“What you eat today, walks and talks tomorrow.”

-Babe the Pig 

This is from the movie "Babe" my daughters favorite movie at the current time, and even though you could interpret it a number of different ways, there is no doubt that what you eat controls each and every cell in your body. Since eating is something we all do, it seems like a good idea to put the conversation forward: Are your genetics influenced by the foods you eat, and even more importantly, do you have the power to control how your genes are turned on or off through nutrition?

 The answer is: YES.  The new future of medicine is known as Epigenetics- looking at how the genetic code is affected by environmental influences, and how we have the real ability to turn wellness or illness genes on or off through the foods we chose to put in our bodies. If you were to hear someone say, "it's all in my genes" it's true, but what you don't hear people say is, "but I have the power to control them."  Now I'm not talking about hair color, eye color, skin color etc, these things are in the genetic code and make up your physical appearance.  But lets say someone is meant to be 6 foot 5, but they were fed a horrible diet as a child- malnourished and under exercised.  It's likely they wouldn't make it to that height due to the genetic code being altered by deficiency states.

It's the same with many of today's epidemic diseases in the modern world like heart disease, diabetes, cancers, and obesity.  In a family where both parents have diabetes type 2, some will argue there is a genetic link for their child to get diabetes type 2 when they are older.  In truth, if the child was fed a healthy diet devoid of simple carbohydrates and bad fats, and full of vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean proteins (with adequate exercise) it is very unlikely that this grown adult will get diabetes, for if the gene existed, it wouldn't be turned on.  However in today's world we see children getting type 2 diabetes, a sure sign that if we continue to eat (and stay sedentary) the way we do, gene destruction will happen at an alarming rate.  

The bright side to all this is that you have the power over what you put in your body and even though you don't know every "bad" gene in your body, you do have the say in what your genes can do.  Many will disagree with me here, but I have seen all to many times that when people improve their nutritional status, their bodies become efficient, leaner, and free of disease, while their minds are calmed and bright.  Even those who are what we considered "diseased, can benefit from a clean whole foods diet, sometimes even reversing their conditions and/or optimizing their current states. Take this month to educate yourself and others about the importance of healthy food, and remember you aren't helpless to your genes.

Sleep apnea is a common disorder suffered by millions of Americans.  During sleep the brain is deprived of oxygen, making it literally impossible for the person to get into deep REM sleep.  This can create severe fatigue, irritability, heart problems, and overall poor daily function.  The common treatment for sleep apnea is the CPAP, a breathing device that is worn at night, forcing air down the throat so the person is not deprived of oxygen and can sleep.

 Many of the patients we treat for sleep apnea have little or no ability to breath through their nose, so when wearing the CPAP, most feel as if they are suffocating, leading to poor compliance.  Being able to breath through the nose is NOT overrated- think back on when you've had a horrible cold and had nasal congestion- it's fatiguing, irritating, and hard to focus.

Timothy, a 14-year-old boy, was referred to our office for a sleep apnea diagnosis and an asymmetrical facial growth that was affecting his speech and bite.  Not wanting to use the CPAP, and wanting to avoid facial surgery, Timothy's mother brought him to us first.

Timothy had experienced breathing difficulty through his nose for most of his life.  At birth he suffered oxygen deprivation, which caused some brain damage.  At the age of 14 he has a 3^rd grade reading level and is home schooled, due to auditory difficulties.  Besides the sleep apnea diagnosis, poor nasal breathing (history of sinus surgery that did help him breathe some), his doctor had diagnosed that his maxilla (cheekbones) were not growing at the same rate as his mandible (jaw bone), and they wanted to do surgery to correct his this. He had just finished 5 years of vision therapy and sensory integration training- these are meant to help him use his senses together.  For many "low functioning" children integrating all their senses together is very hard, they must focus on one thing at a time. 

He complains of severe fatigue in the morning, brain fog, severe difficulty focusing on homework, low attention span, (all of which are symptoms of sleep apnea and sensory integration disorders), and Restless Leg Syndrome, (of which he had recently increased his medication due to increasing tolerance).

Timothy on first impression was a tall lanky, teenager with braces. He was very respectful and talkative, but did not make direct eye contact, was visibly fatigued, fidgety during intake and exam, and became easily irritated with his mother if she talked too much. He also exhibited tongue thrust (his tongue didn't fit in his mouth), decreased nasal breathing, and poor standing posture.  

He cooperated tremendously however, and we were able to give him his first NCR treatment.  On returning the second day, Timothy seemed calmer, even falling asleep on the table.  His mother noted his "snoring" seemed less, and he was better able focus on his homework. Timothy told me he could breathe through his nose and had more energy on waking.  After the second day of treatment, his mother stated he had no Restless Leg Syndrome for the last two nights without medication. 

