Tag: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

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The Importance of Probiotics

Throughout this wellness series we have been talking about the genome centric lifestyle and what nutrients our bodies require to maintain its self-healing and self-regulating properties. Most the nutrients that our body needs can be found in the foods that we eat, however, over the years due to industrialization and commercialization of our food sources we have become deficient in three key essential nutrients Omega-3’s, Vitamin D and probiotics.

In this blog, we are going to specifically look at Probiotics and their role in health and wellness.

Two nervous systems

Our bodies are actually made up of two nervous systems.

  1. central nervous system, composed of your brain and spinal cord and the
  2. enteric nervous system, which is the intrinsic nervous system of your gastrointestinal tract.

Both systems were created from the exact same material during fetal development and both systems are in constant communication via the vagus nerve (tenth cranial nerve). It is now well established that the vagus nerve is the primary route your gut bacteria use to communicate with your brain through the production of neurochemicals (Hadhazy, 2010, n.p.).

Gut and brain communication

Many think that the brain is the organ in charge, however, your gut will send more information to the brain regarding the state of the body than the brain sends to your gut. The feeling of butterflies when nervous or an upset stomach when angry are examples of how the brain can affect the gut. The same is true on the flip side, problems in the gut can lead to problems with mental health, such as anxiety and depression.

Roles of gut bacteria

At birth our gut is sterile, but over time our gut develops a diverse concoction of bacteria based from our genetics and our environment. These bacteria are responsible for digestion, metabolism, extracting vitamins and other nutrients from the food that we eat, programming the immune system and, as we just learned, communicating with the central nervous system.

Probiotics in nature

Our ancestors ate fermented foods, ate crops straight from the ground rather than sterilizing them, lived in less sterile environments, but most importantly, our ancestors did not take the copious amounts of antibiotics that we do now. Although sterilization techniques have benefits, we do not ingest the same diverse amounts of probiotics our ancestors once did, thus we must consider supplementing these essential nutrients.

Like with all nutrients, including the essential nutrients we have talked about these last few weeks, the best way to get them is through the environment and then supplement if there is no source in the diet.

Foods high in probiotics

Foods that are good sources of probiotics include:

  1. Kimchi – a Korean side dish made of salted and fermented vegetables
  2. Kefir – a fermented milk drink using kefir grains
  3. Sauerkraut – fermented cabbage
  4. Kombucha – fermented black or green tea

Yogurt and probiotics

Many of my clients will ask me about yogurt. I, personally, am not a fan of yogurt for probiotics. The large majority of yogurt is very high in sugar, which as stated in a previous blog, is quite bad for our bodies. Yogurt is made from dairy and for most people dairy is an inflammatory food. Lastly, yogurt only has a couple different types of bacteria strains (Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus) which does not provide much diversity of bacteria for the gut. Therefore, I would prefer my clients not count on yogurt for probiotics.

Supplementing probiotics

Supplementing probiotics first depends on the person’s diet, if the patient has ever been on antibiotics before, and lastly, how recent the antibiotic use has been. There are several different doses and is best to choose that dose on a individual level.

The probiotics capsules we carry in our office range from 5 billion active probiotic cells to 300 billion cells. It is also vital to have live cultures. This typically means a refrigerated probiotic, but some may have stabilizers in them that keep the bacteria alive at room temperature. Lastly, having a diverse amount of bacteria in the probiotic is ideal. Different bacteria have different roles in the body and the more diverse the gut flora is, the more roles that can be accomplished.

The Research

As you can see, your gut plays a much more vital role in your health than previously thought possible. Below is more research showing just how crucial your gut is to your overall health and wellness:

Gene expression

Researchers have discovered that the absence or presence of gut bacteria during infancy permanently alters gene expression (remember our talks on epigenetic?). Through gene profiling, researchers were able to discern that gut bacteria influenced genes and signaling pathways involved in learning, memory, and motor control, suggesting gut bacteria are closely tied to early brain development and subsequent behavior. In a similar way, probiotics have also shown to influence the activity of hundreds of your genes, helping them to express in a positive, disease-fighting manner (Hadhazy, 2010, n.p.).

