Francie Healey - Resources

What role does iron deficiency play in ADHD?

4/26/2017

Image source: Flickr user aigle_dore.

Iron Deficiency in Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Research, time and again, is finding children with nutrient deficiencies who are diagnosed with ADHD. In this article, children aged 5-15 years old showed improvement from iron supplementation. Interesting tip: other possible symptoms of iron deficiency include restless leg syndrome (in both children and adults), and oddly, a craving for chewing ice.

Zinc and ADHD

4/21/2017

Image source: Flickr user addelpic.

Zinc sulfate as an adjunct to methylphenidate for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children: A double blind and randomized trial

Nutritional deficiencies are common and do have consequences. In this study, children diagnosed with ADHD, had a significant reduction in symptoms from supplementing with zinc. Among its many essential roles, zinc helps with the production of dopamine in the brain, and deficiencies are thought to play a role in ADHD.

What role does diet play in ADHD?

4/19/2017

Image source: Flickr user tadd_debbie.

Restriction and Elimination Diets in ADHD Treatment

If you want to understand more about the role of diet in ADHD, take a look at this comprehensive meta-analysis of the research. Food intolerances and food allergies are the most researched in ADHD treatment, in terms of the effect of certain foods and food additives on the functioning of our brains and nervous system.

Do food additives cause hyperactivity?

4/14/2017

Image source: Flickr user ljguitar.

Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the community: a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial

100% of 153 3-year-olds showed an adverse effect in hyperactivity after consuming beverages with sodium benzoate and artificial food colour and additives (AFCAs)! All of them. (Sodium benzoate and AFCA are found in sodas, soft drinks, and common fruit flavored drinks and beverages. Read your labels!)

Dietary changes and ADHD

4/12/2017

Image source: Flickr user usdagov.

Effects of a restricted elimination diet on the
behaviour of children with attention-deficit
hyperactivity disorder...

78% of the trial group responded positively on behavioral assessments to an elimination diet! In other words, in the children that were studied (mostly boys), 78% saw improvement in ADHD symptoms from changing their diets. They conclude, “the mechanisms and effects of food need to be investigated—eg, at a functional and structural brain level and in relation to genetic factors that increase the susceptibility to ADHD.”

What role does inflammation play in cognitive decline?

4/7/2017

Image source: Flickr user simonmatzinger.

The Metabolic Syndrome, Inflammation, and Risk of Cognitive Decline

This study looked at nearly 3,000 participants and observed that while metabolic syndrome does increase one’s risk for cognitive decline, high levels of inflammation exacerbated that risk. It is completely possible to decrease inflammation with diet and lifestyle changes and this appears to have a protective effect for dementia.

Sugar and children's cereal

4/5/2017

In Kid's Cereal, Mini Servings Hide Mountains of Sugar

Welcome to the politics of sugar! This article breaks down the amount of hidden sugar in the most popular kids’ cereals and why these food labels don’t reflect accurate serving sizes. We know that high sugar diets directly link to many chronic diseases (diabetes, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive decline) by creating ongoing inflammation in the body. Not to mention the difficult behaviors sugar exacerbates in children (hyperactivity, attention deficit, low frustration tolerance, emotional highs and lows) and the researched addictive quality of sugar on our brains. We can do better.

Depression and other early warning signs of dementia

3/31/2017

Image source: Flickr user Sunny M5.

Memory loss is not necessarily the first sign of dementia

The first symptom of any neurodegenerative disease is depression. This article highlights loss of interest in favorite activities and apathy (signs of depression) as well as anxiety and personality changes as initial signs of dementia. The time to prevent Alzheimer's is right now by eating and living for brain health.

B Vitamins help to reduce risk of Alzheimer's

3/29/2017

Image source: Flickr user egadenne.

Reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease with high folate intake: The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging

This study reviewed the diets of over 500 individuals over the age of 65. They found a significant correlation with individuals who met or exceeded the RDA intake for folate and a decreased risk for Alzheimer’s. Interestingly, only 13% of the sample size were able to meet RDA levels with diet alone!

The best source of folate for us is in its natural form:

spinach
lentils
turnip greens
beets
broccoli
Brussels sprouts
asparagus
romaine lettuce
cauliflower
parsley

Because we continue to learn how vitamins work in symphony with other micronutrients, our best practice is to get essential vitamins from foods rather than isolated in synthetic supplements. Furthermore, added folate to food products, like bread, present similar problems, by taking the nutrient out of its natural environment, whereby we may unknowingly decrease its effect on us, as well as our ability to absorb it.

Intergenerational health and epigenetics

3/24/2017

A brief video interview with Mark Wolynn about his new book, It Didn’t Start With You. This is a fascinating look into epigenetics and how intergenerational trauma does affect our health. “We have to shake the family tree.”