After the full 4-day session, Timothy exhibited increased focus, energy, and seemed to be more aware of me, and his surroundings.  His maxilla and mandible had changed significantly, and he noted it felt like his tongue fit in his mouth, and his signs of sleep apnea were greatly decreased. His Restless Leg Syndrome had all but disappeared (along with the need for medication) and he was more stable and balanced in his standing posture.   

The greatest change however, came from his mother.  She stated that for the FIRST time in recent memory, even after 5 years of vision therapy, he was looking her in the eye when he talked to her.  Not only that, he was interacting with improved confidence in social situations. This was a defining moment for Timothy and his family.  Having a child with sensory deprivation suddenly become aware of his surroundings, and look into your eyes is something you will never forget. 

Timothy's case is a perfect example of STRUCTURE AFFECTING FUNCTION, his brain needed more room, and with improved structural alignment, his overall sensory integration naturally improved. With the addition of dietary modifications and nutrient therapy, NCR has greatly changed the future for Timothy. As a doctor who knows the power of NCR, cases like Lorne's never stop amazing me.  I have much to learn from all my patients, especially the children, it's been a great pleasure working with Timothy and his family! 

*this case review was shared with permission of Timothy's parents, and names have been changed to protect the patient.

 Just in time for National Nutrition Month, a landmark study published in the Lancet, found that 64% of ADHD diagnosed and medicated children benefited MORE from removing food allergies and sensitivities than taking drugs.  Simply put, diet is more effective than medicating children with ADHD.  Dr Lidy Pelsser of the ADHD Research Centre in the Netherlands found that many of the children who are diagnosed with ADHD actually have food hypersensitivities that are influencing their behaviors, and when a stricter, and healthier diet is imposed, these children become "normal".  With around 10% of US children being diagnosed with ADHD (which is an enormous percentage- anyone else shaking their head?), and over 3 million of those children on drugs such as Ritalin, Adderall, and other stimulant medications, there is no doubt ADHD diagnosis is big business. 

If your child is exhibiting symptoms such as hyperactivity, poor focus, temper tantrums, separation anxiety, or is one of the three million medicated children, this study proves that diet should be your first line of treatment.  Also, a majority of the ADHD/Autism spectrum children that I run biochemical tests on, have food allergies plus significant nutrient deficiencies such as low Vit D, B vitamins, Vit C, and minerals- all of which are essential for optimal cell function.

Nutritional biochemistry is the cornerstone of Naturopathic care, so if you are looking to improve your child's health and reduce their dependence on stimulant medications, I highly encourage you to seek out Naturopathic care and nutritional counseling.  Overall care is inexpensive and could not just transform your child, but your entire family.  Refer to my past blog to find out other ways to help your ADHD child without drugs.  The key is education, take control of your health, and you will transform the lives of generations that come after you!

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Each day in my practice I am confronted with the frustration that many parents feel is their lack of options for their child with ADHD/ADD. Shuttled around from doctor to doctor, many children are given nothing but diagnoses, medications, counseling, physciatric evaluations, and in many cases no help at all. Parents who find themselves exhausted, worried, fearful, and in many cases battling with ADHD themselves, lose hope that their child will ever be "normal". As a Naturopathic Physician who specializes in Neurological conditions, I strive to give power back to who so rightly deserves it, the parents AND the child.

During my clinical training at Bastyr University I was lucky to be chosen to see patients on the ADHD Research Shift (it is a hard shift to get on). There I saw and treated children and adults along the entire Attention Deficit /Autistic spectrum with homeopathy, dietary changes, detoxification, and structural work, and even though it was one of my most emotional and heartbreaking shifts, it was one of my most rewarding.
If you are an adult with ADHD or a parent of a child with this condition please take into consideration the following "alternative" options that could give you back your POWER!