Mental health

Another interesting function of these gut bacteria is they produce hundreds of neurochemicals that the body and brain use to regulate physiological and mental processes such as learning, memory and mood. For example, about 95% of the body’s supply of serotonin is produced in the gut (Carpenter, 2012, n.p.). Serotonin is best known as the “feel-good” molecule and is involved in preventing depression, regulating sleep, appetite and body temperature. And this is just one of 40 different neurotransmitters produced in the gut, aka “the second brain” (Hadhazy, 2010, n.p.). This may explain why many times antidepressants may not work for some people or why kids with ADHD or those who do not sleep well usually have gut issues.

Anxiety and depression

Stress-induced changes to the microbiome may in turn affect the brain and behavior. A few studies suggest that defensive molecules the gut produced during infection, called inflammatory cytokines, disrupt brain neurochemistry and make people more vulnerable to anxiety and depression (Carpenter, 2012, n.p.). This may help explain why more than half of people with chronic GI disorders such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are also plagued by anxiety and depression.

Obesity

The makeup of gut bacteria tends to differ in lean vs. obese people (Magrone, 2015, n.p.). This is one of the strongest areas of probiotic research to date. Obese individuals had about 20 percent more of a family of bacteria known as firmicutes, and almost 90 percent less of a bacteria called bacteroidetes than lean people. Firmicutes help your body to extract calories from complex sugars and deposit those calories in fat leading to obesity.

Immune system

Gut bacteria program our immune system from the time we are born by building up and maintaining the gut wall protecting us from outsiders as well as killing off any illness causing pathogens. At least 70 to 80 percent of our immune system lives in the gut (Vighi, 2008). There is research being presented that gut bacteria can train your immune system to distinguish between “foreign” microbes and those originating in your body, leading to new therapies using probiotics to treat a variety of diseases, particularly autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s.

Thus, if the appropriate immune tolerance developed in the gut is not established early in life and then maintained throughout life, then this can become a risk factor for the development of inflammatory, autoimmune and allergic diseases.

Antibiotics kill all bacteria, even the good stuff

The best way to protect microflora is by not taking antibiotics unless there is an actual bacterial infection. Antibiotics kill off ALL bacteria, even the good stuff. Antibiotics have a purpose and a great need when fighting bacterial infections. However, antibiotics do nothing for viral infections, therefore, be aware and do not be afraid to ask your doctor questions when prescribed antibiotics. Be sure that you are actually infected with bacteria or are at a high risk of bacterial infection before actually taking the antibiotic.

Overprescription of antibiotics

According to the CDC, across the United States, the number of antibiotic prescriptions given to children and adults remains high. Numerous studies have found that antibiotics are being prescribed for illnesses which do not require antibiotics, and the incorrect type of antibiotic, dose, or duration are often prescribed across all healthcare settings. In fact, in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one-third of all antibiotic prescriptions are unnecessary.

Unintended consequences from antibiotic overuse

  • Antibiotic resistant infections
    • Each year, over 23,000 Americans are dying because of bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics (CDC, 2018).
  • Longer healing time for infections
    • The type of antibiotics that are most often given to treat urinary tract infections are now considered ineffective for over 50 percent of the patients in many parts of the world (Felter, 2018).
  • Allergies and asthma
    • According to a large study, more than 792,000 children born between 2001 and 2013 who took antibiotics (or antacids) between birth and six months of age were linked with the development of allergies as well as asthma (Mitre, 2018).
  • Burden on health care system
    • The average patient, in 2009, facing an antibiotic-resistant infection can expect a medical bill anywhere from $18,588 and $29,069. This ads up to over $20 billion in health care costs each year in the U.S. (Krans, 2014).
    • In 2000, the U.S. lost $35 billion because of premature deaths, hospital stays, and lost wages related to antibiotic-resistant infections (Krans, 2014).
    • It is estimated that ∼150 000 ER visits are attributed to antibiotic-associated adverse events each year in the United States alone (Goldman, 2015).

