ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a condition that is characterized by hyperactivity, attention deficits and irritability. Drugs have been used to help control the symptoms in children, but dietary changes can also be beneficial.

Dr. Feingold, a pediatrician and allergist, developed The Feingold diet in the 1960s and 1970s.  He noticed that many people who were sensitive to chemicals and other environmental agents were also having trouble with foods. Many of the foods we eat are not all natural. They contain chemical additives to add coloring, flavor, texture and shelf life. At the time, no one knew for sure what was in these additives.

Some of Dr. Feingold’s patients who suffered from chemical sensitivities were also suffering from ADHD. He noticed that the diet he developed for these sensitivities also effected changes in the children with ADHD and he was able to help many of them.

First, let us say that the Feingold diet is not a cure-all. While it did help many people with ADHD, it did not help all of them, but, changes in diet have been proved to affect the body in different ways, so it could be worth the time to see if it does change or reduce symptoms in your ADHD child.

The Feingold Diet

The main function of the diet is to return to a simple eating plan. Dr. Feingold recommends removing food additives, artificial sweeteners and aspirin compounds from the diet. ADHD children showed marked improvement in their behavior due to these changes.

The first step is to eliminate artificial sweeteners, coloring, preservatives, and other additives. Here are some examples:

* BHA and BHT

* All artificial colorings (they say “red dye,” “yellow dye” and “blue dye,” but many are made from petroleum products)

* Artificial flavorings (some are made from synthetic chemicals)

* Artificial sweeteners (the chemical process used to produce them involves using hazardous substances such as chlorine); aspartame is eliminated completely

* Other food additives (nitrites and nitrates are found in hot dogs and lunch meats)

* Salicylates (related to aspirin, these derivatives are found in perfumes, medicines and solvents) – many fruits and some spices and condiments contain salicylate derivatives

You will have to read a lot of food labels to find out what to eliminate. This doesn’t mean that you have to give up all of your convenience foods, but taking more time to see which ones are more organic in nature will mean healthier meals for the entire family, not just the one suffering from ADHD.

Observe your child for several weeks. If his behavior improves even over the medicine he may be taking, then it is very likely that there was something in his diet that he was sensitive to. Now, you can add back in one banned food a week to find out the actual culprit that was causing his sensitivity.

In the off chance that your child’s behavior doesn’t change, try eliminating other foods such as high-fructose corn syrup and MSG. Stick with fresh fruits, vegetables and lean meats. Re-evaluate any changes.

The Feingold diet has been shown to help many children suffering from ADHD. Ask your doctor about using the diet in conjunction with your child’s medication to improve his behavior.

What causes hyperactivity? In children, we believe that it is just a part of their age, but their diet could be contributing to their problem.

When people hear the word hyperactivity, they often think of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Hyperactivity causes a child to be active even at times when they don’t need to be active. It can lead to outbursts in class, uncontrollable movements and irritability. Wanting to keep still and not being able to do so can lead to problems within your child as they struggle against a body that seems to betray them.

The Link between Food Additives and Hyperactivity

Dr. Feingold is known to those who have children with ADHD. He has developed a diet that has been known to help these children. His diet eliminates about 300 food additives in an attempt to reduce behavioral issues. His diet shows that some children are able to be helped by eliminating certain foods. It bears noting that his patients were also exhibiting sensitivities to different substances.

Because food additives are mostly synthetic, it is hard to predict how they will affect someone. Some studies have shown that parents noticed changes in disruptive behavior in children who were drinking a fruit juice that contained food additives as opposed to those who drank 100 percent juice or a placebo. When the food additive was removed, the child’s hyperactivity was reduced. What the studies didn’t show was a marked increase in hyperactivity from previous levels when the food additive was reintroduced.

In normal life, a child will be exposed to more than one food additive at a time. There are additives in drinks, meats, and side dishes. Exposure to more than one additive can increase hyperactivity.

What Dr. Feingold recommends is removing certain food additives and seeing if there is an improvement in behavior. If so, then these eliminated foods are reintroduced until a single food culprit is found.

Food additives do affect children, but perhaps not to the extent that eliminating them will reduce hyperactivity. In conjunction with diet and medication, ADHD children received the most benefit and reduced hyperactivity.

