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Post by galina on Apr 1, 2004 18:12:00 GMT -5
I am very new to this board and still learning my way around. I have a question. I have been reading all the info about supplements and diets. Would it be beneficial for me to go to nutrition educator to set up the diet for my son and supplements? It is $90/hr, do you think it would worth it? Or should i just get on Feingold diet, and buy supplements that you recommended? Thank you for your advices.
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Post by ohmama on Apr 1, 2004 21:03:13 GMT -5
galina, Welcome to the natural alternatives section of the forum. How did you find this board?
You may get some different advice from others but here's what I think.... If the nutritional counselor would be taking tests (blood, urine, and hair follicle samples) to advise you on a treatment plan that would include diet and supplements then I would say it's worth the $90 fee, since it will be very specific to your child. I think you need to find out first what this person offers and what is his/her experience in working with an adhd/add child? Can he/she supply you with references from any clients? Is this person properly licensed and what is their educational background in dealing with brain disorders? I would do a little investigating first. Is the person in the business of selling products? That would be a red flag for me.
Do you have an official diagnosis for your child?
I think that regardless of the diagnosis there are some basic things you would do well to follow from the advice given here. The Feingold diet will not cause harm and can only be beneficial, same goes for using the omega 3 fatty acids and vitamins. You will save yourself hours of consultation fees on nutrition by reading the information on this board and asking specific questions. It is always best to have some knowledge behind you when you do talk to a doctor or nutritional counselor. That way you can find the best one and work along with them.
No one on this board is in the business of selling supplements. You will get advice that can be backed up with research as well as hands on experience.
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Post by catatonic on Apr 2, 2004 8:06:21 GMT -5
Hello Galina and welcome.
I think OhMama has given you some very sound advice. I have consulted two nutritionists in an informal manner (they're my friends so I force them to give me free advice!) and both recommended a diet high in protein and whole grains and low in sugar and processed foods. This advice is consistent with research findings and my personal experience has been that it is helpful to modify the diet this way.
I strongly recommend the Feingold diet. It has been little short of miraculous for my son. It's been so successful, in fact, that his psychologist has begun recommending the diet to other patients. It's not cheap to join the Feingold Association ($70) but we've found that it's simply not possible to determine food ingredients adequately on our own without the support of the product research done by Feingold. Because of the FDA's "incidental additives" regulations, many of the artificial chemical additives that you must avoid on the Feingold diet are NOT listed in the ingredient panels.
Within one week on Feingold, the changes in my son were amazing. We saw the biggest improvements in temper tantrums, oppositional behavior, general hyper behavior, quarreling with siblings, and bedwetting.
By adding supplements, we've been able to make inroads into his attentiveness problems, although this remains our area of greatest challenge.
Whatever you decide, I think you'll discover that you can find plenty of help and support here. Best of luck to you.
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