What to do

  1. ASK QUESTIONS. Be sure to ask your doctor questions when an antibiotic is being prescribed.
  2. Remember, antibiotics do nothing for viral infections!
  3. If you have ever been on an antibiotic, then supplementing with a quality probiotic is necessary for optimal gut health.
  4. Decrease inflammation in the body by eating well, drinking lots of water and having good mental health.
  5. Eating fermented foods can help with proper gut flora.
  6. When supplementing, be sure to have a quality source and be sure to talk with a health professional about which level of dosage would work best for you.

 

Resources:

Bengmark, S. M.D. Ph.D. 1998. Immunonutrition: Role of biosurfactants, fiber, and probiotic bacteria. Nutrition. 14:585-594.

Carpenter, S. (2012, September). That gut feeling. Retrieved January 13, 2018, from http://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/09/gut-feeling.aspx

Hadhazy, A. (2010, February 12). Think Twice: How the Gut’s “Second Brain” Influences Mood and Well-Being. Retrieved January 13, 2019, from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gut-second-brain/

Magrone, T., & Jirillo, E. (2015, February 24). Early Life Factors Influencing the Risk of Obesity. Retrieved January 13, 2019, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4712533/

Mcloughlin, RM & Mills, KH. Influence of gastrointestinal commensal bacteria on the immune responses that mediate allergy and asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2011; 125 (5) : 1097-107

Grazul et al., Impact of probiotic supplements on microbiome diversity following antibiotic treatment of mice. Gut Microbes. 2016; 7(2): 101–114. Published online 2016 Mar 10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4856465/

Vighi et al., Allergy and the gastrointestinal system. Clin Exp Immunol. 2008 Sep; 153(Suppl 1):3–6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2515351/

Center for Disease Control. Antibiotic Use in the United States, 2017: Progress and Opportunities https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/stewardship-report/conclusion.html

Center for Disesae Control. Containing Unusual Resistance, 2018. https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/containing-unusual-resistance/index.html

Felter, Claire. The End of Antibiotics?. Backgrounder, March 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2019 from The Council on Foreign Relations at https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/end-antibiotics

Mitre, et al. Association Between Use of Acid-Suppressive Medications and Antibiotics During Infancy and Allergic Diseases in Early Childhood. JAMA Pediatr. 2018 Jun 4;172(6):e180315. Retrieved March 15, 2019 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29610864

Krans, Brian. 5 Frightening Consequences of Overusing Antibiotics. Healthline,  March 11, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2019 from https://www.healthline.com/health-news/five-unintended-consequences-antibiotic-overuse-031114#1

Goldman, Jennifer, et al. Tip of the Iceberg: Understanding the Unintended Consequences of Antibiotics. Pediatrics. 2015 Aug; 136(2): e492–e493. Retrieved March 15, 2019 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4516949/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Importance of Vitamin D

Throughout this wellness series we have been talking about the genome centric lifestyle and what nutrients our bodies require to maintain its self-healing and self-regulating properties. Most the nutrients that our body needs can be found in the foods that we eat, however, over the years we have become deficient in three key essential nutrients Omega-3’s, Vitamin D and probiotics.

What is Vitamin D and where to get it

In this blog, we are going to specifically look at Vitamin D. Vitamin D is a hormone produced in the body via exposure to Ultraviolet B radiation and cannot be produced by the body without exposure to the sun. According to research, well over half of the population is deficient in Vitamin D. Even those in sunny climates rarely get enough sun exposure due to clothing and sunscreen. In this case, quality Vitamin D supplementation is recommended. 

Supplementing Vitamin D

As said above, the best source of Vitamin D is from the sun. Vitamin D is naturally found in very few foods and can be fortified in some. If not getting Vitamin D from natural sources it is best to look into quality supplementation. Like all supplements, be sure you know your source and read the ingredients – the less the better. The product we have in our office is made of two ingredients: Vitamin D and olive oil. The difference between capsules and oil is not much when it come to what is in the product, however, sublingual drops have a more effective absorption rate into the body. I usually recommend the sublingual drops for my patients for this reason.

