Where do I start?

[GSDMommy]

Wow!! I am glad I wandered out of my little world of the other forum for a while! Thank you so much Catatonic and OhMama for your info! I need something for mylittle crew! My mother always pushed vitamins and with having four kids and 3 ADHD and 2 multiply diagnosed, I don't have time to go research all this stuff like I should!!

I am going to research this Feingold thing. I think I have been doing something like it for years now anyway. I watched my kids get loaded on Fruity Pebbles once and declared that those cereals were schedule C narcotics!!LOL. I was about to offer a wildlife show big bucks to come dart my children and tag them for future tracking needs!! Since being at his placement, the oldest has had more behavior problems <they don't do anything with diet there>.

I can't thank you guys enough for all this info!! I am SOOO excited that this might work!!

PS: I go to Vitamin Shoppe for my stuff, they tend to run cheaper than most places around here in MD.......they have a brick-and-mortar and a website......www.vitmainshoppe.com.

[Budsmommy]

I tried this site however it seems that they have changed. I tried to find a vitamin called Child Life on the new site but I could not find it. Is the vitamin called "Child Life"?

To start with, a general vitamin supplement which includes trace minerals is the first step. Make sure that it contains zinc (15mg), copper (1mg) along with manganese and selenium in small quantities. If you select one with at least 100IU of Vitamin E, you will not need a separate Vitamin E supplement when you begin using Omega-3. If your son doesn't do pills, you can try a liquid like Child Life which, at 3 tsps daily, would provide adequate general nutrition at a cost of about $15 per month. You can take a look at it here:
www.herbaladvisor.com/shop/xq/asp/ptid.14780/qx/productDetail.htm

[weskie]

Through a nutritional newsletter I receive, I found a source of absolutely delicious canned tuna. The brand name is "Oregon's Choice" and their website is www.oregonschoice.com. They say their tuna is much lower in mercury than regular canned tuna because they catch smaller, younger tuna with fishing lines. This tuna is so good you can eat it plain, right out of the can! dfp, I bet your son would love it! If you compare the price of Whole Foods' high-end canned tuna with Oregon's Choice, Oregon's Choice is cheaper (I ordered the larger cans). However, it is more expensive than ordinary store canned tuna, and you have to buy a case. Check out their website!

[ninjyagirl]

Aloha,
I am new and I've been reading all the post. I am so overwhelmed that I do not know where to begin.
My son is 7 years old and weighs about 47 pounds.
He is taking 2 Gummy Vits in the morning ( I bought this at Costco).

I bought a bottle omega fish oil liquid with lemon flavor.
I bought a bottle of calcium and magnesium vitamin tablets 500 mg.

I tried to cut the magnesium tablets in half and have him chew on it. He gags on it. I gave him fish oil and he threw up everything. Now he thinks this is all bad for him.

I went back to the health store and picked up Planetary CALM CHILD and some powder magnesium. I am confused about all the different types of Magnesium.

My son likes the flaver in the calm child but I am not sure if I should continue.

Has anyone tried the fish oil in ESKIMO KIDS?

I am trying to find ways to disquise the fish oil. I was looking for some shake I could make in the morning and evening to put the fish oil and magnesium powder in. I am still searching for healthy products.

Please advise...
Mahalo Nui Loa (Thank you very much)

[camismom]

Does it matter what time of day these supplements are given?

[catatonic]

I don't find it makes any real difference. My son takes half of his in the morning and half in the evening because the water-soluble vitamins (like magnesium) are utilized more thoroughly when given in more frequent smaller doses.

And it's probably best to give them at a different time of day than you give medication, if you are using medication. There is the possibility that some vitamins will affect metabolism of some medications, so at least wait an hour in between. What I've heard some people do is medication in the morning and supplements in the evening. I don't know a lot about this, though, as we don't use medication.

[Renee]

We actually take our supplements throughout the day, to break it up. We also don't do any medication, but I know many people who take their meds and vitamins together with no noticible difference in the meds.

We take a mix of the omega 3s, many vitamins and minerals, plus a calcium/magnesium pill at each meal. It makes it easier to remember and easier to take. Sometimes we take additional calcium/mag at bedtime as it is a great nnatural relaxant. So if your child has trouble falling asleep, try 400-500 mg of calcium, with the magnesium at a 1/3 ratio, right before bedtime. It is also terrific for kids that have leg cramps at night or restless leg syndrome.

[catatonic]

You can't assume, though, that supplements and medications are fine in combination with one another. Just as an example, taking magnesium when you are taking a quinolone antibiotic (Cipro, Noroxin, etc) can render the antibiotic useless. Vitamin B6 affects serotonin levels, and the possibility of harmful amounts of serotonin exists if you are taking an SSRI. Vitamin E may interfere with the functioning of the drug warfarin, among others. Interactions between calcium and pharmaceuticals are extensive (for example diuretics, digoxin, calcium channel blockers, thyroid hormones, tetracycline). If you don't plan to separate your medications and supplements by AT LEAST two hours, then make sure you investigate potential interactions thoroughly. Just as natural does NOT mean "ineffective", natural also does not mean "risk free".

[saffie]

Thank you for all this information. I was hoping to start my son on some supplements since we just took him off meds.

[catatonic]

Good luck, Saffie. Be sure to visit here often, whenever you need help or understanding. Our kids are such a pleasure...and such a pain!

[nameka]

Hi, This may be slightly off the subject but I'm going to inquire anyway. I consulted with a holistic practitioner/ chiroppractor about my ADHD son earlier this week. He recommended applied kinesiology, nutrition, and some other things that I was not familiar with. The applied kinesiology seemed a little flaky. Is there any out there who has any insight on these topics ?

[catatonic]

Applied kinesiology is more than a little bit flaky. I will not get on one of my major rants about this subject, I'll simply refer you to the following article:
www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Tests/ak.html

I'd have trouble trusting any treatment recommendations from someone who practiced applied kinesiology or NAET or some of the other bizzarro non-science hocus-pocus junk out there.

This is, of course, merely my personal opinion. Others may have used applied kinesiology successfully and I am very happy for them and have no intention of being critical of their choice. It's just not a choice I would make for my child.