If you were to put soda in your car instead of gas would it run as well? No. And your body will not run well if you fill it with junk. Food fuels our bodies so we need to pick the best foods that will help us be strong and grow. This is how I explain it to my kids. It’s especially important because food has been show to affect ADHD behaviors more, especially in children. It’s also a good reminder to myself… yes wine is made from grapes, but all the sugar means it’s not really a vegetable and not clean eating… even if mommy prefers wine, it’s not a good body fuel for mommy!
When looking at food and ADHD, more and more studies and theories are coming out. Each one proves or disproves the one before it. I even found some studies showing the benefits of wine.
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Since the 1970s when attention problems started getting widespread attention (get it… attention problems getting attention… I’m so punny), Doctors like Allan Cott have claimed that hyperactivity and learning disabilities were the result of vitamin deficiencies and could be treated with large doses of minerals and multivitamins (10 times the recommended daily allowance of vitamins, minerals and other essential elements), rather than medication. The research is inconclusive in showing significant results, but the basic concept of eating more vitamins is a keeper.
The reality we live in is that the foods we eat today have less vitamins and nutrients than foods used to or organic foods do. Our present day foods are full of additives, artificial flavorings and dyes to make them look and taste better to consumers and have a longer shelf life.
Again, since the 70s, Dr. Benjamin Feingold has been promoting an elimination diet that omitted these substances in children with hyperactivity and learning disabilities which showed a dramatic improvement in behavior. Again the results are controversial as to the level of results, but no matter how many studies you read they all point to a similar finding. A reduction in processed foods full of additives and making healthy choices promotes better health, improved concentration and increased productivity.
Now that you know what to do, the next question is how to do it? Well that means education, reading labels, planning meals and being aware and above all ‘Eating Clean’. Eating foods with ingredients you can pronounce is a great start. I know it’s overwhelming. My biggest shock was how much sugar is added to foods. It’s EVERYWHERE. In hidden places like flour, milk and even things you think are healthy for you like yogurt (especially kids yogurt drinks) are all full of sugar. ‘Sugar-free’ products are full of chemical sugar replacers so that’s not any better.
‘Eating Clean’ means no more sauces on foods (BBQ sauce is uber high in sugar), white flour pasta, rice, or processed foods. Unless you buy certified organic meat is full of antibiotics and hormones and fruits and veggies are covered in pesticides and chemicals, all of which are not ‘clean’.
So now I set about the task of detoxing my family and finding recipes that I could easily make & they would easily eat! Surprisingly with reminding them good food fuels you to run faster and play more (and standing my ground) the kids were quick to jump onboard, quicker than my husband anyway. After a while my kids started noticing how much better non-processed food tastes and even point out how things taste too sugary or chemically. Not overnight, but I took every baby step towards clean eating as a victory!