While research is still being done, parents of children with ADHD may want to try modifying their diets in an effort to help reduce symptoms. This doesn’t mean taking away all of their favorite foods, but scaling back the food additives, particularly ones that have been deemed most harmful to not just to children, but to everyone.

Is there a link between hyperactivity and food additives? There may be, but the link is not yet definitive.

Try to remember the last time that you ate a vegetable in its natural form, without anything on it to enhance its flavor. What you may be tasting are food additives.

In early times, foods were preserved by ice or by keeping them in cold places.  With the discovery of salt and sugar, these condiments were added to meats to cure them so that they would last longer, and thus were some of the first food additives, but these food additives were natural.

As science has progressed, food additives that are created in a laboratory are being used in foods for a number of purposes. First, food additives give color. People are more likely to eat foods that are bright and colorful, especially chips, cakes, cookies and so on.

Food additives give flavor. For frozen foods, flavoring is added so that these meals are pleasant to the palate when they come out of the microwave or the oven.

Additives are added for shelf life. Cakes can look great and so can canned and bagged foods when additives keep them fresh in their wrappings for weeks and even months.

The Truth about Food Additives

You will see food additives listed on ingredient lists, mostly as initials. They are not spelled out so that you don’t find out what they are, but we will list them below so you know what you are eating. Many of these food additives are created with the help of chemicals that you would want to keep away from your family:

* BHA – This is butylated hydroxyanisole. Using it helps foods to stay fresh and keeps fats from molding. Look for it on the labels of chips and other fatty foods.

* MSG – We have been hearing about monosodium glutamate for years. It is a seasoning that preserves food, but it also raises blood pressure and can cause seizures, headaches and strokes. It has been removed from many sauces and seasonings, but can still be purchased by itself as MSG.

* Aspartame – You may know it as the sugar substitute NutraSweet. It can be found in diet drinks and foods that say they are sugar-free or low in sugar. You won’t see the actual name spelled out, but will see a label that says “sweetened with NutraSweet.” However, this food additive has caused tumors in laboratory animals.

* Trans fats –They also known as partially hydrogenated oils. Chemically it is how liquid oils can stay solid at room temperature. These fats have been used to fry fast foods, and are also added to processed sweets for longer shelf life.

* Olestra – This is a fat substitute in chips and other snack foods. Eating too much can lead to cramps and oily stools.

These are just a few of the more dangerous food additives to look for the next time you go to the store. If you can’t read the ingredients on the label, do not buy it.

Toddlers can be picky and fighting you when it comes to what they need to eat. Here are some high-fiber foods that you can introduce to your toddler.

The Goodness of Fiber

Without fiber, the digestive system can have a hard time moving its contents. Fiber helps to keep things moving and energy can increase because the body is kept at optimal health.

If you are always hungry, eating more fiber will help give you that feeling of fullness faster so you don’t overeat. Many foods high in fiber are also good sources of protein, so you get muscle-building goodness as well.

Toddler Diets

At this point in their lives, children will not eat what they don’t want, but that is no reason to stop trying to get them to eat the right foods. For instance, if they won’t eat carrots, try sweet potatoes. If they don’t like green beans, try broccoli or peas. There are always ways to get more of the proper foods into their diets.

Foods that are full of fiber are good for the entire family. The important thing here is to let children taste the natural flavor of food without preservatives or condiments, as fewer preservatives make for a healthier diet all around.

Here are some of the high-fiber foods that you can offer to your toddler:

* Whole grain breads
* Beans
* Legumes
* Whole grain cereals
* Brown rice
* Fresh whole fruit
* Fresh vegetables
* Nuts

Serve these foods to your toddler in fun ways. One idea is to give them finger foods. Toddles love portable food. Carrot sticks, apple slices (without the skin), whole-grain toast squares, celery sticks and the like are able to be carried around by your toddler until they want to eat them.

Cereal is a healthy breakfast food and a snack. You can add bran cereal to yogurt to give it a crunch. Have your child help you to make your own granola bars filled with oats, nuts, honey and granola. Helping prepare them and eating something so scrumptious can increase their appetite for these kinds of foods.