1. Many people self-diagnose and are afraid of seeing a medical professional for this condition because they do not want conventional medications pushed on them. Naturopathic doctors cannot prescribe the amphetamine medications commonly prescribed and thus work on more holistic levels. Getting help is the first step to recodvery. Medications are not evil, but the wrong medication can cause more problems. Addictions tend to be high in this population due to self medicating. Read more about this below related to BRAIN SPECT.
2. If your child is medicated and it IS working, then supplementing with other lifestyle factors is a must. Many of the stimulating effects of the medications cause side effects that could over the long run be hard on other organs and create adrenal fatigue. Nutritional and herbal support can help to counteract these side effects.
3. Tests that should be run but AREN'T by many conventional doctors:
   • Organic acids- these show how well the energy pathways of the body are working.
   • Neurotransmitter levels- these are chemicals that create communication between the brain and the rest of body, and deficiencies or excess in one or many can have great effect on brain chemistry. Done alone or with brain SPECT, results can be amazing!
   • Food allergies and Toxins- almost every child with ADHD I have tested has a food allergy that is significant. The gut is essential for proper nutrient assimilation and must be addressed. These individuals also show a moderate to severe toxic exposure from chemicals, heavy metals, flame retardents, and plastics.
   • Brain SPECT- imaging of the brain can show what the brain is really doing, its an amazing way to look at the prefrontal cortex, the part of brain that differentiates of us from animals. Many ADHD children are conflict driven, meaning they need conflict, they like the excitement, and this is because their prefrontal cortex is not working properly. Improving brain health makes these children more predictable and less likely to become a teenager or adult with dangerous behavior. This can also help to determine which type of medication would be the best instead of doing trial and error.
4. Improve your nutritional status and your child's. Hot dogs, pizza, ice cream, and all the food additives in them create hyper, over active brains. Read "What Are We Feeding Our Children?" If you do one thing, do this, and GET HELP, nutrition is hard but well worth it!
5. Homeopathy can do wonders, especially for children! Case in point - I treated a 21 year old woman who had cyclic anger ADHD x 10 years with nutrition and homeopathy- within 4 weeks she felt that we had saved her life and she was able to wean off her Clonazepam within 3 months. 
6. Do a detoxification. Body burden of chemicals is highest in children, and these can be endocrine and nervous system disruptors- these levels can be checked in blood (heavy metals, plastics, styrene, household allergens) or urine.
7. Improve structural health. I specialize in NCR, a therapy that can help decrease some of the signs of ADHD by improving cerebral blood flow, cerebral spinal fluid flow, and decrease pain. Also, birth trauma and/or head injury has been shown to be a common predecessor in childhood diagnosis of ADHD, read my blog for the current study done in Britain on head injury and ADHD. If you do anything make sure your child wears a helmet doing dangerous sporting activities and discourage activities that head injury is a possibility.
8. Exercise!!! Research shows that the best thing you can do for your brain is exercise regularly- children need exercise to burn off stress, calories, and hyperactive brain activity- and so do adults! 
9. Sound and Light Therapy. In our office I am using a device that uses pulsed electromagnetic fields along with Sound and Light Therapy to calm down overstimulation of the brain. The light and sound patterns that ADHD patients see and hear would be too stimulating for most people, but just like the stimulant meds used to treat this condition, this stimulation calms them down! Its safe, fast, effective, and the research is extensive!
10. Ask for help if you need it, and don't give in that there isn't hope, because I know there is. It may be hard work, but what I've learned from these patients- their not scared of hard work, and regaining health has been the reward!

Pop Tarts, apple juice, a bowl of Fruit Loops with milk, maybe a banana for breakfast. Jiff peanut butter (which contains high fructose corn syrup) and jelly on "wheat" bread, fruit roll-up, an apple and Cheetos or crackers for lunch. Top Raman and a coke as an after school snack and Mac n Cheese for dinner with canned green beans or take out. If this doesn't resemble your child's food intake then good for you, however at school there are plenty of sugary, processed foods with lots of artificial additives available for them to choose from.

Even more so than adults, children need whole fresh foods filled with nutrients, Phytochemicals and essential fats for proper brain and body development. The nutrients in whole foods help their bodies mature optimally, the Phytochemicals protect their growing cells from premature damage and the essential fats are crucial for learning, attention and memory. If we look to our grocery stores they have more processed foods, which lack these components and have ample amount of artificial ingredients, than whole fresh foods.

One explanation for the increasing number of children with ADD and hyperactivity are these additives... they are in everything... except whole unprocessed foods. If your child has ADD/ADHD I challenger you do an experiment. For three weeks take them off everything processed and replace it with only fresh veggies, fruits, meats, un-milled or sprouted grains, legumes, seafood and healthy fats like nuts and seeds, avocado and olives... see how they do. If this alone doesn't solve most of the problem add extra omega 3's to their diet like wild salmon, ground flax seeds or oil, sardines (mix it up just like tuna) or consider a high quality supplement from Nordic Naturals or Designs for Health.

"But, my child won't eat that...." Only because they are not used to it! Start slowly introducing new foods or incorporating them into the routine and eliminating the processed foods. Do this over a few months and they will adapt, the younger this happens the easier and better.

Remember, children are even more sensitive to food additives, sugars and refined grains and fats than adults and they need a wide range of nutrients for all cells of the body, including the brain, to function properly and optimally. Don't trust the health of your child to packaging and advertising; get advice from a qualified source. Together we can work to get the two million children that are on drugs for ADD/ADHD, drug free!

Cheri Soraparu is a Certified Clinical Nutritionist and Certified Personal Trainer.