
b) Add a good quality protein powder. There are many good ones available. If you can’t find one that you like, ask at your local health food store. Get protein powders that are mostly protein and very little carbohydrate. Add between 15 and 20 grams of protein to the cold coffee in the blender.
c) Turn on the blender again.
d) Drink it up.
This protein shake is helpful for a lot of people. For many small kids, and many adults, this recipe works about as well as a small dose of Ritalin (100 mg of caffeine is roughly the same as 5 mg of Ritalin). So many who might just take a small dose of Ritalin might get away with just doing this.
Don’t forget, though, that even caffeine can have some side effects. Every once in a while we find someone that has problems with the caffeine in the coffee. Usually, though, the caffeine in the coffee helps the person to focus better. The protein helps to feed the brain. If you find this helpful, have one with Breakfast, and one around 3 pm. If it is not helpful, then don’t bother with it.
3) MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS may be helpful. Colloidal Minerals or fully chelated minerals are the best. Don’t buy minerals in the grocery store. Get good minerals.
4) ATTEND, and EXTRESS from VAXA. We recommend the “Attend” product for everyone. The “Extress” is recommended in addition to the Attend for those with problems with hyperactivity and temper. These are strongly recommended.
5) FLAX SEED or PRIMROSE OIL. These are high sources of Omega oils which are very important, especially for those with Attention Deficit Disorder. Borage oils and some fish oils are good sources of Omega Oils as well. Mix about a spoonful a day of flax seed oil into foods as you prepare them, or add to salad dressings, etc. Or you can buy supplements.
6) EAT LOTS OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. Eat in a healthy manner.
7) Avoid Aluminum exposure whenever possible.
Try it out and let us know what you think. Oh, before you email back and ask, “Well, what can we eat?” please look through your Betty Crocker Cook Book and you’ll find hundreds of recipes that will fit. It’s the convenience foods that are most of the problem. Re-discover the lost art of cooking!
Douglas Cowan, Psy.D., is a family therapist who has been working with ADHD children and their families since 1986. He is the clinical director of the ADHD Information Library’s family of seven web sites, including http://www.newideas.net, helping over 350,000 parents and teachers learn more about ADHD each year. Dr. Cowan also serves on the Medical Advisory Board of VAXA International of Tampa, FL., is President of the Board of Directors for KAXL 88.3 FM in central California, and is President of NewIdeas.net Incorporated.
Do you realize that your belief system is ultimately what will determine whether you live a successful life or not?
Since your thoughts are what your belief system is composed of, you
should take great care in what you are thinking about because your
thoughts influence the outcome of every area of your life.
Are you thinking about what you’re thinking about? The Bible says, “As
a man thinks, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). I believe it is safe to
assume that as a man continues to think, so he will remain. Along the
same line, as a man changes his thinking, so he will change himself,
and therefore, his circumstances.
Obviously the key to changing your belief system is changing your thoughts.
Can you think of some things you may have heard growing up that could
be influencing your beliefs today? How about “I wish I had two nickels
to rub together” or “If I had a dollar I would stay up all night and
watch it.”
Needless to say this kind of programming is detrimental to your
well-being. If you were told that money doesn’t grow on trees, you
will believe that money is hard to come by and you will always
struggle with lack. If you were teased about being fat as a child you
may struggle with your weight today.
If you were constantly told that you were fat as a child your belief
system says you’re fat, and even though dieting and excercise will
work just like it will for anyone, you will not sustain permanent
weight loss. The fat child picture burns in your mind causing you to
regain any weight you may have lost.
The same goes for finances. If you’ve never had a large amount of
money and all of a sudden come into some, you will probably find a way
to blow it all. You will sabotage it because in your mind, you do not
see yourself as a financially successful person. It is a fact that the working class earn and spend and the wealthy save and invest. It’s all
a matter of thinking, and thinking is a matter of beliefs.
Procrastination, tardiness, lack of follow through, fear of failure
are all qualities that start as thoughts. These thoughts can became
entrenched in your belief system and become obstacles to living an
abundant and prosperous life.
Think rightly about the things you want to attract. Get around like minded people who have the kind of life you want to live. Go out to dinner with them, sit around a fire pit and talk about ideas, or play golf together. If they are not physically accessible, listen to their tapes and read their books.
We must take care of what we put into our minds. For what goes in may also come out.
About the Author
Daniel N. Brown is the publisher of the “Living your Abundant and
Prosperous Life” Newsletter. A FREE weekly publication that teaches how to live the abundant and prosperous life. Receivea FREE 7 page report entitled, “How to Receive from God”
when you sign up. http://www.secretplaceonline.com
If you have a pool, you know how much heating it can crank up your utility bill. Solar energy systems for pools offer an alternative method that will not devastate your bank account.
