Healthy Habits

Safe and Eco-Friendly Toys

With so many toy recalls, it's no wonder we're confused about what is safe to get our little ones for holiday presents.  Here's a great article with tips to check out before you go shopping.

12 Ways to Keep Your Toy Box Safe and Eco-Friendly

(Article written by Janelle Sorensen at www.healthychild.org/blog)

Can Video Games Improve ADHD?

There is ongoing research into how video games help or hinder ADHD symptoms.  Apparently there is more reseach to be done--but there have been some positive results.  Click here to see the article posted on MSN Health & Fitness.

"More and more research suggests that physical activity such as outdoor play is good for brain function, and one study reported that exposure to nature reduced ADHD symptoms in children."

Popular Children’s Toys Testing Results Available Today

The Ecology Center today released the results of their testing of 1,200 popular children’s toys for toxic chemicals at www.HealthyToys.org. Along with the Healthy Child Healthy World, and other leading environmental health groups across the country, the Ecology Center developed this site to better inform consumers about the products they will be purchasing this holiday season.

“The government is not testing for toxic chemicals in toys, and too many manufacturers are not self-regulating, so several nonprofit organizations created the nation’s first toy database to help inform and empower consumers,” said Tracey Easthope, MPH, Director of the Ecology Center’s Environmental Health Project. “Ultimately consumers need to take action to compel the federal government and toy manufacturers to eliminate dangerous chemicals from toys.”

While some toys had high levels of chemicals such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic, others were free of these harmful additives. Parents and other holiday shoppers can now easily search by product name, brand, or toy type (i.e. dolls, teethers, jewelry, bibs, etc.) to learn how the products rate in terms of harmful chemical content. Babies and young children are the most vulnerable since their brains and bodies are still developing and because they frequently put toys into their mouths.

Click Here for the complete article found on the Healthy Child Healthy World Blog.
Posted by Christopher Gavigan

MRSA Outbreaks Highlight Importance of Green Cleaning in Schools

The Healthy Schools Campaign's latest newsletter contains an article about how the latest MRSA outbreaks have everyone looking for ways to protect our children from infection. 

“MRSA outbreaks show how absolutely important it is for schools to clean consistently with health as a priority which, when coupled with reducing the environmental impact, is essentially the definition of green cleaning,” said Claris Olson, environmental health specialist for the Healthy Schools Campaign (HSC). “Extreme measures may actually backfire when you’re addressing this type of infection. The good news is that schools can protect children with basic steps such as hand washing and a thorough, consistent cleaning program.”

HSC’s guidelines for green cleaning — defined as cleaning to protect health without harming the environment — offer a safe, effective approach for preventing MRSA that is consistent with the recommendations of major health organizations such as the CDC and EPA.

Click here to read the press release with recommendations for addressing and preventing MRSA.

The Healthy Schools Campaign , an independent not-for-profit organization, is the leading authority on healthy school environments and a voice for people who care about our environment, our children, and education. Our mission is to advocate for policies and model programs that allow students and staff members to learn and work in a healthy school environment.

Healthy Schools Campaign has published the first-ever multimedia how-to guide to help schools adopt cleaning programs that encourage the use of green products, equipment and practices in schools.

The Quick & Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools simplifies the green cleaning process, and the easy-to-use CD-Rom contains comprehensive information, practical advice, tools and resources to help schools take action. It also includes a purchasing guide that lists products that are consistent with HSC Green Clean recommendations.

Let me know if you'd like a copy of The Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools.  I have copies to share with parents, teachers, day care providers--anyone interested in creating a healthier environment for our children.

Foods to Avoid With Your ADHD Child

Sugar

Sugar is an ADHD child’s downfall because it robs your body of vitamins, minerals, and enzymes and increases hyperactivity by preventing blood sugar levels from remaining stable.

It doesn’t matter if you use refined white sugar or rich dark molasses—all sugars are created equal when it comes to their negative effect on the ADHD child. There may be slight nutritional benefits to some sugars: Sucanat, for example, is pressed cane juice that leaves the fiber behind, so you get the minerals from the plant. Also, honey offers pollen that helps with allergies, molasses contains trace minerals, and Agave metabolizes more slowly. Still, you should curb your child’s sugar intake and get savvy to hidden sugars in foods such as breakfast cereals, energy bars, sweetened drinks, soymilk and other foods. For example, did you know that a serving of flavored yogurt might contain as much sugar as a serving of ice cream? When looking at a label, along with the obvious “sugar” tag, avoid all artificial sweeteners and foods that contain corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, sucrose, dextrose and fructose.

