Book: The ADHD Explosion: Myths, Medication, Money, and Today's Push for Performance

 

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most controversial and misunderstood medical conditions today. With skyrocketing rates of diagnosis and medication treatment, it has generated a firestorm of controversy. Alarming questions have been raised about ADHD in recent years, including:

*Why are one in nine children and adolescents in the U.S. now diagnosed with ADHD, with projected rates still rising?

*Why are nearly 70% of those diagnosed with ADHD prescribed medication?

*What is causing the fast-rising diagnosis and medication of adults? And why are over a quarter of all college students using stimulants for academic performance?

*In some southern states, why are boys over 9 years old diagnosed at rates of almost one in three?

*Can we trust the stories we read and hear about ADHD, even in major media outlets?

*What is driving the current ADHD explosion--is it parents, doctors, schools, culture, the healthcare system, or Big Pharma? And will it end?

Stephen Hinshaw, a distinguished psychologist, and Richard Scheffler, an eminent health economist, uniquely blend clinical wisdom, current science, medical and school policy, and global trends to debunk myths and set the record straight in The ADHD Explosion. They describe the origins of ADHD and its huge costs to society; the science behind its causes as well as medication and behavioral treatment; and the variation in diagnosis and treatment across the U.S. Dealing directly with stimulants as "smart pills," they describe the epidemic of medicalization, arguing that accurate diagnosis and well-monitored care could ease the staggering economic burden linked to ADHD.

In innovative ways, they unravel the many poignant issues facing children, teachers, clinicians, and family members who contend with ADHD each day. The recommendations they make can improve the quality of life for those touched by ADHD and potentially improve the productivity and safety of all society.

Red Lentil Moroccan Stew ~Vegetarian~

When you eat a diet that is wheat, dairy, and soy free it’s easy to eat meat every night as the main course. This stew is hearty and full of flavor. I love the spices and how fragrant they are. The house smells so good when this is cooking. I add almond butter (and garnish with cashews) to add a little extra protein.

This stew refrigerates well and is easy to pack in a thermos for the kids school lunches.

Ingredients

2 Tbsp coconut oil

1 Tbsp curry powder

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp ground turmeric

1 tsp gram masala

1 diced large onion

4 minced cloves garlic

2 Tbsp minced fresh ginger

2 peeled and diced sweet potatoes

1 chopped bell pepper

1 1/2 cups rinsed red lentils

1 Tbsp almond butter

1 Tbsp honey

1/2 cup of raisins

5 cups water

Garnish

Chopped fresh cilantro

Chopped Cashews

 

Directions

Heat coconut oil in a large pot over medium / low heat. Cook all the spices until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Add onion and cook until slightly tender. Add garlic and ginger and cook for about another minute.

 Add sweet potatoes and bell pepper, stir to coat them with spices.

Add lentils and water. Bring to a soft boil and add almond butter, honey, and raisins. Mix well and reduce heat and simmer until lentils are tender about 20 minutes.

Season with salt and pepper. Top with cilantro and cashews before serving.

 

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Thai Broccoli Slaw Salad ~No Peanuts~

I love Thai food! I could eat it every day! I was messing around and came up with this Thai Broccoli recipe. Everyone in my family loved it but one. The youngest doesn't' really like Thai food so it didn't surprise me. Broccoli is a super food and I'm always trying to find away to include it in our diets.

Sorry I got so busy I didn't take picture as I made it...I realized it at the end so I took a picture of what I had left...LOL

We don't eat peanuts so I replaced them with almonds.

Ingredients

1 Bag of Broccoli Slaw Mix (I used a 10oz bag)

2 Carrots Shredded (I used the cheese grater)

4 Scallions chopped  (green onions)

2 Tbl almond butter

1 Tbl coconut aminos (I love this stuff it replaces soy!)

1Tbl Apple Cider vinegar

1Tbl fresh lime juice

2 tsp honey

1-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled (be sure to use fresh)

1 clove of garlic

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup melted coconut oil (used refined)

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

In a large bowl mix broccoli slaw, carrots, and scallions. Set aside. In a small, tall jar (I used a mason jar) place the almond butter, coconut aminos, vinegar, lime juice, honey, garlic, ginger, and salt. With a hand blender mix until smooth. Very slowly, while the mixer in going, drizzle the oil in. Blend well.

 

Pour dressing over salad and toss. Dash with red pepper flakes.  Refrigerate for 20 minutes before serving.

 

Soy Sauce Replacement ~ Raw Coconut Aminos~

 Coconut Aminos is a soy-free seasoning sauce made from coconut tree sap and sun-dried sea salt. It’s a great soy substitute.

This is why I love it. It’s organic. It’s gluten, dairy,& soy-free. It’s raw. It is lower in sodium than most soy sauces. It contains 17 naturally occurring amino acids. It contains vitamins B and C, and various minerals. 

I used Coconut Secret Raw Aminos. Unfortunately I can’t find it in my local health food store so I order it off of Vitacost or Amazon.