Solar Energy Systems for Pools
When most people think of solar energy systems, they think of the large crystalline structures that are meant to collect a lot of solar energy in order to convert it into solar power. However, there are other uses for solar energy systems. One of the more ingenious uses for this technology is the use of solar energy systems for heating pools. By using solar power to heat your swimming pool, you can be sure that your morning swim will always be nice, comfortable and cheap.
Everyone has to heat their pool unless they are living in a tropical climate where the temperature doesn’t drop at night. Some people choose to purchase a pool cover, but these only work to limit heat loss versus actually heating up the water. Gas heaters work well, but the operating cost of a gas heater can really add up. A low initial cost can draw pool owners to gas heaters, but the charges over the life of the use of the pool can be appalling.
Using solar energy systems for heating pools, however, can solve all of the problems of the above methods. Usually, solar energy systems are installed on the roof of your house, where much sunlight hits. These solar energy systems collect heat, which is transmitted to water stored in hoses behind the solar collectors. This warms the water, which is then circulated through the pool. This method of heating a swimming pool does cost more initially than any other heating system, but the solar collectors and other accessories pay for themselves within a few years. If you plan to live in the home for some time, the cost will be a fraction of any other heating method. If you plan to sell the house in the near future, the solar energy systems will add to the value of the house since they are considered energy savers over time.
The use of solar energy systems for heating pools is a time tested strategy. If you live in an area where lots of homes have pools, you should take a walk around the neighborhood. You will notice lots of homes with pools have solar energy systems. The only downside to this approach is the government does not offer any financial incentives for heating your pool with solar. Given the utility savings, it really doesn’t matter. It is still a no brainer to use solar energy systems for heating pools.
Solar energy systems are a great choice for heating your swimming pool. As well as being the most cost effective heating system, solar energy systems are the most eco-friendly as well. Choosing solar energy for your swimming pool heating means that everyone wins!
Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com, a directory of solar power companies.
What can you do to “clear the air” indoors, at work and at home? You want to know you are breathing clean air in the places you spend the most time, promoting a clear head and a sense of well being. It’s no longer okay to allow clean air into your life just at the cabin or lake. If getting outside in the fresh air and sunshine is just a dream, you need to take steps now to clear the air. More people are becoming sick from their homes. We button them up so tight that they don’t breathe anymore.
All kinds of allergies are on the rise from being overexposed to chemicals, molds, and spores that are in our environment. It’s time to strike back and take control of what we breathe. Most of us take for granted that our workspace has clean air. Don’t tell that to the people that are exposed to formaldehyde, asbestos, Legionnaires disease, radon and more every day. HVAC systems have been changing greatly over the last few years because of the rise of complaints. Newer more powerful electrostatic air cleaners reduce over 90% of dust instead of the recent 40 - 50%. Activated oxygen systems are very new on the market. Ionized, ozonated oxygen is probably one of the most important aspects of fresh air. When we take advantage of the air given to us and work with the nitrogen and oxygen levels, our air is enlivened and we feel more energetic and alive. Air conditioning units have added to the problem by just cooling the air and increasing the levels of bacteria and mold in the ductwork. Chemicals are then used to treat it causing even more problems. Activated oxygen systems are a much healthier means of cleaning the air.
Homeowners are choosing “green” methods of construction because they are realizing the choice of building materials is crucial to their long term health. The choice of carpet is also important in that low pile is best to cut down on dust mites and should be vacuumed with a HEPA filter. Glues, synthetic fibers, irritating odors, they are all around us. Many allergic reactions to these contaminates can range from skin disease, sleep difficulties, infection and chronic fatigue are just a few. Natural fibers don’t attract much dust and their ability to breathe is much healthier for our skin. Speaking of skin, it is the largest organ on the body, so how much fresh air we give it is critical. Other issues that may present problems are electric allergies from being indoors so much. Computers, appliances, television and transformers all give off magnetic frequencies that can affect our systems and our mood. You might want to think about how close you sit to the computer, television or if you have an electric blanket or clock radio near your bed.
Every living thing has evolved under sunlight. Light deprivation is a relatively new problem that strikes many. It is only recently that we have moved ourselves indoors for our activities. We now have a higher degree of skin cancer than ever before with less and less exposure to the sun. The ozone shield is becoming a problem so what are we to do? Natural sunlight can be enhanced by light tubes. Cut a hole in the roof and sent the tub down through the ceiling. Full spectrum fluorescent light is also a possibility. It helps our moods and strongly resembles sunlight. The best thing to do is trying to get at least fifteen minutes of natural sunlight per day.
The decisions you make on an everyday basis determines how you feel for a lifetime. There are many places to receive information about products for a natural home and office. Check the library, bookstore or internet for more information.
Mae Marshall is a successful freelance writer offering guidance and suggestions for consumers buying ceiling fans, dehumidifiers, portable air conditioners, air filters and more. Her many articles can be found at http://www.portable-air-conditioner-4u.com/air_filters.htm . She gives information and tips at http://www.portable-air-conditioner-4u.com/index.htm to help you save money and make informed buying decisions.