Use the hide and seek method. In sauces, like tomato sauce, add diced vegetables such as carrots and peppers and carrots. They are small enough that your child will eat them without knowing they are there.

For children who don’t like fiber-rich foods, keep trying. In the meantime, you can use a fiber supplement in their food. It is tasteless and can provide the much needed fiber in their diet.

As a parent it is your job to help your children develop healthy habits that will last for a lifetime.

Children need more sleep than adults. Their small bodies are growing at a rapid rate each and every day.
However, children want to play and eat and do everything but sleep. You already know this if you’ve ever tried to put them to bed before they were ready.

There are many theories and remedies around, but here we want to give you some tips that will help you to help them to decide that it is time for bed:

* Set a bedtime and stick to it. This will require the help of both parents. If one is out or working late, then the other parent must take charge.  For example, at eight o’clock each night, march the children to bed. They may try to get you to allow them to stay up longer, but remember that consistency is the key.

* Create a bedtime ritual. Children like to ply their parents with requests for stories, glasses of water and the tucking of the covers. Well, you can give them all of that. Just begin about half an hour earlier. If they want a bedtime story or a video, then they have to sit in their bed at seven-thirty. In addition, including a nightly bath as part of the ritual before the story will relax them.

* Offer a snack. A child won’t go to bed if their stomach is rumbling. Dinner may have been at five o’clock but it is okay for them to have a snack at seven if they will be in bed in an hour.

* Keep them busy. A playing child is also a sleepy child as the night wears on. Daily exercise can lead to better compliance and a more restful sleep at night.

* Warm the bedroom. A child will usually feel more comfortable if the room is warmer.

If your child is having trouble with going to bed at night, the above tips above may be able to help you.

There is nothing more alarming than hearing your child scream from somewhere else in the house. You run to their side only to find an unlabeled bottle lying next to them and their face flushed. What do you do?

Accidental poisonings occur more often in the home than anywhere else. And most of the time, they involve small children. Putting things in their mouths is a child’s favorite thing to do. They won’t stop with toys or teething rings. If given the opportunity, they will do it with anything around the house.

Many substances in your home that are considered poisonous are expected to be out of reach of children. It says as much on the labels of the bottles. If anyone ingests it or breathes the fumes, it is expected to be an adult who had an accident while handling it.

If you suspect that your child has ingested a poisonous substance, look for the signs, which could be burns around the mouth, nose or on the hands (corrosive substances). Your child will scream as the chemical comes in contact with their skin.

Smell their breath. If it smells like a chemical in your home, they have probably swallowed it.

Hopefully you won’t find your child unconscious. If they have fallen down, check to see if they are breathing. Depending on what they ate, breathing could be labored; there could also be a fever or a rash that has erupted.

Take a deep breath and resist the urge to panic. Your child needs you every minute from this moment forward. Get on the telephone and call the Poison Control Center. Keep the number posted beside your telephone so that you can easily access it. It can also be found in the inside cover of the phone book where the numbers for police, fire and emergency are listed.

Give the person on the other end of the call as much information as you can about the incident. If you have the bottle, read what it says about the ingredients and also what do to in the event of an accident. They may be able to instruct you on how best to proceed.

Call emergency medical services. Your child will need medical attention. Make the call to 911 first if you find them unconscious.

Don’t make the child vomit. If a corrosive has been ingested, vomiting can introduce more acid back up into their throat and cause further burns.

Perform CPR. If your child is not breathing, begin chest compressions and rescue breathing until EMS arrives.

Is your house safe for your children? We often think of safety hazards as sharp edges or open electrical sockets. However, there are common items around the house that can be poisonous.

As an adult, you stand a lot taller than your toddler. The world looks a little bigger from where they stand, and it also is a bit more exciting to them. Cabinets, crevices and boxes all fuel the imagination and cause them to seek out mischief.

We have always been taught to keep chemicals down low and not at eye level. One spill and you could be blinded for life. But, the cabinet under the sink could be dangerous for your children.

Possible Poisons

Here are some common household substances that could become poisons to your children:

* Medicines – When your child sees you taking pills, resist the urge to describe them as “candy for adults.” If your child gets hold of one of those bottles, they might eat the pills thinking that they are candy.

