anxiety

11/05/2019 by Chava

How Anxiety is Related to the Gut

If your child has anxiety, you MUST explore and address gut issues.

Any of the following gut issues (often more than one) can contribute to anxiety: dysbiosis, parasites, food sensitivities, low stomach acid, leaky gut, low pancreatic enzymes, SIBO (small intestinal bacterial infection), IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), problems with the vagus nerve, low B12, poor bile quality, liver toxicity, constipation.

And, while you are exploring those issues, using amino acids to address the anxiety can be incredibly helpful!

You should also address a compromised endocannabinoid system, mitochondrial dysfunction, environmental toxins, life stresses and many other factors.

Figuring out and addressing the above root causes can take time and, while all the above is being investigated and addressed, amino acids can offer quick relief from anxiety (and give you hope)!

They (amino acids) make everything so much easier to handle and much less overwhelming. They can help eliminate fear goes away and help you handle whatever comes your way. Labs tests, protocols and diagnosis can feel less challenging.

Of course, a healthy diet, sleep and exercise are fundamental when you have anxiety, and the amino acids play a role here too:

Dietary changes: quit gluten, sugar, caffeine (and sometimes grains) — amino acids help break the addiction aspect so no willpower is required and you don’t feel deprived.
GABA, tryptophan and glutamine may help with sleep when low GABA, low serotonin and low blood sugar are factors. DPA can help sleep when pain is an issue, as can GABA and tryptophan.
Tyrosine improves motivation and energy so you want to get outside and look forward to exercise.

01/14/2018 by Chava

Autism Service Dogs: Life-Altering Companions for Autistic Kids

An autism service dog exhilarates your kid’s spirits and shares his burden when he feels overwrought. Autistic kids require love ― pure and sincere ― so they can stay connected with the people around them.

Isolation stunts social skills and makes kids feel indifferent. When it comes to loving a human, no one does it better than a dog. He devotes a fair share of his energy to fill his companion’s life with utter joy. Animals are always great for kids with special needs!

An autism service dog can accompany your child to his school, pacify his senses in crowded places, and perform other deeds of kindness.

School can be a mean place. Even the slightest of triggers in its hectic hallways can shut a kid down. An autism service dog assures that your kid receives ample amount of love, whenever he feels fidgety or out-of-sorts in such settings. Dogs are highly perceptive, and immediately recognize subtle changes in behaviors. In a way, you can say that service dogs are the best empaths.

Not only do autism service dogs help a kid navigate the crowded surrounding of a school with ease, they also ensure his mental safety at a restaurant. They quietly lie next to him and make him feel at home, while you enjoy your delectable meal.

Autism service dogs undergo rigorous training to ensure the safe navigation of children. They are trained to never leave their side. They are life-altering inclusions in an autistic child’s life and promote his confidence and self-esteem.

Complete range of services Autism Service dogs offer

The effects of autism on children vary, as it is a complex set of disorders. Autism service dogs are trained differently to address the symptoms of all types of autistic children.

They improve a kid’s interactional skills, encourage him to voice his concerns, promote self-confidence, imbue positivity, and alleviate stress in challenging situations.

They achieve all of this with extraordinary success by doing the following,

Helping your child get ready for school
Keeping an eye out for him in troubling situations ― alerting nearby people in emergency situations
Appeasing him with their calming presence in crowded places
Attracting people around him, so that he can make new friends and engage in healthy conversations ― playing the role of a social lubricant.
Reducing stress levels
Changing his perceptions of life

Autism service dogs offer numerous therapeutic benefits. Autism destabilizes a child’s sensory system and flushes his senses. It incites him or makes him callous. The pet can release a child from sensory overload by simply providing him with his loving company.

Tethering your kid ensures your kid doesn’t wander off into uncharted territories. In places a-buzz with loud people, your primary concern is the safety of your child. Tethering helps you shop, dine or jog in a park, with peace of mind.

Autism service dogs have a commendable skill-set. They perform complex functions, such as identifying objects, promptly responding to specific commands and keeping an eye for danger. Therefore, they can change the world-view of your child, and help him achieve his dreams and ambitions. They can propel him towards social and individual triumph.

You can find an autism service dog through the Autism Service Dogs of America, the North Star Foundation, and Paws with a Cause.

Does your child have a service dog? How has it affected your family? What breeds work best for you?

01/09/2018 by Chava

The Connection Between Zinc and ADHD

Is There a Connection Between Diet, Zinc and ADHD?

We recently decided to supplement our son with zinc to help him with his ADHD symptoms. I bought Bluebonnet Nutrition brand Zinc Gluconate, which seems to be the best kind for this purpose, though I’ve also read really good things about Zinc Picolonate. Zinc and ADHD definitely have a connection and we want to help our little guy. As Dr. Kenneth Bock says, “No zinc, no think!”

