6. April 2009 by Shirley.

We went ahead and started Charlie back on Biometics yesterday. I was going to wait to start him back this Monday morning but my husband and I decided he didn’t need to go any longer without them. Everything on his cleanse went smooth last week. No detox and he still had plenty of energy. Charlie said he didn’t even notice a difference being off of his Biometics AM drink after his first day last Sunday. However, last Tuesday we noticed that mult-tasking for Charlie was becoming more difficult than usual. We never mention any of this to him because we didn’t want to influence him with ”The power of persuasion.” Instead Chuck and I just logged down his results in our journal. Thursday I would tell Charlie to take something out to the trash, etc… I would have to tell him like 20 times to his face. Finally I started yelling at him. He would say, “Okay, all you had to do is just tell me!” So I repeated myself……again to him. About an hour later I come back into the kitchen and the trash is still fricking sitting there. Now I’m like livid! I scream for Charlie to come into the kitchen. He looks at the trash and he’s like I could of swore I took that out. Starting form Thursday to Saturday he was like this. On Saturday, he was a bit irritable. Not bad but his attitude was lazy and a bit whiny. So Sunday morning my husband and I were like forget starting him back on the supplements Monday, he starts back on them today! Charlie has been on Biometics for almost 3 years. This is the first time we have ever taken him off his AM drink. Wow just imagine had we not given him his Cal/Mag during spring week, he would have been way too hyper to tolerate. This morning I asked Charlie if he noticed any difference being off of his AM drink last week and now being back on it and you know what he says to me??? He says, “Not really. I had plenty of energy during the week and I still felt good too.” I said well what about your focus? He said, “I think I felt a little bit more focus yesterday and today.” I beg to differ! I wanted to scream but instead I calmly pointed out to him all the tasks I had asked him a million times to do all week. Finally he was like, “Yeah come to think about it, it wasn’t like I had problems focusing, I just thought I had done things when I didn’t.” I said like, “Forgetting to turn off the stove, or putting up the groceries, or forgetting your skim board at the beach…twice?????” He thinks because he still felt an overall well being last week that it didn’t affect his focus or memory in any way. I guess he relates his lack of focus to feeling bad and not being healthy like he felt as the beginning of this journey before we started down the natural remedy path.

P.S Can’t say I feel any different from being on ”Cell Food” this week. I probably will not re-order this product again. I have been taking this product for a week now so I can’t really give a full honest testimony. Easy product to take and is pretty much tasteless.  I’m not saying it’s not beneficial but I feel like I accomplish the same results with Wheat grass….which BTW, I miss not being on wheat grass this week! Perhaps this is a product that we could take with us on vacation because unlike wheat grass, it can be taken with or without food, it’s easy to pack, and it’s not messy to mix up daily.

Enthusiastically yours,

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1. March 2009 by Shirley.

This is a comment that was sent to me and I’m so excited to post this on my blog:

I was diagnosed with A.D.D. (A.D.H.D) when I was 6 in 1984. About a decade ago I tried a self directed elimination diet after I had returned from living in Europe: where my symptoms of hyperactivity had completely disappeared. It took me 5 years, but I finally realized that I was allergic to CORN, including HFCS, corn syrup and all the other 1,200 derivatives of corn that are in 80% of our US foods. This allergy triggered my A.D.H.D. I felt good in Europe (and since in Canada) because they use wheat not corn in most their traditional foods. It took me so long to figure this out in the US, because in the ingredient lists of most products corn can be called, gluten, dextrose, and is used to make food coloring and food additives…etc.. etc..

The other interesting parallel that I discovered is that after the US initiated its trade embargo with Cuba in the mid-70s our supply of cheap cane sugar was cut-off and manufacturers had to find another source of sweetener. It was at this point that the corn suppliers stepped in and corn has been a major additive of our foods since. This addition of corn to our foods in non-traditional ways parallels exactly the increase in diagnosis of disruptive children with A.D.H.D. in the late 70s and early 80s. So my advice to people with A.D.H.D, take a week off corn (and A.D.H.D. medications)… Make your own food from scratch and just see if this makes a difference in your life. I can feel the difference with in 2 or 3 days.

Good references for learning about corn in US food are the book “The Omnivores Dilemma” and the new documentary “King Corn”.

Jason

I’m so glad Jason shared his personal experience and knowledge with me! It pains me to see children as young as 3 years old being put on ADD/ADHD medication when most of these children could have taken a $150 Food Allergy Test or do a Heavy Metal cleanse. I feel like a broken record when I mention in most of my blogs or e-mails that if you are a parent of a child that may have ADD/ADHD please go take:

1. Heavy Metal Test

2. Neurotransmitter Test

3. Fatty Acid Test

4. Food Allergy Test

5. Intracellular Test (optional)

These are the FIRST steps I would have taken had I known about these tests. Do you think ADD/ADHD medication cure the root of your problem? By taking these tests you begin to indentify the core of the problem versus treating the symptoms. As you can see Jason testimony is a great example of how food allergies contribute to hyperactivity. Like Jason we did an elimination diet too because like I said we were unaware of this test. This is a method of removing specific foods or chemicals from your diet for a specific period of time before reintroducing them and noting the effects in a journal or diary. Charlie’s kryptonite are dairy and especially artifical chemicals (MSG, and artificial colors, dyes, and preservatives). Not one single family practitioner, pediatrician, or psychiatrist mention this option to us. Instead they were all adamant that ADD/ADHD medication was the only option that would work. These test would have shaved off a year of trail and error for us.