The roles of Vitamin D

Vitamin D is crucial in virtually every human function including: growth and development, brain and nerve function, emotions and behavior, maintenance and repair of skin and bones, regulation of healing and inflammation, cholesterol levels, digestion, heart function, immune function, vision, vitamin production, digestive system function, cardiovascular health, etc.

How much Vitamin D does one need?

This can be a tricky question and it all depends on how much sun exposure one is getting. The Vitamin D Council recommends that healthy adults take 2,000 IU of vitamin D daily — more if they get little or no sun exposure. There’s evidence that people with a high amounts of body fat need more vitamin D than lean people. I recommend to my patients that during the winter months to be taking around 4,000 – 6,000 IUs daily and even more depending on size and symptoms. In the late spring, summer and early fall, I recommend that the best way to get Vitamin D is to be in the sun midday without sunscreen for 20 minutes in a swimming suit (for proper skin exposure) and for young kids 10 minutes. This will give enough daily Vitamin D. After the 10 or 20 minutes is up, please put on sunscreen. If someone is not comfortable going out into the sun for that amount of time without sunscreen, then that is perfectly fine, however, this person will need to continue supplementing at the recommended dose. The great thing about Vitamin D is it is very hard to overdose, so although one must be aware of how much they are taking, small to moderate amounts of Vitamin D are perfectly fine.

Preventing disease with Vitamin D

According to the Vitamin D Council, conditions associated with Vitamin D deficiency include: 

  • cancer
  • cardiovascular disease
  • diabetes and other endocrine diseases
  • infections and autoimmune disorders
  • mental health
  • learning disorders
  • musculoskeletal disorders
  • neurological disorders including autism and multiple sclerosis
  • dental caries and periodontal disease
  • respiratory diseases such as asthma and allergies
  • skin disorders
  • low fertility in women and men
  • PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome)

This is the short list of disease that can be linked and attributed to Vitamin D deficiency.

Depression, pain and autoimmune

Signs of Vitamin D deficiency are different from person to person but most include altered moods and/or depression, chronic fatigue, chronic pain, chronic illness, frequent infections. The active 1,25(OH)2D form of vitamin D is a potent modulator of inflammation, and may play a role in turning off chronic inflammatory response. (Liu, 2018) Knowing this, Vitamin D should be recommended for anyone and everyone, but especially clients with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, or chronic musculoskeletal pain. Stewart Leavitt, Ph.D. states that “some researchers have found that vitamin D deficiency occurs in up to 85% of chronic musculoskeletal pain cases, especially those involving the lower back” (Faraj, 2003, 177).

Cancer prevention

Vitamin D-sensitive cancers are responsible for 257,000 deaths in 2007 – 46% of all cancer deaths in the U.S. in 2007 according to Jemal A, et al. (2007) Colon cancer could be reduced by 50% with vitamin D levels maintained above 34ng/ml and breast cancer could be reduced by 50% with vitamin D levels maintained at 52ng/ml (n.p.).

Just because cancer runs in your family, doesn’t mean you can’t try to prevent it. It all goes back to the principles of epigentics – we can determine the expression of a gene via our environment.

Cold and flu prevention

In study performed by Aloia, J et al., taking 800 IU/day of Vitamin D reduced the incidence of cold/flu by 70%, and decreased incidences of cold/flu by almost 100% for those taking only 2.000IU/day of Vitamin D. In children taking 1,200IU/day of Vitamin D during the winter time, 67% were less likely to contract Type A influenza. (Aloia, 2007, n.p.)

Pregnancy and infants

Women should most definitely be supplementing Vitamin D especially during pregnancy. Vitamin D does not pass the placental barrier well, so it is even more important that the mother be sufficient in Vitamin D. Pregnant women who are sufficient, not only help the direct health of their child, but they also have lower rates of preterm labor, preterm birth and infection, with the greatest effects being when women take 4,000IU daily. (Hollis, 2011, n.p.)

A challenge to the medical community

This blog barely skims the surface on the important and necessity of Vitamin D. As stated in this blog and in the research over and over again, people are dying because of a lack of knowledge on how this simple Vitamin can not only change their lives, but save their lives.

