A D H D
Written By Nutriwonders
ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER
CONTINUED
We promised that We would
continue Dr. Whitaker's discussion of ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity
disease). We will quote him. "Folks, diseases are not invented;
they are discovered, and their characteristic symptoms and underlying
pathology are clearly delineated. With ADHD, there is no underlying
pathology ("pathology" refers to clearly defined disease process,
e.g. a tumor or gene abnormality. ed.). Kids with ADHD have completely
normal brains and nervous systems.
"Nor do the symptoms
of ADHD suggest that it is a disease. According to current diagnostic
standards, a child is labeled with ADHD if he or she exhibits six of
l8 symptoms in one of two classes. Get a load of this. (Dr. Whitaker
is from Georgia. ed.) INATTENTION: fails to pay close attention or makes
careless mistakes in school-work, has difficulty paying attention, doesn't
listen when talked directly to, doesn't follow through on instruction
or complete tasks, has difficulty organizing tasks and activities, avoids
homework, and school work. HYPERACTIVITY-IMPULSIVITY: fidgets, leave
(sic) seat in classroom, runs about or climbs excessively, has difficulty
awaiting turn and often interrupts."
Dr. Whitaker's point seems
rather obvious. The behavior described is so common amongst children
that it is to be expected and is considered ordinary and normal. The
child of course must be trained and corrected through encouragement
and proper disciplinary procedures. Dr. Whitaker is appalled, and so
are we, that this rather ordinary behavior, which our parents would
have thought described a normal child, must now be considered a disease
and require the medicating of "six to seven million kids"
with "the addictive, amphetamine-like drug Ritalin."
ANOTHER REMEDY FOR ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER
A recent article
published in "Pharmacology Research" states: "During
the last 50 years, many infants have been fed formula diets lacking
DHA and other omega-3 fatty acids. DHA deficiencies are associated with
foetal alcohol syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, cystic
fibrosis, phenylketonuria, unipolar depression, aggressive hostility,
... Decreases in DHA in the brain are associated with cognitive decline
during aging and with onset of sporadic Alzheimer disease. The leading
cause of death in western nations is cardiovascular disease. Epidemiological
studies (studies of diseases affecting large populations, ed.) have
shown a strong correlation between fish consumption and reduction in
sudden death from myocardial infarction. The reduction is approximately
50% with 200 mg/day of DHA from fish, or fish oil capsules....DHA is
present in fatty fish (tuna, salmon, mackerel) and mother's milk."
The fact that DHA is found
in mother's milk and is responsible for the higher intelligence of breast
fed children, has prompted the AMA (American Medical Association) and
the FDA (Federal Drug Administration) to adopt guidelines for putting
DHA in formula. Wouldn't it be more simple to encourage women to breast
feed? Only 3 to 4 percent of American women breast feed. Is this why
school scores are so poor in the United States? To date (2003) neither
Enfamil nor Similac contain DHA; although the promise to include DHA
was made in 2000 based upon knowledge that Japan and Europe include
DHA in childrens' formulae.
Good Health!
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