21. February 2010 by Shirley.

I just finising reading “Get Motvated!” by Tamara Lowe (www.GetMotivatedBook.com ). A must-have book! Tamara donates 100% of the proceeds from this book and gives to children’s charities, including World Vision, Feed The Children, Operation Smile, and Toys for Tots.

On pg.205, Tamara talks about a study she came across on student motivation. It suggested that praising children for their intelligence has a negative impact on performance and leaves them poorly equipped to cope with failure. But when you commend a child for their effort, it makes them more eager to learn more. Claudia M. Mueller and Carol S.Dweck, two research psychologist at Columbia University, studied 412 fifth grader. After these children were given easy problems from an IQ test, some children were praised for being smart while others were praised for their effort. Next the children in the study were given a choice between a challenging test and an easier test. 60% of the children who had been praised for being smart chose the easy test, whereas 90% who had been praised for their effort picked the more difficult test. Later, when all the children took a difficult test, the intelligence-praised children became fustrated and lost interest. Dr.Dweck says, “When children are taught the value of concentrating, strategizing, and working hard when dealing with academic challenges, this encourages them to sustain their motivationa, perfomance, and self-esteem.”

Verrry interesting, especially since we have spent all of Charlie’s life praising his intelligence. As I have mentioned perviouly, the majority of ADD/ADHD have a high IQ, but yet their grades never reflect this. We were very excited about applying this new technique. After one day, we already notice a change in Charlie’s attitude.

Enthusiastically yours,

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7. February 2010 by Shirley.

Other terms for Trans fats are “partially hydrogenated”, “hydrogenated”, and “shortening.” If you pick up a product and you think it’s safe because it says “Trans fat are 0g,” that means it has less than 0.5g. US ruling says that it the fat content is less than 0.5g per serving, manufacturer cans list it as having 0 gram. It may seem like a small amount but seriously how many of us eat one serving size. Most kids will eat multipe servings exceeding this intake.

Trans fat are the result of adding hydrogen to vegetable oils. They are used to extend the shelf life of products and to make fried foods taste crispy.

Here are some of the Trans-fattiest foods in your supermarket:

1. Hostess Cherry Fruit Pies (8g per serving)

2. Pop Secret Kettle Corn (6g per serving)

3.Celeste Original Pizza (5g per serving)

4. Pillsbury Grands Flaky Supreme Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls (5g per serving)

5.Austin Cheese Crackers With Cheddar Jack Cheese (4.5g per serving)

*Your limit should be less than 2g a day.

Enthusiastically yours,

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23. January 2010 by Shirley.

Handful of organic spinach

Handful of grapes

3 slices of organic pineapples

pinch of pure stevia extract

Fill distilled water over Vitamix blades and toss everything in. Mix for about 30-45 seconds. Makes two servings. This is a very delicious green drink! It has become a common request among friends and family.

Spinach is super source of  antioxidants (folate, beta carotene, lutein, etc) and the king of digestion (heals almost all stomach lesions). Don’t cook spinach or you will lose the oxalic acid healing properties.

Red grapes are high in antioxidant quercetin and resveratrol. Always try to purchase grapes with seeds. You will want to remove the seeds before you juice. Grapes that do not have seeds have been GMO which is a major no no for ADD/ADHD.

Pineapples contain one of the strongest protein digestive enzyme called bromelain. They are also loaded with tons of vitamins and minerals. They strengthen your bones because they are rich in manganese and they can help heal a damaged digestive tract.

Enthusiastically yours,

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6. January 2010 by Shirley.