* Hair spray and shampoo – In the bottles, it looks like something to drink. Neither have childproof tops so children can possibly work them loose. With spray bottles, pushing down on the nozzle the wrong way could give your child a splash to the face or even the eyes.

* Cleaning products – These are often what we think of when we consider household poisons. They are often kept below the sink in the bathroom and kitchen, but not necessarily locked away. Even bottles that have twisting nozzles to prevent spraying can be manipulated by a child. Corrosives can burn and eat away at the mucus lining of the throat and stomach if ingested. Mixing chemicals can lead to noxious fumes.

* Make-up – Loose powders can be smeared on the face and get into the eyes. Mineral make-up may be safe on the skin, but not when ingested. Children can also get into and drink perfumes, body washes, shaving cream and other personal products.

* Pesticides – Products used in the garden or to kill bugs can also be a danger to your children. They are often lethal if ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Your child won’t be wearing gloves when they get into it.

Preventing Poisonings

Here are some tips to help you make your home as safe as you can for your child. Accidental poisonings happen more than you think, but you can keep them occurring:

* Lock cabinets. Keep childproof locks on cabinets under the sinks so that children can’t reach the cleaning products.

* Use original containers. In case there is accidental poisoning, you will more easily be able to identify the substance so that the correct treatment takes place.

* Keep medicines in the out of reach. Leaving them on the counter is within the grasp of little fingers.

* Clean up any spills. Small hands are always on the counter. A child could accidentally rub their eyes with a hand that has some household cleaner on it.

* Keep your make-up in a bag and out of reach. Never let your child play with it. They could use it improperly at another time and hurt themself.

There are more poisons in your home than you realize. Think like a child and use the above tips to secure dangerous chemicals.

A family that plays together can get a good workout together. Exercise is important, but it should also be fun. If you are looking for a way to do this as a family, try martial arts.

When many people think of martial arts, they imagine the show, “The Ultimate Fighter”, or a scene from an old Bruce Lee movie. That is television and only a small representation of the sport.

Martial arts are an activity that involves the entire body and the mind. It originated on the Asian continent. There are many different styles of martial arts for you and your family to choose from.

When you see someone in a classroom performing moves it may seem difficult, but no one starts at the top. No matter what your age, there are classes for adults and children. Some classes include all age groups and are only separated by the ranking for which you are training.

Martial arts have many benefits for the entire family. Here are a few:

* Discipline – In order to perform the moves correctly, you learn to master your body. While it is important to take things slow, with practice and a positive attitude there is nothing that you cannot do.

* Cardiovascular fitness – Martial arts require balance and concentration throughout the moves. This is important for sparring matches and competition situations. All of the choreographed movement raises your heart rate. Using various breathing techniques at different points during the moves promotes more efficient oxygen usage.

* Strength training – Using free weights and machines is not the only way to build muscle. Holding poses, performing kicks and punches also build stronger muscle fibers. With each movement the muscles maintain a level of control through tension.

* Respect – As a student of the dojo, you are subject to the teacher (sensei). You learn to practice with others and respect your teammates. A teacher also teaches you to find respect within yourself in order to find confidence to try harder and succeed.

* Teamwork – When families work together in a martial arts class, they learn how to interact in a different way. In the beginning you are all on the same playing field. To learn and grow, you have to depend on each other for help.

Martial arts provide benefits both for physical health and for mental and personal growth. Even children can learn respect and discipline that translates over into how they carry themselves around your home.

Each member of the family gains a new-found confidence in themself as a result of pushing to succeed in the martial arts class. This is in addition to getting a good workout each time you attend class.

Martial arts are a great workout for the entire family. While you get a chance to do something important together, the valuable skills that are learned will help you all communicate better and stand stronger as a family unit.

Martial arts are a wonderful way to get your children interested in exercise and also teach them some valuable life skills. Now the question becomes which martial art style to choose for your child.

Martial arts are a combination of moves that promote body discipline, mental focus and also self-control. This is important in dangerous situations. It is not just for self-defense, but also body awareness to help you avoid such situations in the first place.

