Attention Deficit Disorder Info

The vast majority of medical doctors consider Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) to be of unknown causes. Yet it's a known fact that the elimination of food additives and refined sugar produces dramatic improvements. Why haven't you been told this well-known fact? Considering the advertising revenues, it doesn't take a genius to see why the print and broadcast media have, for the most part, refused to publicize this vital information!

ADD, hyperactivity, and dyslexia are believed to be disorders of certain mechanisms of the central nervous system. Infants and children are the ones most often affected, and most often subjected to the widespread and indiscriminate use of drugs, especially Ritalin®, for quick short-cut suppression of deeper problems.

ADD interferes with the child's home, school and social life. Unable to screen out stimuli, the child is easily distracted. This usually intelligent child receives a label of being "learning-disabled" and finds the nervous system cannot be slowed down to focus long enough to complete an assigned task. Other symptoms may be head knocking, self-destructiveness, temper tantrums, clumsiness and sleep disturbances. ADD may exist with or without the hyperactivity aspect.

ADD has been diagnosed for hundreds of years, but more recently has become more prevalent due to the increased use of chemicals, pollutants, or heavy metal toxicity (such as lead, mercury, and cadmium). One estimate quotes over l.3 million with Attention Deficit Disorder; another source quotes up to 3 million with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Although genetics, infections and brain damage (trauma) have been cited as causes of ADD and LD (Learning Disabilities), these cases are quite rare compared to causes like a dysfunctional home, heavy metal toxicities, nutritional deficiencies, and food and chemical allergies. The majority of cases are caused by an immune defect and allergies to food additives, preservatives, chemicals, or inhalants. To deal adequately with this illness, we must address all these potential imbalances. Some of the nutritional deficiencies that correlate with LD or ADD are calcium, magnesium, iodine, iron and zinc. On the other hand, high copper, lead, cadmium and aluminum levels have also been seen in learning disabled children. (21)

Good nutrition during pregnancy and in the early years of the child' s life may help in preventing ADD. Eliminating processed foods, artificial flavorings, colorings, preservatives, and sugars have been shown to help the hyperactivity aspect of the affliction.

Symptoms in Infants and Young Children

Crying inconsolably
Screaming
Restlessness
Poor or little sleep
Difficult feeding
Refuses affection and cuddles
Head banging or rocking fits or temper tantrums

Symptoms in Older Children

Impulsiveness
Clumsiness
Constantly moving
Destructive or disruptive behavior
Accident proneness
Bouts of fatigue, weakness and listlessness
Aggressiveness
Poor concentration ability
Vocal repetition and loudness
Withdrawn behavior
Restlessness
School failure despite normal or high IQ
Poor sleep with nightmares
Poor appetite and erratic eating habits
Poor coordination
Irritable, uncooperative, disobedient, self-injurious, nervous, very moody or depressed
Hypersensitive to odors, lights, sound, heat and cold
Nose and skin picking or hair pulling
Bed wetting (enuresis)
Dark circles or puffiness below the eyes
Red earlobes or red cheeks
Swollen neck glands or fluid behind ear drums

Potential Causes
Many natural health oriented doctors believe that potential causes for the modern epidemic of Attention Deficit Disorders (ADD) and hyperactivity are:

Food additives
Refined sugar
Poor nutrition
Natural light deficiency
Food allergies
Heavy metal toxicity (such as lead, mercury, or cadmium)
Poor teaching methods combined with lack of discipline