A common question I’m asked is what do we eat for breakfast. Sometimes Charlie will eat raw organic oatmeal in unsweetened soy milk ( sweetened with 1/4 tsp pure stevia extract) with 2-3 scrambled eggs cooked in coconut oil. We completely stay away from sugar and butter. Sometimes he’ll sprinkle raw Himalayan salt or his favorite spices over his eggs. Lately we have been enjoying Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Whole Grain Original cereal for breakfast. Because the grains are sprouted it is very gentle on your digestive system and full of beneficial enzymes. It’s an organic cereal that doesn’t contain preservatives or anything artificial for that matter. It has 0 sugar and this cereal uses six sprouted grains and legumes making it a complete protein. My husband uses 1 cup of Ezekiel in unsweetened soy milk. He adds 1 full dropper of Vanilla Alcohol Free Stevia. It’s crazy delicious and sooo good for you! I prefer to mix my cereal in either unsweetened rice milk or almond milk. One bottle of liquid vanilla stevia (2 oz) will cost you $14.99. After using this product you will never consider sugar or artificial sweeteners again. Sometimes my husband will mix either raw carob, raw chocolate, organic cinnamon, or fruit (bananas, strawberries, blueberries, etc) in his cereal. Personally I do not put anything in my cereal except the stevia. The great thing about protein is how full it keeps you all day. Which is great for ADD/ADHD since they tend to get hungry quicker than most kids. Not only does protein help with focus but it helps to stabilize their blood sugar too. You should also check out Ezekiel sprouted breads. We LOVE their sesame bread! We went to our local grocery store and talked them into ordering this bread for us. You can definitely find it at your local health food stores that have a refrigerator selection. We order our cereal in bulk on www.amazon.com (Free shipping). This is a pricey cereal but well worth it. Price ranging anywhere from $5.25- $6.69 per box. You can order vanilla stevia at www.NuNaturals.com (Free shipping for orders over $35) Enthusiastically yours, Shirley Highers www.addnaturalremedy.com When the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, it may be that they are taking better care of it.

Enthusiastically yours,

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13. December 2009 by Shirley.

Q: My son has been diagnosed with AD/HD about 5 years ago.  As he has gotten older everything they put him on had a side effect.  And we have had to put him on more meds just to counter react the effects of the other drugs.  He has become violent, depressed and has a sever anger problem.  We said enough no more! We want our son back.  Any advice?

Thanks,

DJ

A: Your son sounds like our son many years ago minus the anger issues. When a parent tells me their ADD/ADHD child can instantly become angry or aggressive with them or other children, I will often ask them if they have had their child’s cortisol level checked. Every time you are stressed, cortisol (stress hormone that’s released by your adrenal glands) is dumped into your body. Over a long period of time stress can destroy nerve connections and neurons affecting short-term memory. ADD/ADHD have a high level of frustration because of the constant stress they are put under. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, stress and depression are closely linked. Stress doesn’t just affect your mind psychologically but your body as well. In The Journal of Autisms and Developmental Disorders say that ADHD children have abnormal levels of cortisol. High amounts of cortisol can cause problems in metabolizing carbohydrates, protein, and fats affecting their ability to concentrate. And Yale researchers have confirmed that children with ADD have a problem in metabolizing glucose. In my opinion, if my child was constantly stressed, easily angered, or depressed I would so have his cortisol level tested by salivary hormone analysis done by a doctor or on-line.. There are many 100% herbal formulas that come in capsules or liquid form that you can take with juice that will help balance healthy cortisol hormone levels. Plus adaptogenic herbs such as ginseng, ginkgo boloba, or rhodiola (which is our favorite) will also naturally help with stress. Biometics AM/PM program will also help with balancing his cortisol levels too. You will need to contract Rae Ann if you any questions about prices or programs for Biometics hayneskr@cox.net. She has had adrenal and cortisol issues that she currently balances with natural remedies and vitamin supplements. And her son has ADD and is med free.

Second, try to keep in mind that a child’s liver, especially when their organs have not properly developed, is not meant to filter an addictive control substance long term. And I do not care if a doctor says differently! I had my son on meds for 2 1/2 yrs. I KNOW personally most of the side effects that are associated with ADHD meds. The longer a child stays on those meds, the worst the side effects become and more meds are called in to neutralize side effects from the previous medications. And before long, you have a young child on 3-5 different meds. Plus these meds throw the body and brain chemistry totally off balance!!! I would go through the 6 steps I listed on my Natural Remedies page. You don’t have to do them all at once or in the same order. It is there as a guide to give you a starting point. The goal is to remove the toxin burden and maximize their nutrient intake (such as high quality vitamin supplements). It will take some time to get your child’s chemistry back in check. Do not give up! I’m here as living proof that you CAN manage ADHD without medication….but it will take commitment and consistency on your part.