Here’s a great example of finding the “Root” of the problem: My husband’s client was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome about 10 years ago. Her health was getting worse and worse as time went on. I had mention many times go get a Food Allergy Test done. But she was someone that believed whatever her doctor told her to do and an food allergy test sounded silly to him. But one day she was at the Health Store and they had a licensed pharmacist on staff that had a Bio-Feedback machine. She took this as a sign and decided to take this test. She sat for 1 hr with her hands on these hand-shaped things that are attached to the computer. It tells you what your levels are and your sensitivities to food. Mold and corn were her kryptonite. So she went home and pulled ANYTHING corn out of her diet. And then she realized what I had been telling her for months, HFCS is in everything. Like Jason within 3 days of eliminating corn from her diet, her fatigue was nearly gone.

Food/brain allergies have different affects on different individuals. Some individual can become hyperactive or depressed. Jason mention that ”corn can be used for food coloring and food additives.” Great point and another reason why you must also pull the artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives from your diet. Another major point that stood out about my husband’s client Bio-feed back results, was her sensitivity to mold as well. Rae Ann (Biometics Distributor) had mention to me about a book called “The Fungal Link by Doug Kaufman.” http://www.know-the-cause.com/Shows/tabid/54/Default.aspx Kaugman talks about how corn and peanuts get moldy because of the way they are grown and stored. So when someone has a sensitivity to corn products, they are also having problems with the mold in the corn too. Food allergies will lead to yeast overgrowth and constant inflammation. This overgrowth will develop into fungus and mold causing chaos in your brain and body chemistry. This is a must read book!!!

Enthusiastically yours,

Posted in ADD/ADHD Brain Chemistry, Questions From My ADD/ADHD Website, Proper Nutrition for ADD/ADHD | No Comments »

17. December 2008 by Shirley.

Charlie had a basketball game Monday night. He didn’t get home until 8:30 that evening. He had packed enough food for dinner prior his game but when he got home he was still hungry. He fixed a huge plate of pasta, chicken, and then ate a huge chicken wrap afterwards. I wanted to stop him and say, “Charlie you can not eat a big meal before bed because it’s not going to properly digest.” But I decided against this because it would have only made him want to eat even more. The next day when I picked Charlie up from his bus stop, he was sooo fricking cranky. We fought all the way home. At one point I thought I was going to stop my car and throw him out. When we got home we separated and didn’t talk for about 30 mins, then Charlie comes into the kitchen and apologized for being a butt head. He says, “Mom, I don’t know what’s with me today. I’ve been falling asleep in two of my classes and everyone is getting on my nerves. I thought I slept pretty good last night but I feel drained and also I’m in a bad mood.” I asked Charlie, “But did you hit your deep REM sleep last night?” He looked at me funny and said, “No…(sign)… I didn’t….as a matter of fact, I toss and turned all night. I woke up and my sheets were all messy so I know I was tossing all night in my bed. Plus it was really hard to get up this morning too.” I said, ”Charlie had you not had such a large meal 30 mins before bed last night you might have slept better. Because you went to bed on a full stomach your food wasn’t able to fully digest. Your body couldn’t relax and slow down your metabolism to reach deep REM sleep because it was too busy trying to break down your meal. And what neurotransmitter is produced during your deep REM?” You could see the light bulb go off in his head as he realized why he was so cranky today. He goes, “Ohhh….That’s when serotonin is produced, your mood neurotransmitter.” I went to our cabinet and gave him 2 NeuBe Calm capsules which have 5HTP (makes serotonin). Charlie learned a great lesson today. I’m actually glad I let him eat that big meal before bed last night. In the past this was just information that he blocked out while I was preaching to him about his ADHD. He knew the importance of deep REM sleep but now he actually understands why he must reach deep REM sleep every night.

FYI: Taking melatonin liquid supplement before bed will also help you reach deep REM sleep.

Enthusiastically yours,

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1. December 2008 by Shirley.

