Overcoming ADD/ADHD and Mood Disorders Naturally
ADHD and Mood Disorders in Children: A Growing Concern
In the United States, 13% of children ages 8-15 years of age suffer from a mental health disorder according to the CDC. Of that 13%, ADHD affects 8.5% and Mood disorder affects 3.5%. Personally I see a much higher rate around me, and I think this statistic is grossly under represented. ADHD in particular is being diagnosed at an alarming rate in my opinion, and frequently children today are passed out stimulant by their physicians like candy. This class of drugs will indeed improve focus and aid in controlling behavior, but little is done to address the root cause of the problem.
Why Clean Eating Matters More Than Any Diet
Over 75% of the patients I work with have mood disorders or attention issues. Why is this? Well there are a few reasons that can explain it…. The first being diet. Diet is such a four letter word in this country. If I had a dollar for every diet a patient told me about, I would be a rich woman!! What few realize, is that the key to health is not sticking to a specific ‘DIET’, but it’s knowing what you are putting in your mouth, and making an effort to eat clean. And by the way, clean eating is not just purchasing foods that are labeled ‘Natural’, clean eating is consuming food that are organic, unprocessed and purchased in a form the way nature intended. When you eat clean by this definition, you decrease the chemicals and pseudo foods that act negatively on your system.
Food Dyes, MSG, and Hidden Chemicals That Affect Behavior
Let’s talk about some of those chemicals that impact health- Food Dyes (all of them) cause behavior issues! Those dyes along with sodium benzoate (in candy bars and many processed foods) are at the top of the list- have been for years! Fortunately some manufacturers are starting to pull these out of their products, unfortunately, the majority of edible consumer products still have them- and the vast majority are marketed to kidsL As a parent it is your job to eliminate these additives, along with MSG (which is often hidden in foods under ‘flavorings’ on the ingredient label). MSG can cause headaches- more specifically migraines- and children that are unable to communicate what they are feeling may act out with behaviors that are unusual.
What’s On Your Skin Enters Your Bloodstream
In addition to food, you skin absorbs into your blood stream 60% of what you put on it. For this reason it is important to know what is in your beauty products, sunscreens, and even laundry detergents. Chemicals in these products can make their way into your blood stream. It is important to use clean products that are organic if possible and contain natural enzymes- often derived from plants. To find how your products rate, use the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) product data base. The data base is funded by a non-profit organization, and the EWG does research on products to determine what is in them, and explains how certain chemicals can be detrimental to your health. I encourage all of my patients to run their products through this site to be sure they are not adding to the toxin load they already have circulating from the world we live in. The EWG also rates consumer edibles and has a very comprehensive database for baby products including formula.
Nutritional Deficiencies and MTHFR Gene Mutations
After food, the next thing to look at are nutritional deficiencies. Every person I work with has them to some extent, identifying them through specialty testing as well as genetic mutations that can predispose someone to them is important to do. Screening enables an individualized protocol to be created to meet specific nutritional needs. Many children that present with behavior disorders have MTHFR mutations. This mutation hampers a body’s ability to utilize the synthetic forms of some B vitamins, which are necessary for detoxification and methylation. B vitamins, including 2,6,9 and 12, are critical for the MTHFR gene to function optimally. A lack of them, or the wrong ratios can cause a whole host of cognitive and neurologic issues/disorders.
The Gut-Brain Connection: Where Mood Truly Begins
Finally, the chemistry in the brain cannot be properly addressed without giving attention to the micorbiome of the gut. The microbiome of the gut is basically the environment in which bacteria lives. Without a healthy microbiome, a person’s health unravels over time. Since 85% of the immune system is based in the gut, it only makes sense to be sure it is working optimally. Unfortunately, the standard American diet and use of pharmaceuticals (NSAIDs, proton pump inhibitors, steroids and antibiotics) has made it challenging to avoid damage to the gut. Herbicides, GMO foods, and drugs can breakdown the lining of the gut and change the normal pH. This frequently leads to the gut being a host for micorbes that do not belong there and altered bowel patterns. In general patients that come to me have been led to believe that having one bowel movement a day is sufficient. Let me be the first to tell you that 3-4 times a day is normal and healthy. Those that are not moving them this much have an increased amount of toxins circulating… because what is not eliminated continues to circulate. Toxins have the potential of wreaking havoc on how you feel and think. When the gut is off, good bacteria is frequently outnumbered by bad bacteria, and the pH is not what is should be. Without enough good bacteria, the body cannot produce the substrates for serotonin production. Serotonin is the happy chemical our brains need to remain peaceful. Maybe you or someone you know has not done well on an SSRI. Chances are they do not have enough good bacteria in their gut to produce substrates for serotonin product, necessary for an SSRI to work.
Yeast Overgrowth, Candida, and Brain Fog
When looking at the gut and brain connection, it is also important to check if there is an overgrowth of yeast or a parasite. Those that crave carbs or sweets typically have candida overgrowth in the gut. As candida grows in life cycles, toxins are released with microbal death, which can lead to brain fog, memory and attention issues. I regularly screen patients for yeast overgrowth both systemically and in the gut micorbiome. When it is identified, botanicals and diet can be used to overcome it. It is not easy to treat, and as the body goes through a phase of dealing with die-off, people can at times feel worse before they feel better, however the benefits are priceless.
Parasites: A Hidden Cause of Nutritional Deficiency
If someone has a long standing problem with the micorbiome being disrupted, then screening for a parasite is important. This is done through stool testing with a specialty company like Genova. Parasites will rob the body of nutrition, which can lead to deficiencies that affect cognitive performance and behavior. Sometimes when nutritional deficiencies are being met through supplementation, and the expected results are not seen, a parasite can be the cause.
Why Stimulants Are a Band-Aid, Not a Solution
So to sum it up, stimulants are a Band-Aid. Although they may produce great results in the short term, and be a quick fix without the time and due diligence of treating the root cause, in the long run they can lead to stunted growth; liver damage; decreased appetite; malnutrition; weight loss; violent behavior/psychosis; depression; high blood pressure resulting in permanent damage to blood vessels of heart and brain; addiction; insomnia; convulsions/seizures and a loss of effectiveness overtime. So if you, or someone you love is struggling with ADD/ADHD or mood disorders, it is crucial to clean up the environment around you and meet specific deficiencies or imbalances before opting for a quick fix. By doing this you avoid all of the potential side effects associated with a medication, and more complex disease states that will manifest overtime from the system not being balanced. If you have tried some of the above recommended approaches and are still without success, then I advise you to find a functional medicine provider familiar with epigenetics (the affect of the environment on gene expression), nutrigenomics (the affect of nutrition on gene expression) and the use of specialty testing to uncover the root cause of disease.
https://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/ritalin/the-vicious-effects-of-prescription-stimulants.html