P.S Aggresive behavior is a warning sign that indicates low serotonin production in the brain.

Enthusiastically yours,

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29. November 2009 by Shirley.

Everyone has been calling me asking me what I’m going to make for Thanksgiving. This will the first Thanksgiving where I will actually be doing the cooking. Normally we get in the car and drive to our relatives to eat. We stuff our faces and move on to the next house. Finally around 5pm we make our way back home rubbing our bloated bellies. We have always been so proud of those moments. No cooking or cleaning. Thanksgiving has always been our cheat day. But since last June and especially August, I have moved our family toward more organic raw living meals. Currently we eat 95% organic, 75% raw, and 25% tofu or chicken. So here we are; Turkey day and everyone wants to know including myself what I’m going to make that will be healthy.

So I decided to go with a chicken instead of a turkey. Turkey is always so dry. Plus no one ever wants the left over because it’s so dry. The night before I marinated my cage free, grass fed, no antibiotic and steroid chicken in the our favorite spices. Next morning I smoked it for 5hrs @ 225.

I selected broccoli as one of our sides dishes due to it’s strong disease fight factors and abundant antioxidants. I made sure I prepared a raw dish. In a bowl, I cut up(bite size) 2 broccoli heads. I diced up 1/2 organic red onion and and 2 celery stalks. For the sauce, I used 1/2 cup Veganise, added 1/4 tsp pure stevia extract, 1/4 tsp sea salt, and 2 tbsp organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar. I poured the mixture onto my veggies and sprinkled in some hunza raisins.

For my second side dish I selected sweet potatoes because it’s one of the BEST choice for complex carbohydrates! It helps with your metabolism, has anti-inflammatory properties, it ties with carrots when it comes to having the highest amount of beta-carotene, it’s rich in potassium, vit A, & vit C, and contains a large amount of fiber. I sliced up 4 large organic sweet potatoes and then layered them in a casserole dish. I poured 1/4 cup of organic cold pressed coconut oil over the sweet potatoes and sprinkled some sea salt and cinnamon. I covered with foil and baked @ 400 F for 30 mins. In my smaller food processer I poured 1/2 cup of organic bran & flakes cereal with a handful of spouted walnuts. I sprinkled 1/4 tsp pure stevia extract and grounded everything together. After I removed the sweet potatoes from the oven, I poured the grounded cereal/walnut over the sweet potatoes and then placed a layer of walnuts on top of the cereal. I sprinkled cinnamon & pumpkin pie seasoning and some salt over everything. I left it uncovered and stuck it back in the oven for another 15 mins. Once out of the oven, I sprinkled raw unsweetened chocolate (cacao) over walnuts. I also took 1 tbsp of organic raw agave or Grade B maple syrup and strategically placed small drops all over the top of the casserole. I did half the casserole in maple (1/2 tbsp) and half in agave (1/2 tbsp) to see what everyone liked the best.

For dessert I made a raw vegan sprouted almond cheesecake. I was suppose to use cashews but they’re very fatty. Almonds are easily digested and so very good for you especially when you sprout them. Nutritional level jumps up about 3-4 times higher. I wanted to keep Thanksgiving lite so everyone didn’t feel heavy afterwards wanting to take a nap. The goal was to select foods that didn’t require a lot of energy to break down and does not stick to the colon walls.

I was just praying that everything turned out okay that day. Well it turned out better than okay. The meal was such a success that we didn’t even have left over’s for dinner. We could not stop eating. The chicken was soooo juicy and spicy! The sweet potatoes tasted more like dessert because the cereal made it crunchy. Everything was so yummy! And no bloated bellies either!

Enthusiastically yours,

Posted in ADD/ADHD Organic Recipes, Proper Nutrition for ADD/ADHD | 1 Comment »

1. November 2009 by Shirley.

Q: You mention in your blogs that ADHD are highly deficient in their minerals (zinc, calcium, and magnesium). Why are they so deficient? You also mention that your son started off with 2 serving of Cal/Mag twice a day. Does he not take that amount anymore? If not, when did you know to cut back his serving size?