 

Additives

Blue bubblegum, pink and yellow cake decorations, goldfish crackers dyed the color of the rainbow—all are a visual delight for any child. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved several hundred food additives designed to improve flavor, taste, and appearance, but this doesn’t mean they are healthy for your ADHD child, Zimmerman cautions. Steer clear of all artificial dyes and flavors. Zimmerman specifically mentions food coloring, such as red and yellow, and monosodium glutamate, also known as MSG. And don’t assume, just because several years ago you read a lot about it in the media, that unsafe dyes are off the shelves. When possible, go natural with your food products.

 

Hydrogenated Oils

Bad fats aren’t just the nemesis for your weight loss; they also inhibit healthy nerve function. “The wrong kinds of fat don’t feed the brain, instead they interfere with the brain,” Zimmerman says. “The membranes of the brain have to be very fluid and if you are putting those saturated fats in there, cut back.”

The wrong kinds of fats are the trans fats and saturated fats, generally the ones that harden at room temperature. Manufacturers have become savvy to trans fats, so you’ll rarely find those on a label, but you’ll still find sat fats. Healthier oils include flax seed, canola, and olive oils. Another tip to avoid hydrogenated oils: Stick to the grocery store’s perimeter. “I always tell parents to stay out of the middle of the store” where foods are more processed and likely to contain unhealthy fats, Zimmerman says. 

Caffeine
Caffeine pulls minerals out of the bone, when your body lacks the natural level of minerals it needs to function. Coffee, tea and other caffeinated drinks are acidic and lower the natural PH of the body, says Zimmerman, making it work harder to find a natural balance. This means that an ADHD child who’s consuming too much caffeine—sometimes found in chocolates, desserts, and carbonated beverages—may be losing the minerals he needs to assist his nerve function.

information from article by Jean Weiss

Foods to Feed Your Child With ADHD

Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs)

Here is one fat you want your child to have: DHA, an Omega-3 fatty acid, is the key to unlocking an ADHD child’s brain. Studies have found that children with learning disorders, including attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders, often have an EFA deficiency.  The right kinds of fat are needed to help the brain fire information efficiently from synapse to synapse. An ADHD child experiences a miscommunication between brain cells, says clinical nutritionist Marcia Zimmerman.  A message is fired, but not received, “so then it gets sucked back up into the neuron that sent it in the first place,” says Zimmerman. The EFAs help the brain cells receive the messages sent between synapses, thus eliminating the chatter and preventing the sending neuron from scooping up its own message.

Fish, flax seeds and nuts are great sources of EFAs. The specific EFA to look for is the omega-3 essential fatty acid DHA that’s found in fish and some algae. Fish oil supplements are an efficient way to help your child get the amount he needs. DHA omega-3 eggs and other foods with DHA added to them are also good sources. EFAs from flax seed and other sources can work too, but the body needs to convert it into the form most advantageous for one’s body, so it is a less efficient source.

Vitamin B Complex

The B vitamins have been linked to improved neural activity and are great at reducing stress, both useful for children with ADHD. While most B vitamins are safe, two do have potential side effects so consult with a medical provider before selecting a supplement for your child. Vitamin B3, also commonly known as niacin, can cause skin flushing and, in a time-released form, has been associated with liver damage. High doses of vitamin B6 can cause numbness and tingling.

Good food sources of the B vitamins are nutritional yeast, liver, whole-grain cereals and breads, rice, nuts, milk, eggs, meats, fish, fruits, leafy green vegetables and soy.

Protein

If you’ve ever traded your afternoon caffeine fix for a couple bites of salmon then you already know: Protein evenly sustains your energy. The same holds true for children with ADHD—eating small portions of protein throughout the day evens out their energy, too.  “I have always told parents they need to plan a protein lunch,” says clinical nutritionist Marcia Zimmerman. “Make sure the child gets protein for breakfast, too.”

Serving a protein meal doesn’t mean you have to cook. Offer your child string cheese wrapped in whole grain bread. Feed him an egg, or low-fat plain yogurt blended with a banana for sweetness.

Zimmerman suggests mixing protein powder into a smoothie that you serve your child for breakfast, and offering a protein-rich smoothie as a snack when your child returns from school. Throughout the day, offer nuts and seeds, brown rice cakes spread with hummus, or any nut butters such as cashew butter.

Calcium and Magnesium

Give your child a tall glass of milk or lots of green veggies. While calcium is known for helping build strong bones, Zimmerman says it also supports cell membranes and aids the nervous system, especially in impulse transmission, which could improve a child’s behavior.