A person of any age can try martial arts. When this is begun as a child, they grow up training and learning the skills of discipline, respect, communication and confidence that will enhance their entire life. Most martial arts schools will allow you to sit and watch as many classes as you want to help your child get used to what they will experience in a real class.

You can ask a teacher there for a brief interview. Have a list of questions that you want to ask already prepared. Here are a few examples:

* How old does my child have to be to train?
* Do you teach children to defend themselves?
* How large are the classes?
* Is their individual training for more help?
* What types of tactics do you teach with your style of martial arts?
* Will you teach discipline?

Making the Choice

With most martial arts schools, the children have to be old enough to understand and follow directions. Teachers of smaller children already know that they will spend most of their time keeping the kids entertained. They are trained to help them get rid of nervous energy and also teach them something about martial arts in the process.

If your child is having problems with discipline or self-control, martial arts can help with that. They will learn to listen to the teacher and also the consequences of not listening. In time, control is learned.

Many martial arts schools encourage parental involvement. This gives the child a chance to share their frustrations and also their triumphs with someone familiar with the sport. Both parent and child can work together to reach new heights in the sport.

Styles of Martial Arts

Here is a brief list of some of the martial arts styles from which you can choose. All might not be available in your area:

* Judo – Consists of throwing techniques. You use your opponent’s body weight against them.

* Jujitsu – This is a more wrestling-type of martial art. You will spend time on the ground rolling around.

* Karate (shotokan, shorin ryu) – Involves a lot of hand techniques and stances.

* Karate (goju ryu) – You learn kicks, punches and stances to ward off attacks from opponents.

* Taekwondo – Involves lots of kicking and blocking.

* Tai chi – Soft style of martial arts that involves breathing and fluid movements. Most often done by seniors and for fitness.

* Mixed martial arts – Combines many styles of fighting.

Martial arts have many styles and components. All can teach your child to master their body, focus their mind and learn self-respect. While you are learning fighting techniques, the first thing to learn is how to walk away from a fight that doesn’t need to happen. Use the styles above to help you determine a good place for your child to begin.

Pilates is a popular type of exercise that promotes flexibility, strong muscles, balance and synergy within the body systems. It works well for adults so why not for children.

Children go through many stages in their young lives. Because their bodies are constantly changing, there is the issue of body image. For example, some children may carry more baby fat than other children.

Any differences can make a child feel isolated from their peers. Even the slightest thing that is seen as an imperfection can become a point of ridicule in and out of the classroom. No one wants their child to experience that.

Obesity is a big concern among children. The advancements in technology have led to a sedentary lifestyle that promotes overeating and lack of activity. Pilates is a way to get your child back into an active lifestyle, but without the pressure that can accompany certain sports activities.

Pilates was developed by Joseph Pilates. His techniques emphasize balance throughout the body, not from high impact aerobics or weight training, but through fluid movements that bring about the same results.

Pilates offers a gentle approach to reshaping your body. Anyone of any size can gradually get back into exercise by using this exercise system. The movements are unique in that they use frames, mats and rings along with your own body weight to teach you core strength, how to lengthen muscles and how to reshape your body.

Children and Pilates

For a child, this is important. Even an obese child can find confidence when they perform Pilates movements. At the beginning, the poses and positions may pose a challenge, but through practice with a good instructor, they can progress little by little with each class.

One advantage that this exercise has is that it is non-impact. Many sports that children engage in to lose weight or gain a healthier body can lead to joint problems, broken bones and other injuries. There is no chance of that with Pilates. Each movement is performed slowly so the muscles can learn to stretch and adapt over time.

Children have youth on their side. Their muscles are more pliable than when they get older. This aids in learning the moves in less time.

Is your child awkward in gym class or having trouble with coordination? Through carefully constructed movements, the core of the body (abs and the back) is brought into proper alignment under the body. The spine straightens and posture improves. When the core is strong, it is easier to balance on one foot, pull yourself up a rope and perform complex movements during sports.

As the body changes, so will your child’s confidence. If they can perform an exercise that another in the class cannot, they can become a teacher to them because of what they have learned. In a class full of other children, the process of achieving a stronger body image can be fun and energetic.

Does your child need a bit more self-esteem? Consider enrolling them in a Pilates class for children.