Carol

A: ADHD are deficient in their minerals because of their inability to properly digest food and absorb nutrients. Poor diet is also a factor. We worked up to 2 servings (2 scoops) of Cal/Mag a day. Lucky for us, it only took a week. We gave Charlie 1 serving (1 scoop) after breakfast to keep him calm during school. But by the time the got home from school he had already burned off his B vitamins and cal/mag. So we would have to give him a small serving after school. Depending on how hyped up he was, we would give him either 1/4 to 1/2 scoop. When it was time for him to go to bed, I’d give him another 1/2 scoop. It really depends on what’s best for them. And I found that this is what worked best for Charlie. Biometics Cal/Mag is PERFECT for ADD/ADHD. This product is a calcium citrate form which absorbs 2.5 times faster than calcium carbonate. One scoop not only has 1000mg of calcium and 300mg of magnesium but it also contains zinc (15mg), vitamin C (60mg), vitamin A (beta carotene 2000IU), and vitamin D (200 IU). Having this combination of vitamins and minerals not only ensures that you absorb all the calcium but that that your body holds on to it. Without vitamin D or magnesium, calcium would just pass right through your body. It be more like a “drive by.”

Be careful when you start out on this product. The citrate form can make your stomach bubbly if you do not have the proper amount of good bacteria in your gut. If you do not ease into a full serving, you may end up with diarrhea. So always start out SLOWLY and on a FULL stomach. The goal was to keep Charlie on 2 servings of cal/mag a day until his hyperactivity seized. Although Cal/Mag offered pleasing results, it did not stop him from being fidgety. However, once he finished his heavy metal cleanse, we found that we were able to drop him down 1 serving (1 scoop) size of cal/mag (before bed).

Enthusiastically yours,

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17. October 2009 by Shirley.

Through the years Charlie has tried many different types of supplements. We’re always trying new things. Early this year we added to his vitamin regimen an herbal stress adaptogen called rhodiola. It’s considered to be one of the most resilient of all the known adaptogens. Charlie saw immediate results and LOVES this product! Rhodiola enhances concentration by stimulating neurotransmitter production. It also increases your endurance, puts you in a better mood, supports your immune system, and many many more benefits. We have a rule in this house that whenever we open the last bottle of any supplements, it is written on a list so I can re-order more. I have yet to get Charlie to comply with this rule until Rhodiola came along. Not only does he write it down on our re-order list when he opens the last bottle but he writes me a note and puts it on my computer. And finally he will ask me numerous times, “Did you get my note? B/c their are only 30 caps in each bottle. If you don’t order today I’ll run out!” Isn’t that crazy??? He loves this stuff! He says it makes his thinking sharper, his reflexes quicker, and it helps him take notes faster.

There is just one slight problem. Because it’s an herb, you need to cycle off of it. He takes it 5 days on (Mon-Fri) and 2 days off (Sat & Sun). Unfortunately in 2 months the power of rhodiola starts to wear off. I could increase his dosage but I’m comfortable with him at 200mg a day. I do not want to go higher. If I did that then eventually his body would get accustomed to that and we would need a higher dosage and so on. So after 2 months we take 1 month off. Right now we are in off month with Rhodiola. And Charlie is bugging the crap out of me. Since he started this new school (Collegiate High School on our college campus- he’ll graduate with his associate degree along with his high school diploma), he keeps telling me how he doesn’t think it’s a good idea to take this month off since his classes this year are extremely hard. I mean the drama that is coming from this child, I tell you! I told him we are doing our EEG Biofeedback treatments (brain mapping), so I really need to see how his treatments are truly affecting him minus the rhodiola. Plus we found what works for best for Charlie when taking this herb. I have a bottle in our room that my husband and I take on stressful or hectic days. Charlie still continues to try to get me to come off our stash! I was going to keep him off this product until we were done with our EEG treatments (5-6 months) but Charlie isn’t having any of this! So I guess after this month is over, I will start him back on this herb. 

