Treating ADHD With Diet

References

These are all excellent books, whether they apply to your particular situation or not.  They are well worth reading.  I have most of them here in my office.  If you like, you can and I may add it to the list.

• A Mind at a Time, by Dr. Mel Levine, 5 stars.
  He also runs a website, AllKindsOfMinds.org.

  I placed this book at the top of the list (the others are in no particular order), because it appeals to a wide audience.  It does not claim to cure anybody, but it offers tips and tricks for coping with your disorder.  By itself, this would be useless to John; his disorder is simply too overwhelming.  Without dietary intervention, John would wind up dead or in jail as a result of some impulsive act or angry altercation.  But most people reading this account aren't as extreme as John.  Besides, I don't expect to cure John 100%, and he may need these techniques to deal with his residual hyperactivity in the future.

  Don't underestimate the ideas presented in this book.  They are powerful, valuable, and relevant.  Teachers, counselors, and physicians should also read this book.  I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.  Why not 5?  It's a bit fluffy, with lots of anecdotes and little real science.  Nothing is explained, even by a hypothesis.  That's ok, science always begins with anecdotes.  "I see this pattern, I wonder why."  But by skirting the issue of cause and effect, Dr. Levine is treating the symptoms, just like ritalin, (though without the negative side effects.)  Wouldn't it be better to fix the underlying problem?  In JOhn's case, we have to address the cause, or nothing else will help.

  Reading between the lines, Dr. Levine seems to think these disorders are normal variations within the human species, as though natural selection would not have dampened them out over the past million years.  I'm sure this is wrong.  Antisocial behavior is maladaptive, whether you are in a hunter gatherer society or a public school.  Most kids are not as extreme as John, but so many many kids are on meds, and others should be.  This is not normal!  Something has changed in the past 50 years, and no, we're not just better at diagnosing the problem, as skeptics claim.  Something has truly changed for the worse.  Our diets, the toxins in the air, allergies, the tv, I don't know.  Nobody knows.  By dodging the question, Dr. Levine doesn't have to try to answer it, which would be controversial indeed.  So he has written a noncontroversial, helpful book.  Take it for what it's worth; and it is worth quite a bit.

  Other books do indeed attempt to cure the patient, but they are long shots at best.  If you have candida, specifically candida, then the Yeast Connection will help.  If not, you will be barking up the wrong tree for months.  Believe me, I've barked up many a wrong tree.  I guess you never know unless you try.

• If your child is oppositional and defiant, you may need to pick your battles.  Should you force the issue?  Should you negotiate?  Should you give in?  Read The Explosive Child, by Ross Greene, 4.6 stars. 

• An Extraordinary Power to Heal, by Bruce Semon M.D.

  Feast Without Yeast, by Bruce Semon M.D.

  These are the most advance books on candida, standing on the shoulders of giants that came before, like the Crook Book etc. You'll want to check out Dr. Semon's website, The Nutrition Institute.

• Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills, by Russell Blaylock.

• No More Ritalin, by Dr. Mary Ann Block, 4.3 stars.

  No More Amoxicillin, by Dr. Mary Ann Block, 5.0 stars.

  Dr. Block heads a non-profit organization in Texas known as The Block Center.  You can contact them at 1-888-3725625, or at their web site.

• If you are searching for hidden food sensitivities, I recommend The Complete Book Of Allergy Control, by Laura J. Stevens.  We used this comprehensive text to implement the elimination/challenge protocol that uncovered my corn intolerance, my wife's milk intolerance, my mother's egg/wheat intolerance, and my friend's corn/cashew allergy (hers is a true allergic response).  Unfortunately this wonderful book is out of print, and hard to find.

  Laura Stevens has written many other books, and collaborated on even more.  You can obtain more information at her web site.

• The Rotation Diet, by Martin Katahn, 4.8 stars.

• What Do We Eat Tonight? A Practical Guide to Creating a Rotation Diet., by Dianna Barra, 5.0 stars.

• The U.S. Feingold Organization performs research on behalf of its members, uncovering the hidden additives in many of our foods.  It has a sister organization in England, that investigates the brands specific to that country.  Similar organizations exist in other countries.

• The Feingold program is based upon the work of Dr. Ben Feingold, as described in his book, Why Your Child Is Hyperactive.  That research was performed 30 years ago, and the book is out of print, and hard to find.

  Why Can't My Child Behave, by Jane Hersey, 4.4 stars, contains more up-to-date information about additives and behavior. 

• Is This Your Child, by Doris J. Rapp, 4.7 stars.
  This book explores both foods and food additives, and their effects on children and adults.  Although some people do react to additives, more people (statistically) react to natural foods such as wheat, dairy, eggs, or nuts.

• Sugar Blues, by William F. Dufty, 4.6 stars.
  This book describes the numerous health consequences of our recent, high sugar diet.

• Blood Sugar Blues, by Miryam Williamson, 5.0 stars.
  This book focuses on insulin resistance and diabetes.

• The Yeast Connection, by William G. Crook M.D., 4.7 stars.
  This is an excellent introduction to candida and the many symptoms that can be aggravated by this troublesome microbe.

• The Yeast Syndrome, by John Parks Trowbridge M.D. and Morton Walker D.P.M., 4.2 stars.
  This book contains additional information about candida, including a more detailed diet plan.

• If you simply want to lose weight, or maintain good health, this may be the most important book on the list.  The Zone, by Barry Sears, shows you how to balance carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in a manner consistent with our physiology, i.e. as our ancestors ate. 

  Other books by Barry Sears include:
  A Week in the Zone, 4.3 stars,

  
  and Mastering the Zone, 4.4 stars.

• Fed Up, By Sue Dengate, describes sensitivities to salicylates and amines.  Personally I think these sensitivities are quite rare, but they do exist, so it's another avenue you might want to explore, especially if you have recurring migraines with no discernible cause.  This book is not available through Amazon.com, but you can purchase a copy from www.bookch.com/, or visit Sue Dengate's web site.

• If you are tracking carbohydrates (simple or complex), protein, fats (saturated or monounsaturated or polyunsaturated), fiber (soluable or insoluable), sodium, or calories, you'll need a comprehensive reference guide.  There are many books to choose from.  We use The Complete Book Of Food Counts, by Corinne T. Netzer. It provides nutritional facts for whole foods, brand names, convenience foods, and even fast-foods.

  If you are tracking carbohydrates, as many of us are, The Corinne T. Netzer Carbohydrate Dieter's Diary, rated 5.0 stars, is a must. 

• Many ibs patients must follow a detailed regimen that emphasizes soluable fiber and minimizes insoluable fiber.  This is described in the book The First Year, IBS, An Essential Guide, by Heather Van Vorous, 4.8 stars. 

  You may also want the associated cookbook, Eating For IBS, 175 Recipes, 4.6 stars. 

  Visit her web site for on-line support.

• If you have interstitial cistitis, the IC diet has some similarities to the candida diet, and some differences too.

• Truth In Labeling, a must-read web site on MSG.  It's hidden in so many foods and additives.

• The gluten free casein free diet is the most common dietary treatment for autism.  It helps other disorders as well.  You can visit the GFCF web site for more information.  The associated discussion group has 2,000 active members.

  The cookbook, Special Diet Celebrations, no wheat, no dairy, by Carol Fenster, is rated 5.0 out of 5 stars. 

• Breaking the Vicious Cycle, by Elaine Gottschall.
  This 45 year old diet addresses yeast-connected digestive disorders, but recently it has been applied to autism, ASD, and other neurological condiitions that seem unrelated to digestion.  Visit PecanBread.com for more information.

• For general information on children's health, please visit KeepKidsHealthy.com.