Dietary approaches for treating autism
Before you read this article, there is something to consider: * 9% of children diagnosed with autism at age 2 will lose their diagnosis by age 4 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4860351/) There are lots of interventions to improve symptoms of autism and help children to flourish, however, the diet should be the first. It is possible to improve your […]
Why your child should go to school on an egg
Before the demonization of cholesterol in the 1980s, it was very common to have an egg for breakfast. Then all of a sudden, eggs were going to kill us because they contain cholesterol, fat was bad, and breakfast cereal was good. But do you ever notice that when you have an egg for breakfast you […]
Protein for a healthy brain, better mood and balanced behaviour
Children (or adults!) with mood or behaviour issues need to get enough protein in their diet. Ideally, there should be some protein at every meal or snack. That doesn’t mean eating meat 5 times a day, it’s just a matter of being mindful to include some high protein foods such as nuts, legumes or eggs. […]
Could yeast overgrowth be causing my child’s problems?
You may have heard of yeast overgrowth by it’s other name, Candida (or Candida albicans). Candida is a type of fungus, a one-celled organism. Everyone has some Candida in their body, and quite often it lives in balance with the bacteria in your body. Sometimes however, it can go a little crazy, and start to […]
How do bad gut bacteria impact kid’s behaviour?
Our gut health impacts all aspects of our health, including our mental health. I have explained how this works in my article on the gut brain connection. Overgrowth of bad bacteria in the gut will produce harmful compounds. For example the bacterial family Clostridia produce a harmful compound called HPHPA. This compound changes the neurotransmitter balance […]
Hair tissue mineral analysis for children
One of my favourite tests for children with behaviour issues, autism or ADHD is a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA). It is non-invasive, as it just requires a sample of hair, no needles. Of course even the thought of a hair-cut is a challenge for some children, but only one lock of hair is needed. […]
The effects of sugar on children’s behaviour
There is far more sugar in our diets than there used to be, and this is having a massive impact on all aspects of our health. One of the issues that we see pretty quickly is the effect of sugar on dental health. Other issues like type 2 diabetes take longer to present themselves. The […]
What type of magnesium is best for children?
One of the first supplements I will prescribe for children with all sorts of issues is magnesium. Why do I prescribe magnesium? Magnesium is a relaxing nutrient, so it’s really good for sleep. Lots of things disrupt sleep in children: food allergies neurotransmitter imbalance anxiety sleep apnoea Poor sleep will have lots of knock on […]
Child aggression and diet
You know when your child has issues with aggression. There will be biting, kicking and hitting. Not only will this happen within your own family, but also at school and preschool. And it sucks to be the parent of the biter. Even if preschool staff can remain tight lipped about the offender, it is likely […]
Rainbow chart
Get your kids excited about eating a rainbow by sticking this chart up on the fridge! Get them to tick off every day when they eat fruit and vegetables of different colours.