Here is the product we use:

100mg  http://www.vitacost.com/New-Chapter-Rhodiola-Force-100 

300mg http://www.vitacost.com/New-Chapter-Rhodiola-force-300-mg 300mg are for special occasions such as finals.

P.S Remember this stuff is great but based off my personal experience and testimonies of family and friends, it will lose it’s effectiveness. How long? I guess it really depends on you. We didn’t start taking Rhodiola to help with Charlie’s focus or concentration. We have mastered those obstacles years ago. Another mom from my website brought this product to my attention after recieving wonderful results from her son. I thought we’d try it just to see what would happen. Little did we know this would become Charlie’s favorite supplement!

 Enthusiastically yours,

Posted in Charlie's Personal Experiences, Benefit of Different Types of Herbs for ADD/ADHD | No Comments »

4. October 2009 by Shirley.

According to the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Researchers, organic produce DO NOT have a higher nutritional content. This team of researchers have now completed the most extensive systematic review of the available published literature on nutrient content of organic food ever conducted. Over 50,000 papers were searched, and a total of 162 relevant articles were identified that were published over a fifty-year period up to 29 February 2008 and compared the nutrient content of organically and conventionally produced foodstuffs.The review focused on nutritional content and did not include a review of the content of contaminants or chemical residues in foods from different agricultural production regimens. The researchers found organically and conventionally produced foods to be comparable in their nutrient content. For 10 out of the 13 nutrient categories analyzed, there were no significant differences between production methods in nutrient content.

So, since this is now a proven fact, “Do I still recommend that ADD/ADHD have a strict organic diet and continue to pull the crap from their diet such as dairy, MSG, hydrogenated oils, etc??” My answer is, ABSOLUTELY!!  As I mentioned in previous blogs: Eating organic foods isn’t just about getting more minerals and vitamins into your diet but to bypass poisonous chemicals that are used to grow produce and livestock. Heck why do you think we still put our son on high quality liquid supplements to aid with this ADHD? I never once for a moment that he was going to get everything he needed just from the food the consumed especially since ADHD are highly deficient in vitamins and minerals already. He would have to eat like 8-10 serving sizes of various raw vegetables daily. Please understand that eating organic foods is crucial for ADD/ADHD because they are FREE of pesticides, herbicides, harmful fertilizers, insecticides, or any other poisons for that matter. PLUS they are not GMO or genetically engineered or modified. Organic meats or livestock’s are FREE of antibiotics, steroids, and growth hormones. Since omega-3 originates in the green leaves of plants, grass, and algae; organic grass feed livestock’s will be higher in omega-3 and CLA (helps fend off cancer and burns body fat). Ask yourself, “What is ADD/ADHD?” It’s a neurological disorder. Pesticides, fertilizers, hydrogenated oils, etc. are all neurotoxins. This means they are destroying neurotransmitters and keeping the nervous system from developing properly. Do you really think it’s a good idea for a child who doesn’t have a developed immune system diagnosed with ADD/ADHD that they should eat chemical laden foods that’s only going to make their existing problems worst? Personally I think EVERYONE should eat organic not just ADD/ADHD! When you purchase organic products this is the only way to ensure that their are NO artificial sweeteners, dyes, flavors, MSG, trans fat, or other preservatives.

Enthusiastically yours,

Shirley Highers

www.addnaturalremedy.com 

When the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, it may be that they are taking better care of it.

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5. September 2009 by Shirley.

Okay, I have totally slacked off on theses blogs…..but for good reasons. I promise I will catch up!!!!! Here are my excuses:

1. Started a Wheatgrass garden.

2. Converted our diet to raw and sprouted meals.

3. Started a brain treatment with a weekly EEG machine after our entire family got brain mapped. Which BTW was way cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4. Brittney my husbands daughter from his first marriage recently moved in with us (17yrs old), which by the way is working out wonderful!!!!

5. Charlie also has discoid lupus. He had a HORRIBLE out break this summer, which we hose down immediately with of course….natural remedies.

6. Charlie will be modifying my website. He wants to web design. So we have been spending time trying to figure out how to make the site more fun and educational.

I will share everything in my blogs but right now getting back in the groove of school and everything is throwing me off a little.

Enthusiastically yours,

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