(Save $10 here at Vitacost)

The Father of ADHD, Dr. Eisenberg, Says It May Not Be A Real Disease

I wanted to share this article with you. I found it interesting and I’m not sure if it’s entirely true (because I didn’t hear with my own ears what Dr. Eisenberg said) but I can’t help but think that though ADHD may not be “real” the symptoms that our children are experiencing are very real. Personally, I think it has more to do with food allergies, sensitive’s, and gut and intestine issues. I think all these issues snowball to the point our children’s body’s just can’t cope and function right and in turn it spits-out these symptoms we see and call ADHD, Autism, Asperger’s, etc...

I know we have to” label” it something in order to treat what is going on in the body…so I’m not too upset about the ADHD label…what I am upset about is how ADHD is instantly associated and treated with drugs. That is a doctor’s first line of defense and I think we parents owe it to our children to try other things first…

In the article it states that, “chances are the child is actually just fine.” I don’t agree with this (at least not all the time. Each case is different). My son wasn’t just fine. Read about his story and see all the symptoms he had. We parents know our children best and we see them every day so I think we know if they are fine or not. Trust your gut.  Don’t get me wrong I have known children that have been diagnosed with ADHD and put on treatment and really they are just outgoing kids who are full of energy, they sleep at night, can focus, are smart, have no allergies, etc…however they just can’t sit in the class room or keep their mouth shut. These types of kids ARE not ADHD they are just sociable, exuberant children with a high-spirited disposition. I think it is important that we recognize the difference. And don’t always leave it up to the teacher and doctor to decide if your child it Enthusiastic or has Medical issue (like food allergies).

Here is part of the article I read and the link to the rest of it. Read through some of the responses, very interesting.

(NaturalNews) If you or someone you know has a child that has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), chances are the child is actually just fine. At least this is what the "father" of ADHD, Leon Eisenberg, would presumably say if he were still alive. On his death bed, this psychiatrist and autism pioneer admitted that ADHD is essentially a "fictitious disease," which means that millions of young children today are being needlessly prescribed severe mind-altering drugs that will set them up for a life of drug addiction and failure.

Gelatin ~ A Superfood~ Help with Leaky Gut & ADHD

I’ve been doing a lot of research on gelatin and its health benefits. If you’ve read my older posts you know that I feel there is a connection between ADHD and Leaky Gut…I don’t think it is the cause but I do believe it contributes to ADHD symptoms. Gelatin is very healthful and healing to the gut (stomach) because it lines it.

(Here's the company website)

When we changed our diets, Jello was no longer allowed. It’s chalked full of food colors, sugar, and chemicals. So over the years we haven’t eaten much gelatin. Not any more!

I buy Great Lakes Gelatin Collagen Joint Care (Unflavored) because it is made from grass fed beef and is kosher (grass fed is important because we don’t want to eat “meat” that has been eating the grains that we are trying to avoid. Also the gelatin you get in some stores you never know where it's from, pork, horse, beef or a combination so KNOW how your gelatin is made).  This stuff is amazing. I’ve been making jello salads, adding it to soup and as a thickner to gravies. We even made strawberry/ orange gummy bears!!!

So what is gelatin? Gelatin is flavorless and is derived from the processing of animal connective tissue and bones to extract collagen. It contains half of the 18 essential amino acids needed for survival. It has a ton of protein (6 grams per table spoon).  Gelatin can help heal food allergies and intolerances because it can heal the lining of your stomach and digestive tract.  Most food allergies are thought to come from a “leaky gut,” so if you heal the digestive tract toxins will no longer “leak” into your body (this is where I believe it helps with ADHD).

I found this quote on bone broth (gelatin is a major component of bone broth)

In later years, medical scientists have discovered that your health is in large part dependent on the health of your intestinal tract. Many of our modern diseases appear to be rooted in an unbalanced mix of microorganisms in your digestive system, courtesy of an inappropriate and unbalanced diet that is too high in sugars and too low in healthful fats and beneficial bacteria.

Bone broth is excellent for “healing and sealing” your gut, to use Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride term. Dr. Campbell’s GAPS Nutritional Protocol, described in her book, Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAPS), centers around the concept of “healing and sealing” your gut through your diet.

Broth or “stock” plays an important role as it’s easily digestible, helps heal the lining of your gut, and contains valuable nutrients. Abnormalities in your immune system are a common outcome of GAPS, and such immune abnormalities can then allow for the development of virtually any degenerative disease...
 

Wheat Free Banana Bread (Gluten Free / Paleo)

A friend sent me this recipe and I'm not sure where she got it. I just made it last night and it was yummy, easy, and fast...doesn't get better than that.

Ingredients

3 ripe bananas

3 organic eggs

1 tsp gluten free vanilla

1 Tbsp honey

1/4 cup melted coconut oil

2 cups of almond meal or flour (I used Trader Joe's Almond meal)

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

Generously grease a loaf pan with coconut oil. Preheat oven to 350.

With a hand mixer mix bananas, eggs, vanilla, honey, and coconut oil until well blended. In separate bowl mix almond flour, salt, and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix just until everything is blended. Don't over mix. Pour into the greased loaf pan. Bake for 50 min. Cool before serving.