MINIMAL NUTRITIONAL RECOMMENDATION

AbsorbAid (digestive enzymes) 2 per meal
Vitamin C 250 mg per meal
B-6 100 mg per meal
Insurance Formula (multivitamin) 3 per meal
Magnesium, adjust to tolerance
Acidophilus, adjust to results


A FEW COMMENTS ON NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS
The most common reason for a treatment, program or proposition to be nailed as a 'quack' is to focus on nutrition. So check with Dr. Barrett at QuackWatch and be cautious when you go looking at me and at other advise givers.

It makes no sense whatsoever to give nutritional supplements when your child is not eating a rational diet. If your child "won't eat" then you need to adopt new methods of child management. Please read the several articles available through this website on CHILD MANAGEMENT.

Most ADHD children do not have good habits of eating - they eat a poor diet, they chew poorly, they eat too quickly, and they don't pause for digestion. Typically, they do not eat good foods but will gobble down sweet garbage foods.

However, many of these children also have deficiencies in producing digestive enzymes - you can almost always tell who these children (and their parents) are because they are notorious for passing gas, and for foul, actually loathsome smelling bowel movements and gas passing.

Give these children digestive enzymes. I recommend AbsorbAid, 1-800-827-7656. One or two capsules of AbsorbAid before each meal makes for a better nourished and happier child. If you or your child complains of indigestion or "acid stomach" DO NOT USE ANTI-ACIDS. The problem is more often a hyperalkalinity than hyperacidosis but in any case the digestive enzyme is kinder to the child's gut, reduces inflammation, and does the job more quickly and healthfully.

Educate yourself regarding l. acidophilus. Your child's body needs a nice garden of happy vegetables. The microscopic variety has a long name, lactobacillus acidophilus (usually shortened to l. acidophilus). Not too long ago you could buy Acidophilus Milk, but the product was not a commercial success. Too bad. When you are helping your child develop a good internal ecology remember that you are gardening and the usual advice, namely "take two capsules of l. acidophilus", is not good. You need to increase the number of capsules until the child's stools are firm, well textured and light in color (they should float if you are feeding the child enough fiber).

I recommend that you give your ADHD child at least 50 mg of pyridoxine (Vitamin B- 6) at every meal. Giving B-6 all by itself is not wise, so also give a good multivitamin like the Insurance Formula designed by Dr. Roger Williams.

If you only give vitamins your child may become grumpy and so you need to give magnesium in a larger amount than is available in Insurance Formula. I recommend MAGONATE which is available as a pill and as a sweet tasting liquid - you have to adjust the individual dose so that you aren't giving the laxative dose. Usually half an ounce is near the laxative dose but can be tolerated. Magnesium is mellowing and calming. A good idea for ADHD children is a hot bath with several cups of epsom salts in the bath water. This is a good time for Dad to have that touching, masculine play with the kids, and this play reduces hyperactivity as well as increasing natural sleep.

Epsom salts is magnesium sulfate. One of my own granddaughters had her own special bottle of water in the fridge. We dissolved epsom salts to taste for her. The other kids (they have 10) do not like the water at all, but this child knew when to head for her magnesium! This granddaughter did have episodes of what appeared to be sudden death. We gave her 25 mg of B-6 together with magnesium every meal and the startling narcolepsy disappeared.

Ray Peat, Ph.D. suggests that you add a half a cup of sodium bicarbonate (plain old baking soda) to each bath and you will encourage relaxation. The baking soda actually increases the size and numbers of veins and arteries in the brain. More fuel for the brain.

REAL AGE is a website which permits you to calculate how your habits modify your "real age" and as of 1999 daily ingestion of vitamin C and multivitamins reduces your "real age" markedly. ADHD children need more vitamin C and other vitamins than the offical minimum daily requirement. The easiest way to get these children to take more Vitamin C is by adding crystals of the vitamin to juices. Unfortunately, not all vitamins are as easy to make palatable and so good child management techniques are necessary.