and Attention Deficit Disorder

Causes

The causes of this problem are complex and in five main parts:

a)      Nutritional deficiencies, including deficiencies of essential fatty acids (EFAs)

b)      Chemical sensitivities

c)      Food sensitivities

d)      Sugar

e)      Heavy metals

Normally, more than one of the causes are present when there is a problem.

a) Nutritional Deficiencies

Many nutrients are involved in the condition of the brain and nervous system, and in the production of hormones and prostaglandins which control mood & behaviour.The B complex of vitamins and related nutrients are particularly important for production of neurotransmitters, important for brain function and memory. Shortage of magnesium, calcium and potassium can cause excessive nerve excitability.

In particular, a deficiency of essential fatty acids (EFAs) can cause many problems throughout the brain and nervous system; an imbalance between the two major groups (omega‑3 and omega‑6) can be equally serious.

EFAs are important throughout the body, being the main structural components of individual cell walls, including nerve cells. They also play a major part in production of prostaglandins, hormone‑like substances which control many functions throughout the body. The correct balance of omega‑3 to omega‑6 EFAs is roughly 1/1. The modern diet, as well as being deficient in total, tends towards a greater amount of omega‑6, which are present in large amounts in modern margarines etc.

The other nutrients previously mentioned, B vitamins and the minerals listed, are also deficient in the average modern, refined convenience food diet. B vitamins are contained mainly in the husk of grains. The removal of the husk to make white bread, white rice etc. therefore deprives us of these vitamins; hence beri‑beri, where white rice is used as a staple food in the East. Magnesium, calcium and potassium are mainly present in fresh fruit and vegetables. The modern low fruit and vegetable diet therefore leads to deficiencies of these vital nutrients.

b) Chemical Sensitivities

There are hundreds of chemicals used in food production; various types of pesticides used on crops, hundreds of flavourings and colourings used to "enhance" food appeal, preservatives & even antibiotics.

It is possibly true that the safe level found in tests on each individual chemical is roughly accurate, and that the body could manage to detoxify any one, or even half a dozen of these chemicals daily, but many people eat a diet which exposes them to hundreds of these chemicals each day, and this overloads the body's ability to resist the adverse effects. Also, every chemical will have a small number of people who have an adverse reaction to it, even in small amounts.

c) Food Sensitivities and Allergies

Most people are aware that peanuts can frequently cause severe allergic reactions. Less well known is the frequency of sensitivity to other foods, mainly milk, wheat, citrus fruits, tomatoes and caffeine. All these foods frequently cause problems.

d) Sugar (particularly sucrose)

This is the slow poison of the modern diet. It has many adverse effects. One is that, in refined form, it is completely devoid of vitamins and minerals. In order to be metabolised, it requires certain nutrients, particularly B vitamins and magnesium. Ingestion of refined sucrose will therefore deplete these nutrients, causing adverse effects on the brain and nervous system.

Its other, possibly its main, damaging effect is on the adrenal glands. Intake of high levels of sucrose causes excessive increase in blood sugar level. This in turn causes a massive release of insulin in order to correct this abnormality. The process overshoots, and blood sugar levels go too low. In order to correct this now undesirable situation, adrenalin is released from the adrenal glands. This causes an aroused and over‑stimulated condition.

e) Heavy Metals

¨      Heavy metals, particularly lead, mercury and cadmium, can severely interfere with mental functions.

¨      Excessive lead intake derives mainly from lead water pipes and breathing of air polluted by petrol fumes.

¨      Excessive cadmium intake mainly results from breathing cigarette smoke.

¨      Mercury contamination mainly comes from fillings in teeth rotted by high  sugar consumption.

¨      The main antagonist to heavy metal absorption is zinc, which competes at the absorption sites in the body.

Treatment

a) Diet

This is in two parts; minimising allergic & sensitivity reactions, maximising nutrition.

1) Minimising adverse reactions

¨      Avoid sweets, biscuits and cakes!

¨      Avoid all citrus fruit (oranges, lemons, grapefruit)

¨      Avoid all citrus fruit juices

¨      Avoid fizzy drinks, especially cola

¨      Avoid undiluted fruit juices

¨      Avoid crisps

¨      Avoid milk & milk products except butter

¨      NO PIZZAS

¨      Sometimes, it may be necessary to avoid all wheat products, including bread.

¨      Use soya milk instead of cows milk.

2) Maximising Nutrition

¨      Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, excluding citrus fruits.

¨      Eat unrefined foods, i.e. wholemeal bread and brown rice, jacket potatoes.

¨      If possible, eat free‑range meat & eggs.

¨      Eat fresh fish; for the high‑quality protein and omega‑3 oils.

¨      Sunflower and pumpkin seeds are useful sources of the omega‑6 oils.

b) Supplements

The supplementation programme to combat this problem is, as with diet, in two parts. We need to address a possible shortage of nutrients for the brain  and nervous system and for hormonal balance, and we need to ensure a lack of absorption of potentially harmful substances.

In order to achieve this, the following group of substances is necessary:

¨      A good quality multivitamin‑multimineral appropriate for the age.

¨      Vitamin C ‑ according to age ‑ up to 500mg per day.

Possibly Most Important

Either;

¨      Evening Primrose Oil 3x500mg per day

¨      Fish Oil 1000mg per day

Or

To buy any of these products, click this link: www.NationalNutrition.co.uk