I challenge every MD, DC, DO, ND, PA, NP and every other health care abbreviation I missed to recommend vitamin D to each and every one of our clients. It is our responsibility as health care practitioners to give our clients the resources they need in order to give them the best chance of having a long, quality life. 

References

Al Faraj S, Al Mutairi K. Vitamin D Deficiency and chronic low back pain in Saudi Arabia. Spine 2003; 28: 177-179.

Aloia, J et al. Epidemic Influenza and Vitamin D. Epidemiology and Infection 2007, Vol 135 (7) pp. 1095-1098

Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Willett WC, Wong JB, et al. Fracture prevention with vitamin D supplementation:a meta- analysis of randomized controlled trials. JAMA 2005; 293: 2257-2264. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5685053/

Boxer RS, Dauser RA, Walsh SJ, et al. The association between vitamin D and inflammation with the 6- minute walk and frailty in patients with heart failure. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2008;56:454-461.

Cannell et al. 2008 Cod Liver Oil, Vitamin A Toxicity, Frequent Respiratory Infections, and the Vitamin D Deficiency Epidemic. Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology 117 (11) : 864-870

Glerup H, Mikkelsen K, Poulsen L, et at. Hypovitaminosis D myopathy without biochemical signs of osteomalacic bone involvement. Calcif Tissue Int. 2000;66 419-424.

Hollis, Bruce, et al. Vitamin D Supplementation during Pregnancy Part 2 NICHD/CTSA Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT): Outcomes. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3183324/

Jemal A, et al. Cancer statistics, 2007. Ca Cancer J. Clin. 2007 Jan- Feb; (1) : 43-66.

Lee P, Chen R. Vitamin D as an analgesic for patients with type 2 diabetes and neuropathic pain. Arch Intern Med. 2008; 168 (7): 771-772.

Liu, Wei, et al. The Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Vitamin D in Tumorigenesis. Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Sep; 19(9): 2736.

Munger, KL, Levin Kl, Hollis BW, et al. Serum 25- hydroxyvitamin D levels and risk of multiple sclerosis. JAMA 2006;296: 2832-2838.

Pedersen LB, et al. 1, 25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 reverses experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by inhibiting chemokine synthesis and monocyte trafficking. J Neurosci Res 2007; 85: 2480-2490.

Richards, JB et al. Higher serum Vitamin D concentrations are associated with leukocyte telomere length in women. Am J. Clin Nutr 2007 Nov; 86 (5): 1420-5

Stewart Leavitt, Ph. D. Vitamin D – A Neglected ‘Analgesic’ for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain. Pain Treatment Topics June 2008

Von Essen, MR et al. Vitamin D controls T cell antigen receptor signaling and activation of human T cells. Nature Immunology 2010, 11, 344-349

 

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The Importance of Omega-3 Fatty Acid

The main focus of this wellness series has been the genome centric lifestyle and what nutrients our bodies require to maintain its self-healing and self-regulating properties. Most the nutrients that our bodies need can be found in the foods that we eat; however, over the years through the industrialization and commercialization of our meat and produce we have become deficient in three key essential nutrients: Omega-3’s, Vitamin D, and probiotics.

Where to find Omega-3s naturally

In this blog, we are going to specifically look at Omega-3s, which many people refer to as fish oil. Humans genetically require sufficient amounts of preformed EPA and DHA Omega-3 fatty acids primarily from the fats of wild game such as grass fed beef, free range chicken, pasture raised pork and most well known in wild fish such as salmon. However, how many of us are actually eating this way, moreover, how much of our meat source is actually of this quality?

Omega-3 vs. Omega-6 intake

Industrial and commercial farming techniques feed livestock soy, wheat and corn (foods that wild animals never ate until commercial farming existed) leaving our livestock practically devoid of omega-3 fatty acids and over abundant on omega-6 fatty acids. Thus, the omega-6 intake is 11x that of omega-3, where it should be equal intake of both. This leads to an imbalanced fatty acid state, leading to inflammation of the bodily systems (Eaton, 1997, n.p.).

