Throughout the years ADD has had many names: Hyperkenisis, ADHD, minimal brain dysfunction and hyperactivity to name a few.

ADD is broken down into three subtypes:

ADD with hyperactivity, ADD without hyperactivity and ADD residual type (someone older than 18)

The most interesting study I have come across is that America is one of the few countries whose children suffer from this disorder. The good news is that some researchers and doctors are starting to pay attention and realize that ADD is predominately a nutrition related problem. This is not to say that some people do not suffer from chemical related issues.  In-fact there are rare cases as to where a chemical imbalance may need to be corrected with a physician's help.

Regardless, to a parent who has a child with ADD, the problem is exceedingly real.

Contributing Factors

• Excessive sugar consumption
• Poor diet choices (aka, eating too much processed food and not eating "live" foods)
• Food allergies and sensitivities
• Ear infections
• Nutrient deficiency
• Heavy metals

Alternatively but just as important, lack of excercise and daily activities and perhaps even lack of discipline and proper stress management are also leading factors to our nations rising ADD / ADHD problem. I will not focus of this message for this posting but suffice it to say GET OUT OF THE HOUSE and ENJOY LIFE and WORKOUT YOUR BODIES!!

So what is a parent to do? Well we can start by elimiating the following items:

• White sugar
• Processed honey
• Syrup
• Fruit juice
• Corn Sweeteners
• Maltose
• Dextrose

Then eliminate as many artificial additivies from your child's diet as possible.

Next I would recommend you journal your child's diet for a few weeks. Once you discover what causes continued hyperactivity then remove those from your childs diet.

Also remove the following items from your childs diet.

NO DAIRY PRODUCTS All dairy must be removed. This includes cheese, ice cream, and yogurt. This is the single most important restriction.

· CUT SUGAR INTAKE BY 95%. Read the labels and get it out of their diet.

· NO JUNK FOOD. If it comes from a cellophane wrapper throw it away.

· NO YELLOW FOODS. Most important here are corn and squash. Children with ADD are commonly sensitive to these foods.

· Eliminate items with food coloring. And avoid those items that are known to cause sensitivities in children (see below sensitivity list for help)

· NO FRUIT JUICES. Fruit juice can normally have more sugar in them than soda. Eat fruit instead

· NO HYDROGENATED OILS. This means margarine, Crisco, and the thousands of products like Jiff peanut butter which contain them. READ THE LABELS.!! If the ingredients say hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oil, LEAVE IT ON THE SHELF!

· ELIMINATE CHOCOLATE. And caffeine!

· NO ASPARTAME, EQUAL, NOR NUTRASWEET PRODUCTS. Instead try Barely Malt Sweetener.

· NO PROCESSED MEATS. This includes most meat purchased in the deli case. No MSG. NEVER EAT PORK OR SHELLFISH!

· IMPROVE BREAKFAST. Serve moderate protein and moderate complex carbohydrate meals. Eliminate breakfast cereals with milk. For lunch serve fresh meals consisting of about 40% protein and 60% complex carbohydrates.

· EAT FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES EVERYDAY AND AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE!!!

· TAKE A MULTIPLE VITAMIN/MINERAL BUILT FOR YOUR CHILD. Ask about our customized nutrients.

· USE THE FOLLOWING 2 NUTRIENTS TO HELP STABILIZE INSULIN LEVELS: Chromium Picolinate, Vanadyl Sulfate

The following shows food sensitivity rankings.

Red Dye                                  88

Yellow Dye                             80

Blue Dye                                 80

Coloring / Preservatives     79

Cow’s Milk                             73

Soya                                        73

Chocolate                                33

Grape Flavor                           40

Orange Flavor                         40

Peanuts                                    47

Wheat                                      30

Corn                                        40

Tomato                                    47

Egg                                          20

Cane Sugar                              40

Apple                                      40

To find out what items you could add to your diets then goto to this previous posting titled - What Foods Should I Eat And What Foods Should I Not Eat

Remember of course to eliminate all processed food!! Add fresh vegetables and fruits to your lifestyle. Try to ensure that your's and their diets are at least 60 to 70% live food.

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