Magnesium also has a calming effect on the nervous system, helping to maintain normal muscle and nerve function, and is involved in energy metabolism and protein synthesis. Children diagnosed with ADD and ADHD have responded positively to supplementation from calcium and magnesium—both of which are found naturally in many foods.

Milk and milk products are a main source of calcium. Green vegetables such as broccoli, kale, and collard greens, and whole grains and cereals are additional sources. Green veggies such as spinach are a great source of magnesium, as are beans and peas, nuts, seeds, and whole grains.

Trace Minerals
Trace minerals are micronutrients that are needed by the body every day, but in small amounts. Trace minerals that would help an ADHD child include zinc, and iron. Studies have shown that children with ADHD have low levels of zinc in their bodies, when compared to children without ADHD. Iron helps regulate the neurotransmitter dopamine and may help children with ADHD, though studies have been inconclusive. Trace minerals are found in fruits, vegetables, and animal products but many nutritionists recommend supplementing with a sugar-free multivitamin.

information from article by Jean Weiss

The Link Between ADHD and Nutrition

Learn how a modified diet can minimize the symptoms of a common behavioral disorder.
By Jean Weiss for MSN Health & Fitness 

Your child has a hard time sitting still in class, but you loathe the idea of having him take Ritalin and lose his sparkle. And yet, he does need to stop bouncing off the walls. Increasingly, parents are looking at their child’s diet before turning to medication to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, known as ADHD.

Characterized by hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and the inability to focus, ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorder in childhood, affecting from 3 percent to 5 percent of U.S.school-age children.  Most parents and physicians treat ADHD with medication—in fact, the use of medication tripled worldwide between 1993 and 2003, with the United States prescribing more medication for ADHD than any other country. Yet some parents have taken a rigorous look at their child’s diet, as a substitute for or in conjunction with meds, in an effort to minimize symptoms and ultimately sidestep a dependency on drugs.

Medication produces fast results and is preferred by many physicians, parents, and teachers. “It does improve behavior, it is easy, it is quick, but the problem is it doesn’t heal anything,” says clinical nutritionist Marcia Zimmerman, a former research scientist at Stanford University Medical Center and author of the book The ADD Nutrition Solution: A 30-Day Drug-Free Plan. “And moreover, when a child has been on these meds for a period of time it develops side effects and you have to use more drugs to relieve the side effects.”

A nutrition approach takes longer to show results. “With dietary supplements you can see improvement in behavior in a week or two,” says Zimmerman. “A food approach is more of a long-term thing—a 30-day plan, for example.”

There are many ADHD-healing diets to choose from. The Feingold Method has sparked controversy because of its regimented program and recommendations that you steer clear of many foods—such as fruits—that are considered healthy by many nutritionists. Another option is elimination diets, in which parents take away multiple food categories and then reintroduce them one by one to see how they affect mood and behavior.

Whichever approach you choose, make sure the changes are realistic for your family and don’t create additional stress as you attempt to follow them. “There are diets out there that are incredibly strict,” says Bonnie Taub-Dix, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association with nutrition practices in Long Island and Manhattan. “Those diets could have credibility, but I would recommend picking some aspect of the diet—let’s say sugar—and really watching that to see if your child has a change in behavior.”

Zimmerman says it’s OK to relax and let your child enjoy the food at a birthday party, for example, but she says it’s easier for a child to adjust to a new, restricted diet when the whole family takes part.

The backbone of a food-based approach is stabilizing blood sugar levels and feeding the brain the right types of foods at the optimal times. Protein and whole grains are high on the list and recommended by both Zimmerman and Taub-Dix. Small healthy meals throughout the day regulate energy, and convert food into the glucose the brain needs to function.

“About 50 percent of what a child eats goes to feed their brain,” Zimmerman says. “The brain’s only fuel is sugar—glucose, not sucrose. We have to have a steady supply of glucose for the brain. If they get too much, [the ADHD child] can’t handle it, if they don’t get enough, they can’t handle it. The theory is to supply the brain with glucose when they need it but also to supply protein. You want the messages between the brain cells to be activated at the right time.”

A health care professional can help you find the nutrient mix that’s best for your ADHD child. Both Taub-Dix and Zimmerman emphasize the importance of consulting a physician before taking a food-based approach. “Just like any illness, when your child needs medication it’s important to give medication,” says Taub-Dix.

And if a child is already taking meds, don’t pull him off without a plan. “If a child is on meds, you have to work with a doctor,” Zimmerman says. “It is possible to reduce a child’s meds or alleviate some of the side effects, and it is even possible that diet and supplements could remedy the situation. But when you are talking about medication, you want to make sure parents understand that you should not just stop them.”