When to supplement for Omega-3

Therefore, if you are eating pasture raised pork, grass fed beef, free range chicken and wild fish (not farmed and not frying it), you more than likely do not need to supplement much as far as omega-3s are concerned (Eaton, 1997, n.p.). For the rest of us, we must supplement or else symptoms of nutrient deficiency begin to manifest.

Roles of Omega-3 fatty acids in human function

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fats that play a critical role in virtually every human function including growth and development, brain and nerve function, emotions and behavior, maintenance of skin and bones, regulation of healing and inflammation, cholesterol levels, digestion, heart function, immune function, vision, etc.

Omega-3 in infants and children

A Purdue University study, by Stevens et al, showed that children low in Omega-3 essential fatty acids are significantly more likely to be hyperactive, have learning disorders, and to display behavioural problems (Stevens, 1996, n.p.).

Specifically, DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) is an Omega-3 fatty acid produced in animals only. DHA is essential for the growth and development of the human brain and nervous system in infants with deficiencies associated with fetal alcohol syndrome, ADHD, cystic fibrosis, unipolar depression, and aggressive hostility along with cognitive decline during aging and onset of sporadic Alzheimer disease (Horrocks, 1999, n.p.). The inclusion of plentiful DHA in the diet improves learning ability, whereas deficiencies of DHA are associated with deficits in learning. Also, visual acuity of healthy, full-term, formula-fed infants is increased when their formula includes DHA.

Omega-3 in adults

DHA is also required for the maintenance of normal brain function in adults with decreases in the brain associated with cognitive decline during aging and with onset of sporadic Alzheimer disease (Ramin, 2010, n.p.). With leading cause of death in western nations as cardiovascular disease, epidemiological studies have shown a strong correlation between fish consumption and reduction in sudden death from myocardial infarction.

Patients with cardiovascular disease or Type II diabetes are often advised to adopt a low-fat diet with a high proportion of carbohydrate. A study with women shows that this type of diet actually increases plasma triglycerides and the severity of Type II diabetes and coronary heart disease (Horrocks, 1999, n.p.).

Diseases Omega-3s can help prevent

The following is a short list of diseases that can be prevented, resolved, lessened with ingestion of Omega-3 fatty acids (Connor, 2000, n.p.):

  1. coronary heart disease
  2. Type II Diabetes
  3. autoimmune disorders (lupus, nephropathy, psoriasis)
  4. Crohns disease
  5. cancers of the breast, colon, and prostate
  6. mild hypertension
  7. rheumatoid arthritis

Omega-3s vs. statin drugs

In fact, Omega-3 fatty acids are 44% more effective than statin drugs in reducing death from cardiac events (Studer, 2005, n.p.)! Because Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients, they are involved in almost every process in the body, whether directly or indirectly.

Omega-3s from plant sources

For those choosing to not eat meat and/or those who are supplementing with flax or other plant sources. Omega-3s from plant sources are not a sufficient form of the human requirement. Humans are genetically not very efficient at properly converting LNA or ALA Omega-3 (plant fatty acid) to EPA and DHA (animal fatty acid). We have been genetically designed to ingest pre-formed versions of DHA and EPA from other animals that do have the capabilities of converting plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids into animal sources (Gerster, 1998, n.p.). This is why they are considered essential nutrients. Thus, eating the fats of grass fed, all natural, wild meat or supplementing from animal sources is the best way to get the necessary doses of omega-3s.

Where to find quality Omega-3 supplementations

The fish oil we have in our office extracted in a licensed pharmaceutical grade facility from cold water anchovies, herring and sardines that are the purest source of omega 3 fish oil. The oil is purified in a non-chemical molecular distillation process that removes all trace amounts of heavy metals, PCBs, organochlorides, and organophosphate pesticides resulting in the safest, purest source of EPA/DHA fish oil possible.

When it comes to supplementing omega-3 fatty acids, it is imperative to buy a quality form, one that is contaminant free, with a manufacturer and distributor dedicated to quality and purity. If your fish oil tastes like fish or you belch fish, you do not have a good quality and you are throwing your money away. In my opinion, the best sources of fish oil will be from the Scandinavian countries. so when searching for a better value read your labels and find out where your fish oil is being manufactured and produced.