Fresh vegetables and fruit do not usually rank high on a child’s list of favorite food items, especially if that child eats a Standard American Diet. Preschoolers rarely scream with excitement and jump up and down in front of a bowl filled with raw carrots. However, a balanced diet is extremely important for both children and teenagers and it is a key element in the treatment of ADD and ADHD.

Researchers consider that improper food habits can be related to hyperactive behavior in children. Zinc is seen as a wonder mineral which can reduce symptoms associated with ADHD, bipolar disorder, depression and Alzheimer’s disease.

These claims are based on two important aspects:

the proven benefits of zinc for human health
the results of international studies focused on zinc and ADHD symptomatology

Why Do We Need Zinc in Our Bodies?

Zinc is a trace mineral with an enormous impact on our central nervous system. It is involved in the synthesis and production of serotonin (the “happiness hormone”, which influences mood and sleeping patterns) dopamine (a chemical which regulates pleasure, pain and energy levels) and norepinephrine (better known as the “stress hormone”).

This mineral also keeps under control various substances which affect our behavior, learning process, attention, and concentration. Out of these, the most important are melatonin and fatty acids. Melatonin improves the quality of our sleep while fatty acids are necessary for having a healthy nervous system.

Treatments based on zinc and omega 3 fatty acids turned out to be very effective in reducing alleviating ADHD symptoms. The mineral diminishes the oxidation caused by the omega acids. Vitamin B6 is another important element in ADHD therapy. The presence of zinc activates it.

Zinc also:

supports growth and harmonious physical development in children
boosts memory
enhances brain capacity to process new information
reduces the risk of developing a cardiovascular disease
strengths the immune system
speeds up the wound healing process

Lack of zinc causes the toxic accumulation of copper and cadmium in our brain. It also inhibits neuronal activity which leads to excessive irritability, rage episodes, and extreme behavior.

Medical Investigations on Zinc and ADHD

The first studies on hyperactive children revealed that they all had:

a lack of essential fatty acids, such as Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)
excessive thirst
polyuria (too much urine production)
dry hair and skin

These works triggered multiple research aimed at understanding the nutritional factors involved in the development and treatment of ADHD.

During the 2000s, Iranian and Turkish doctors observed that zinc had positive effects on impulsive children. After the therapy, they were less aggressive and more patient.

A 2005 study conducted in the USA, established a direct link between zinc deficiency and severe ADHD symptomatology. In 2008, Yorbik and his collaborators associated low levels of plasma zinc with the children’s inability to process information rapidly.

In 2009, a Croatian team of scientists administered zinc to hyperactive children for 12 weeks. The results were encouraging:

increased attention span and concertation
better interaction with other people
decreased isolation tendencies

The zinc therapy raised a few eyebrows. The skeptics’ opinions were reinforced by a 2011 research on zinc and ADHD. It was claimed that zinc intake had no effect on hyperactive children with normal zinc levels.

In spite of the split opinions, zinc is an alternative for parents who want a more holistic approach to ADHD. However, children should be tested to see if they are zinc deficient. High levels of zinc cause digestive disorders, nausea, headaches and a persistent metallic taste in the mouth.

The family physician must be consulted before introducing any changes in the treatment and diet of a child diagnosed with ADHD.

Which are the Best Natural Zinc Sources?

Zinc has its highest concentration in skeletal muscles, bones, eyes, hair, skin, prostate, pancreas, liver and kidneys.

Our organism consumes zinc fast and there is no “warehouse” to stack supplies. Therefore, we need to include small amounts of this mineral in our daily meals. Doctors and nutritionist have established the following dietary allowance:

2 mg of zinc/day for babies between 0 and 6 months old
3 mg of zinc/day for babies and toddlers between 7 months and 3 years old
5 mg of zinc/day for children between 4 and 8 years old
8 mg of zinc/day for children between 9 and 13 years old

Teenagers and adults need higher intakes of zinc, which vary according to gender and special situations such as pregnancy and lactation in the case of women. The dietary allowances for adolescents are:

9 mg/day for young women aged 14 to 18
11 mg/day for young men aged 14 to 18

Zinc can be found in dietary supplements and more importantly, in food. Seafood, meat, vegetables, and fruit are the healthies zinc sources. The diet of a child or teenager with ADHD symptoms should include:

Oysters – a medium one has 5.3 mg of zinc
Crabs and lobsters – 3 ounces of crab have 6.5 mg of zinc while 3 ounces of lobster have 3.4 mg of zinc
Beef – 3 ounces provide 5.3 mg of zinc
Dark chicken meat – 3 ounces have 2.4 mg of zinc
Pumpkin and sesame seeds, peanuts, pistachio, almonds, cashew nuts
Chickpeas, beans, and lentils
Cheese – 1 ounce has 0.9 mg of zinc

Other natural sources of zinc include spinach, broccoli, parsley, peas, mushrooms, wheat germs, oatmeal, ginger, milk, yogurt, tofu and dark chocolate.

Vegetarians need to double their zinc intake because our organism absorbs more zinc from meat than from grains and vegetables.

There are lots of delicious recipes that combine foods rich in zinc. Children can be easily convinced to eat healthy foods if they are put in front of a tasty dish.

Zinc gives high hopes to parents whose children follow an ADHD treatment. However, doctors warn that investigations are only in an incipient stage. More research has to be done to identify the doses of zinc which can alleviate hyperactivity and lack of attention.

Have you tried zinc supplementation for your kids? Did you notice any differences? I will keep you updated on our progress!

09/08/2016 by Chava

Back to School Anxiety

The “Back to School Anxiety” Blues

If your kiddo is back at school, there is the chance that she might have some “back to school anxiety.” New teachers, a new classroom and a ton of kids running around in a place that she’s basically stuck in for many hours can give any kid anxiety, and all the more so if your child is prone to emotional issues.
Your kiddo might have physical symptoms related to her anxiety, including headaches or stomach upset. Or you could be dealing with defiance, tantrums and separation anxiety.

What You Can Do To Help

Try your best to keep your kiddo in school. Missing days of school isn’t going to help the situation; this will actually reinforce her anxiety.
Talk to your child as much as possible about her fears and feelings around going to school. Ask if there is something in particular that’s bothering her at school.
Mention the fun and positive aspects of going to school, like learning fun new things, playing with friends and meeting new kids.
Arrange a meeting with your child’s teacher so she knows about the challenges that your child is going through.
Encourage hobbies outside of school, they will build self confidence.
Don’t forget how brave your child is! The world can be a scary place for a kid. Praise her bravery!

Effective Natural Solutions

There are some really great and effective natural solutions to ease your kiddo’s anxiety. Here are a few you can try, all safe for little ones:

Bach Remedies

These remedies are made from flowers and can relieve minor cases of anxiety. They are solutions of brandy and water with very diluted amounts of different flowers that have healing properties. Rescue Remedy is their most popular product, meant to produce calm and relaxed feelings in acute situations. Other Bach Remedies effective for anxiety include:

Larch: Great for kiddos who need a boost of self-esteem.

Elm: Helps when life seems to be totally overwhelming.

White Chestnut: Helps to clear a cluttered mind.

Impatiens: Aids those who are in need of patience.

Sweet Chestnut: Helps when you need more mental endurance than you seem to have.

Cherry Plum: Effective in calming you down when you feel you are doing to totally lose it. Great for anger management, too.

Sleep

Make sure your child is sleeping enough – It’s really difficult to come out of the free-for-all of summer and then have to get on a strict schedule, but it’s worth it. Hopefully you were able to slowly get back on a school schedule regarding sleep, but if not, it’s never to late to start. Kids need a sufficient amount of uninterrupted sleep, including age-appropriate naps. When kids don’t have enough sleep, it can affect their daytime attentiveness and cognitive function over the long term.

[bctt tweet=”Kids need a sufficient amount of uninterrupted sleep, otherwise cognitive function may be compromised.” username=”ourkidsthrive”]

Aromatherapy

Essential oils are an important part of any parent’s arsenal. The best oils to combat anxiety include:

Bergamot Citrus bergamia
Bergamot, a delicate citrus botanical, uplifts, calms and rejuvenates. This oil reduces feelings of stress and soothes anxiety and sadness, and even reduces blood pressure and heart rate.

Clary Sage Salvia sclarea
Clary sage has relaxing, balancing, antidepressant and soothing properties. It can also help your children (and you!) get a good night of restful sleep. It’s especially effective during high-stress situations.

Lavender Lavendula angustifolia
The ever-popular lavender oil has been used for centuries and for many different purposes. This gentle oil eases tension and stress and promotes peaceful sleep, calm and relaxation.

DoTerra Serenity Calming Blend
DoTerra has created a proprietary blend of essential oils that work together to create a calming, relaxing, soothing atmosphere that releases tension and stress. The ingredients are Lavender Flower, Sweet Marjoram Leaf, Roman Chamomile Flower, Ylang Ylang Flower, Hawaiian Sandalwood essential oils and Vanilla Bean Absolute

Tea Time!

Catnip and chamomile are great herbs for kids!

Introduce your children to the ritual of tea time and brew them up. The whole act of sitting and siping on a cup of warm tea is relaxing.
Natural Calm, a bioavailability form of magnesium, can be life-altering. Magnesium is often a nutrient that most Westerners are highly deficient in and it also promotes calm and relaxing feelings.

Is back to school anxiety an issue in your home? What tips and tricks do you have to help your little one deal better with going back to school?