Clean up the Diet
There are several different types of 'diet' that have proved helpful for our children. The focus of them all is the same, to heal the gut, establish good flora (good bacteria) and regulate the immune system/response.
Many do better without gluten & casein (GFCF), others do better on specific carbohydrates (SCD) or other regimes.
I would go so far as to say 99.9% do better on very low sugar and that includes mums, dads, brothers, sisters and even the pets!
While you research what might be the best approach for your child (and what is 'do-able' for your family and budget), there are some basic's that you can implement that are common to all dietary interventions and a sound base on which to try other more focused approaches:
- Reduce the amount of sugar in the diet - it feeds bad bacteria which in turn cause negative behaviours such as aggression, hyperactivity, poor sleep patterns, soiling and smearing
- Remove Aspartame (NutraSweet - neurotoxin) which is a common cause of hyperactivity, aggressive and impulsive behaviour
- Remove MSG (Mono Sodium Glutamate - Excitoxin) which is a common cause of hyperactivity
- Reduce and aim to remove, all artifical colours, flavours and preservatives (these are chemicals not nutriton, also a common cause of negative behaviours, attention deficit and hyperactivity)
- Remove Fluoride (neuro-toxin) toothpaste and replace with a non-flouride, SLS free (Sodium Laurel Sulphate) toothpaste or just use water
- Buy Organic where you can
- Always wash fruits and vegetables as non-organic ones are often covered in very undesirable chemicals and compounds in the form of pesticides.
You will need to become an avid reader of food labels. Get some spectacles if you need them but have been putting it off as the ingrediants are usally in very small type!
Familiarise yourself with common ingrediants as this will prove very useful if you go on to try a more focused dietary intervention.
The above regime is a positive step for whole family. Its not easy but the rewards in improved behaviour, some of which may not be apparent for a few months, are worth it!
Consider starting with the toothpaste so you can tick that one off. You could then progress to examining your usual weekly shop and assessing which to tackle first. Processed food is generally filled with undesirable additives.
TIP: Anything marked 'Sugar Free' or 'No Added Sugar' is highly likely to contain Aspartame.