Food allergies, sensitivities and intolerances can cause a wide range of symptoms and childhood disorders. Identifying these foods and eliminating them has been shown to significantly improve ADHD, middle ear infections, fatigue, hyperactivity, depression, headaches, asthma and other childhood disorders.
These disorders and symptoms are often linked to immunological responses. This can be food allergies and yeast overgrowth. There are two types of food allergies, immediate and delayed. Immediate allergies are classified as immediate and strong reactions to the allergens. Delayed allergies are less severe reactions and the immune reaction occurs from hours to days later.
A study at Cornell University looked at the link between ADHD and food allergies. The most common allergens were eliminated from the diets of the children participating in the study. These foods include corn, yeast, soy, eggs, peanuts, chocolate and foods containing artificial colorings and preservatives. The study found that nearly three quarters of the kids in the study improved after these foods were eliminated from the diet.
Another connection between certain childhood disorders and diet is gluten. Gluten is found in grains, such as wheat, rye, barley and oats. A protein in gluten, gliadin, is problematic for some children. When these kids are placed on a gluten free diet, the symptoms often improve.
In addition to allergies, certain foods can cause chemical changes in the brain that result in hyperactivity, ADHD and other childhood disorders. This includes foods containing artificial color and flavors. These foods carry a warning label in European countries informing parents of the link between attention and hyperactivity and these substances. The label was the result of studies conducted at the University of Southampton in the UK. Things to look for on the label include any language about color, flavoring, artificial flavoring, color added or specific colors listed in the ingredients.
In addition to food allergies, an overgrowth of yeast has been shown to result in hyperactivity. In the book The Yeast Connection, author Dr. William Crook discusses the improvement of symptoms in hyperactive children after receiving treatment for the overgrowth of Candida albicans.
At the Center for Health and Healing, we can test your child for antibodies to foods and other allergens to identify the reactive foods. Once identified, they can be eliminated from the diet. Please contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment.