by Dr. Phyllis Books, DC
Allergies are not always a temporary problem that occurs for a few weeks every year; for some, being allergic means their entire system is thrown off and needs to be reset. Meet George, a seven-year-old whose allergies caused much more than a minor inconvenience.
In addition to a diagnosis of dyslexia, George had trouble writing (dysgraphia) and was on medication for ADHD. Without Ritalin, his handwriting was illegible: letters were different sizes and appeared at random places on the page. Some letters were dark and bold while some were light, as if whispered onto the page.
We have a joke in our office that children are often accompanied by the disruptive Cat in the Hat, and George was no exception. He could shuffle furniture, yank out electrical cords, and toss magazines around faster than we could keep up. If we had chandeliers, he would have been swinging from them.
What was really going on with George? Was he truly ADHD as well as dyslexic? Or was this, as we so often see, a case of food allergies that mimicked ADHD? George’s parents, like many of my clients, had no training in which foods they should feed George. Actually, no one had ever looked at food allergies as a missing puzzle piece in George’s situation—and why would they? The food allergy link to ADHD and dyslexia is not well known.
So what happened with our young wild child? I asked his mother to keep a food diary to notice if any particular foods caused emotional or physical reactions. Cheese and ice cream seemed to make him irritable within an hour, even though he loved both. Wheat caused anger and aggression, and bananas made him feel sad. Often the very foods we love and crave are those that cause the most difficulty.
Did George have to eliminate these foods forever? Happily, no. Once we desensitized his body to the various foods, he was able to eat them again with no ill effects. (He did avoid them for a short time during treatment.)
Do you know what else happened? He was no longer hyperactive, which meant peaceful dinnertimes, and he was delightful in public. His parents weaned him off his medications, and his teachers said his handwriting was better than it was when he was on Ritalin.
What does this mean for your child?
It’s always a good idea to have your child tested for allergies for your information, if nothing else. Even if your child is not allergic, a small change in the diet may do wonders for his or her attitude, attention span, and ability to learn—and if your child is overweight, he or she might lose a few pounds. Much of the food we eat now is what I call “nutritionally bankrupt”—it’s been processed so much that it lacks nutrients.
There are three main culprits in food allergies: wheat, dairy, and sugar. If you can reduce your child’s exposure to these foods, even if he or she is not allergic, it’s one of the best things you can do for your family’s health. It’s not easy to do, but the improvement in how you and your children look and feel will astound you.
Wheat is a common allergen, and you can find many substitutes (gluten-free foods) at any supermarket or health-food store. Gluten-free grains include quinoa, millet, and chickpeas. If you bake, gluten-free flour is available. Dairy causes excess mucus, and you’ll see a dramatic decrease in ear infections and runny noses when you reduce or eliminate it. Try rice milk, almond milk, or coconut milk.
Now for the biggie: sugar. Processed foods are loaded with it, so eating real foods as close to their natural state as possible will reduce sugar intake. Drinking water with a squirt of lemon or lime juice (instead of fruit juice or soda pop) will also eliminate a significant amount of sugar.
If your child has dyslexia, ADHD, or other learning issues, he or she will not significantly improve without optimal nutrition. It’s a process, and well worth the effort for a happy child who learns with ease and has the confidence to soar.
Dr. Phyllis Books, DC, is a teacher, doctor, grandmother, and developer of Books Neural Therapy™, a natural, non-drug intervention for children with dyslexia and other learning and behavior issues. Her clients call her a combination of a neurosurgeon, a psychiatrist, and Mother Teresa. Mostly, she loves sharing what she’s learned about kids, how they learn, and how they can feel good about themselves and be successful. Support@ReversingDyslexia.com (512) 560-7888, drphyllisbooks.com and reversingdyslexia.com.
Allergies are not always a temporary problem that occurs for a few weeks every year; for some, being allergic means their entire system is thrown off and needs to be reset. Meet George, a seven-year-old whose allergies caused much more than a minor inconvenience.
In addition to a diagnosis of dyslexia, George had trouble writing (dysgraphia) and was on medication for ADHD. Without Ritalin, his handwriting was illegible: letters were different sizes and appeared at random places on the page. Some letters were dark and bold while some were light, as if whispered onto the page.
We have a joke in our office that children are often accompanied by the disruptive Cat in the Hat, and George was no exception. He could shuffle furniture, yank out electrical cords, and toss magazines around faster than we could keep up. If we had chandeliers, he would have been swinging from them.
What was really going on with George? Was he truly ADHD as well as dyslexic? Or was this, as we so often see, a case of food allergies that mimicked ADHD? George’s parents, like many of my clients, had no training in which foods they should feed George. Actually, no one had ever looked at food allergies as a missing puzzle piece in George’s situation—and why would they? The food allergy link to ADHD and dyslexia is not well known.
So what happened with our young wild child? I asked his mother to keep a food diary to notice if any particular foods caused emotional or physical reactions. Cheese and ice cream seemed to make him irritable within an hour, even though he loved both. Wheat caused anger and aggression, and bananas made him feel sad. Often the very foods we love and crave are those that cause the most difficulty.
Did George have to eliminate these foods forever? Happily, no. Once we desensitized his body to the various foods, he was able to eat them again with no ill effects. (He did avoid them for a short time during treatment.)
Do you know what else happened? He was no longer hyperactive, which meant peaceful dinnertimes, and he was delightful in public. His parents weaned him off his medications, and his teachers said his handwriting was better than it was when he was on Ritalin.
What does this mean for your child?
It’s always a good idea to have your child tested for allergies for your information, if nothing else. Even if your child is not allergic, a small change in the diet may do wonders for his or her attitude, attention span, and ability to learn—and if your child is overweight, he or she might lose a few pounds. Much of the food we eat now is what I call “nutritionally bankrupt”—it’s been processed so much that it lacks nutrients.
There are three main culprits in food allergies: wheat, dairy, and sugar. If you can reduce your child’s exposure to these foods, even if he or she is not allergic, it’s one of the best things you can do for your family’s health. It’s not easy to do, but the improvement in how you and your children look and feel will astound you.
Wheat is a common allergen, and you can find many substitutes (gluten-free foods) at any supermarket or health-food store. Gluten-free grains include quinoa, millet, and chickpeas. If you bake, gluten-free flour is available. Dairy causes excess mucus, and you’ll see a dramatic decrease in ear infections and runny noses when you reduce or eliminate it. Try rice milk, almond milk, or coconut milk.
Now for the biggie: sugar. Processed foods are loaded with it, so eating real foods as close to their natural state as possible will reduce sugar intake. Drinking water with a squirt of lemon or lime juice (instead of fruit juice or soda pop) will also eliminate a significant amount of sugar.
If your child has dyslexia, ADHD, or other learning issues, he or she will not significantly improve without optimal nutrition. It’s a process, and well worth the effort for a happy child who learns with ease and has the confidence to soar.
Dr. Phyllis Books, DC, is a teacher, doctor, grandmother, and developer of Books Neural Therapy™, a natural, non-drug intervention for children with dyslexia and other learning and behavior issues. Her clients call her a combination of a neurosurgeon, a psychiatrist, and Mother Teresa. Mostly, she loves sharing what she’s learned about kids, how they learn, and how they can feel good about themselves and be successful. Support@ReversingDyslexia.com (512) 560-7888, drphyllisbooks.com and reversingdyslexia.com.
