Article: Studynutrition and children's behaviour

[Guest guest]

More proof of why we need to feed our kids well!

 

I don't necessarily agree with very the last statement, cause I can see

it being used by some as an " I'm not responsible for my own actions " cop

out by those who love to believe there is no such thing as personal

responsibility for one's actions, but I do understand the ultimate point

that the author is trying to make ...

 

*Smile*

Chris

http://www.alittleolfactory.com

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

 

 

Study links nutrition and children's behaviour

Shane Starling

 

July 2005

 

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An extended study has highlighted the important role nutrition plays in

affecting the behaviour and learning ability of children. Although the

Oxford University study focused on 120 pupils diagnosed with dyspraxia

(a developmental coordination disorder), the potential positive effects

for large numbers of 'normal' school-aged children, and indeed the adult

population, if nutritional changes can be made, are compelling.

 

The double-blind study gave the 5- to 12-year-old children, many of whom

had accompanying attention deficit problems and dyslexia, either an

olive oil placebo or a fish oil-derived omega-3 fatty acid supplement.

Those on the supplement showed greatly increased concentration and

ability to process information within three months of taking the

supplement, with an average advancement in reading age of about nine

months and spelling age of six months.

 

Over the full six-month length of the trial, further improvements became

obvious, according to Dr Madeleine Portwood, senior educational

psychologist at the Durham Local Education Authority in England, which

oversees the schools where the trial took place, and lead author of the

research. " For some of the children on the trial, we saw dramatic

improvements in reading ability, progressing by as much as four or five

years in some cases, " she said. " In terms of their handwriting, we also

saw marked differences. Their confidence and self-esteem also improved.

And many of the children who were previously excitable and hyperactive

found themselves able to concentrate. "

 

UK-based nutritionist Fiona Hunter noted it is not just the introduction

of nutrients like essential fatty acids that can benefit brain function

and behaviour. Other inputs like trans fats actually block the brain's

uptake of the nutrients it requires and could therefore negatively

affect learning and behaviour, she said.

 

The research mirrors the results of other studies such as a double-blind

UK trial conducted in 2002 among adult-age prisoners where anti-social

behaviour and number of offences committed was reduced after the

introduction of a vitamin, mineral and fatty acid supplement.

 

What is becoming apparent is that mood, behaviour and achievement are

affected if the brain is not able to access the nutrients it requires to

function correctly. It begs the question: if the brain is undernourished

in this way, how much is anyone, from a disruptive child to a criminal,

in control of their behaviour?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

This kind of link was brought up in Super Size Me... a school had

replaced their lunch menu with less processed, organic foods and saw

most all of their behavioral problems go away.

 

-Josh

[Guest guest]

Hi

Here's a link to " Food and Behavior Research " - it has many interesting

article and research notes...click " resources " on left hand side..

http://tinyurl.com/85ekt

Liz

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

my oldest child is autistic and eating habits have made a big difference. I

have a friend whose son is ADD and she changed his eating habits and he has made

a complete turn around.. My husband is ADDHD and as an adult you think he would

want to change his eating habits to try to make things better for himself in

more ways than one but he is a tuff nut to crack. We are doing the no refined

sugars in our house for our son and a gluten free diet. It takes about 2 weeks

to notice any changes but there are changes and it does help.

Veronica Davidson

http://www.veronicaslavishlathers.com

http://www.friendswithms.com

-

Liz

Wednesday, July 06, 2005 12:57 PM

Re: Article: Study links nutrition and children's

behaviour

 

 

Hi

Here's a link to " Food and Behavior Research " - it has many interesting

article and research notes...click " resources " on left hand side..

http://tinyurl.com/85ekt

Liz

 

 

[Guest guest]

___________________________

On Behalf Of Joshua Alexander

Wednesday, July 06, 2005 11:22 AM

 

Re: Article: Study links nutrition and children's

behavior

 

 

This kind of link was brought up in Super Size Me... a school had

replaced their lunch menu with less processed, organic foods and saw

most all of their behavioral problems go away.

 

-Josh

 

I so agree with what Morgan Spurlock so cleverly presented in the movie (see

his blog http://blogs.indiewire.com/morganspurlock/ for further

developments).

 

About 15 years (or more-time flies when you are an old lady) ago, a

Portland, OR pediatrician wrote a very controversial book connecting the

increase in ADD/ADHD cases to food allergies - the usual primary culprits,

i.e., wheat/dairy, showed up; however, highly processed foods (especially

all the sugar-coated cereals) were glaringly noted in the survey of

pediatricians who supported his book and provided statistical data.

 

Since we are on this topic, I have to express my concern about corporate

foods in general. People deserve to have regional control over their food

source. Everywhere. And they deserve a choice between mass-produced and

organic or locally grown. The encroachment of big food corporations into

farming has resulted in an alarming suicide rate for small family farmers,

forcing sometimes unnecessary use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers

that deplete the soil over a period of time, rendering it useless . . . that

we know are mucking up the environment and collecting in our cellular tissue

to create more long-term health problems. There used to be lower allowable

standards for toxins such as mercury in fish . . . Now the USDA is

recommending to ingest less because of allowing more dangerous levels. How

long can we keep upping the acceptable levels, when the best effort for the

long run should be to reduce the environmental dumping in the first place?

 

 

These days, over 60% of foods in supermarkets (especially the big box corps)

are genetically modified, without notification to the consumer. Now, it

could be that GM foods are perfectly o.k. for human consumption, however,

early research on lab rats showed deterioration of organ function. These

studies have been suppressed, and I support the effort to force sellers to

identify GM foods as such to the consumer. http://www.organicconsumers.org/

I strongly advocate taking the extra effort and $ to source organic - join

as shareholder in an organic farm - shop at your local farmer's market - get

milk delivered by an organic producer. Right now, the dairy industry is

trying to shut down several organic dairies that deliver (one here in WA)

accusing them of unfair competition by selling directly to the consumer.

This is ridiculous and only smacks of big corporate desire for control.

 

We face myriad problems these days; most of which can be attributed to

poverty . . . The Live8 concert to create awareness and protestors' efforts

to influence the wealthy nations at their summit these past days to step up

and make a difference is only a drop in the bucket.

http://www.thenewheros.org/ is another good chance to be more informed and

choose to help. Hosted by Robert Redford, PBS is highlighting some of the

heroes around the world who are becoming what are now called the " social

entrepreneurs. "

 

Get involved. Pay Attention. Do your part. Heal yourself, your family and

the world.

 

Nuff from the pulpit! :-)

 

Be well,

Marcia Elston, Samara Botane, http://www.wingedseed.com

" First of all, cultivate a contented spirit; a garden is a good place to

begin. "

[Guest guest]

Thanks Marcia... I enjoyed your response. You brought up cereals in

connection to behavior problems, and that reminds me of how funny I

find General Mills and their " Look, we put a bit of whole grain in

with our refined grains, refined sugars, artificial colors, flavors,

and chemical preservatives. Aren't we great? It's so healthy! "

campaign.

 

You also mentioned GM foods being a question, but not only are there

the study results you mentioned, GMOs are also associated with

behavioral problems.

 

It's hard... really hard for me right now, young, on the go, by no

means rich (workin on it!), and not exactly " supported " by my partner

& roommate in eating as healthy as we could... but hard for anyone,

especially if you don't have very much access to natural food stores

and farmers markets.

 

And there are exactly zero places to eat out with even a 50% whole

foods menu, and I'm in San Francisco. It just isn't on people's

radars yet.

 

-Josh