Resources:

Conner, W. E. Importance OF N-3 fatty acids in health and disease. Am J Clin Nutr, 2000 71(1): 171S-175S

Eaton, Eaton & Konner. Paleolithic nutrition revisited: A twelve year retrospective on its nature and implications. Eur J. of Clin Nutr. 1997: 51; 207-216

Eaton, S. & Konner, M. 1985 Paleolithic Nutrition: A consideration of its nature and current implications. N. Eng. J. Med. 312, 283-289

Eaton, Eaton & Konner. Paleolithic nutrition revisited: A twelve year retrospective on its nature and implications. Eur J. of Clin Nutr. 1997: 51; 207-216

Eaton et al. The return of n-3 fatty acids into the food supply. land based animal food products and their health effects. 1998 World Rev. Nutr. Diets. Vol 83, 12-23

Farzaneh-Far et al. Association of Marine Omega-3 Fatty Acid Levels with Telomeric Aging in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease JAMA. 2010; 303(3):250-257.

Gerster, H. Can Adults adequately converts alpha- linolenic acid (18:3n-3) to eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (22;6n-3)? Int J Vitam Nutr Res 1998. 68(3):159-73.

Harmon, K Diets Low in Omega-3 Linked to Depressive Behavior in Mice. Scientific American Jan. 2011.

Horrocks, L.A. & Yeo, Y.K. (1999) Health benefits of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) Pharmacol Res. Sep; 40 (3): 211-25. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10479465

Robert S. Goodhart and Maurice E Shils. Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease 6th ED. (1980). Lea and Febinger. Philadelphia.

Simopoulos AP. The importance of the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 essential fatty acids. Biomed Pharmacother. 2002;56;:365-379

http://www.innatechoice.com/viewvideo.cfm?id=77F127DA-D29B-45AD-6A4569B61555AE52&return=http://www.innatechoice.com/

Stevens, LJ et al Omega-3 fatty acids in boys with behavior, learning, and health problems. Physiol Behav. 1996 59(⅘) 915-920

Studer et al. 2005 Effect of Different Antilipidemic Agents on Mortality: A systematic review. Archives Internal Medicine. April 11, 725-730

 

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Diet & ADHD

More children in the U.S. are being diagnosed with ADHD than ever before — 10.4 million in 2010 — a 66 percent increase since the year 2000! *

The majority of these millions of children will be prescribed mood altering drugs by default, some of them as young as four years old.

With growing concerns of over-diagnosis and the impacts of mood altering drugs on children and teenagers, many parents are now looking for non-drug treatment options. In a previous post, I discussed how chiropractic could potentially benefit kids diagnosed with ADHD and today I will introduce another effective non-drug treatment: diet.

So many of the “foods” (I put quotations around “food”, because is it really food that we now feed children?) are now processed and packaged in factories where scientists have manipulated the chemical composition to improve shelf life, injected artificial dyes to improve eye appeal, and inserted artificial flavors to create addictive tastes. Most “food” has become so processed that regular people stumble to pronounce more than a few items on the product ingredients list. For example, the ingredients list from a package of Wonder 100% Whole Wheat bread:

  

All kids, and especially those who are hyperactive, need real, nutritious food. I encourage parents when going to the grocery store to stay to the outside edges of the store – that’s where you find the real food: fruits, veggies, proteins, and nuts.

Here are a few guidelines to follow when choosing food for your kids:

1. At the grocery store – stay to the outside!

2. Stick to foods with 10 or fewer ingredients

3. Understand and be able to pronounce all the ingredients.

Remember, even if you don’t feel like you can follow all these guidelines right away, know that just following one of them is greatly helping you, your child, and your entire family!

A healthy diet is important for everyone, but for children experiencing symptoms of ADHD, improving the nutritional value of their diet can help improve behavior at home, in school, and in their interactions with other children and adults.

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”

― Hippocrates

Below are links that provide more information on what diets are appropriate for kids with ADHD, along with peer reviewed research on ADHD and diet.

ADHD & Diet – WebMD

ADHD & Diet – A Collection of Research 

*Huffington Post Article on ADHD Diagnosis Patterns