We’ve always been big fans of traditional Chinese medicine. The one thing I took away from that experience was tongue diagnosis. Did you know that your tongue is literally a blue print of all of your organs? We do not do Chinese herbs anymore but we still do acupuncture. Chinese herbs and acupuncture is about the “chi” or “Qi” or basically the flow of energy and the balance of your body’s proper temperature that are used to heal your body. Instead of giving your body drugs, Chinese medicine tries to stimulate your body so it will regain the power to produce what is lacking or at least get it back on track. Anyway, we loved going down this holistic path but like I mention in my other Blog it wasn’t enough to get Charlie off is ADD/ADHD medication. However, my husband and I achieved incredible health results while we were participating with Charlie for this particular natural remedy. Anyway, I have become obsessed with diagnosing our tongues. If you go to this website and answer the questions it will give you an idea of tongue diagnose: http://beyondwellbeing.com/herbs/tongue-diagnosis.shtml This site is one of the few sites I have found on the web today that simply explains tongue diagnosis and even has pictures so you will be able to compare your tongue. It’s not quite as detail as my books but it’ll give you a general idea. Our tongues never lie unless you eat colored candy or brush your tongue. A healthy tongue (which means healthy body) NEVER needs to be scraped or brushed in the morning. So check it out. I have like 2 books on tongue diagnose. I’m no master but once you have some kind of an idea for tongue diagnosis, you will always use it for guidance on your journey of natural remedies with ADD/ADHD. It’s mind blowing what an expert in Tongue Diagnosis will be able to tell you just from looking at your tongue. AMAZING, I tell you!!! I would go to my appointments with Charlie and after seconds of looking at my tongue, my therapist would be like, “Your cycle came early this month, huh?” or “Lay off the bad food, your liver is stagnate.” or “You’ve been getting headaches, huh?” or “Your candida is out of control.” The first time my husband went in for his appointment, he was told that he had poor circulation and kidneys. I was just so amazed by him. BUT you must make sure you find an expert that is licensed in this field. Trust me, it does make a difference.

Enthusiastically yours,

Posted in Acupuncture/Tongue Diagnosis, ADD/ADHD Brain Chemistry, Proper Nutrition for ADD/ADHD | No Comments »

19. November 2008 by Shirley.

Acupuncture is very beneficial for ADD/ADHD because it helps your brain naturally release it’s feel good neurotransmitters. Charlie does acupuncture probably once every 2 months. He gets the needles put all over his head. He thinks it cool and loves it. He says it “Chills him out.” Acupuncture also restores the natural flow of blood and energy to the brain. Unfortunately acupuncture was not enough to get Charlie off his ADHD medication a few years ago but when it is used along with natural remedies it does help balance ADD/ADHD’s brain chemistry even quicker. Plus this is a natural way of raising serotonin levels and releasing dopamine. And since many ADHD are anxious due to their high energy this is perfect to help take down the tempo because the endorphins release their anxiety and helps them generate deep relaxation.

Enthusiastically yours,

Posted in Acupuncture/Tongue Diagnosis, Charlie's Personal Experiences, ADD/ADHD Brain Chemistry | No Comments »

13. November 2008 by Shirley.

Okay for me, Cal/Mag is one of the best products on the Biometics product line for ADD/ADHD. Calcium is one of the MOST IMPORTANT minerals for your body and 80% of Americas are deficient in both Calcium and Magnesium (which is where most health problems stem from) especially ADD/ADHD. You must keep in mind that ADHD are HIGHLY deficient in Cal/Mag and needs almost 2 servings daily until their body has regain balance. Plus when magnesium (known as the anti-stress mineral) is combined with calcium, it works as a natural tranquilizer. Without magnesium you would not be able to hold the calcium in your body no matter how much your daily calcium intake.

So let’s go over the benefits of Magnesium and Calcium and how it affects ADD/ADHD:

Magnesium helps fight depression, boost energy, helps burn fat, prevents heart attacks, maintains good cholesterol levels, aid indigestion, combats PMS symptoms,  helps prevent premature labor, and keeps teeth strong and healthy. 

Calcium’s Major 3 Roles:

1. Stored in the bones.This is very important for ages of children from 9-19yrs (who need 1300mg of calcium), lactating mothers (1500mg), and anyone over 50yrs (1300-1500mg)

2. It is responsible for all muscle contractions in your body including your heart! This product is great for Restless leg Syndrome, menstrual cycle, migraines, athletes, and has a relaxing and calming effect.

3. It circulates in your blood stream and does MANY benefits:   a. Helps your Metabolism (dictates how much weight your body stores or burns off)  b. Regulates your hormones (especially Menopause!)

  c. Helps with the elasticity of your arteries (Blood Pressure)

  d. Aids with digestion enzyme activity (helps your body break down food-important for ADHD)

  e. Helps your body absorb B12 properly (important for ADD/ADHD)

  f. Helps with neurotransmitter release (which is important for ADD/ADHD and also helps calm ADHD with their hyperactivity)

  g. Blood Coagulation (needed in many phases for blood clotting)

  h. Helps Nerve impulses (important for ADD/ADHD)

  i. Helps neutralize an Acidic pH (important for ADD/ADHD) Acidic pH causes fungus, mold, parasites, bad bacteria (Candida), and viral infections that all thrive in your body due to lack of oxygen.  Basically your body becomes a play ground for diseases especially cancer!

99% of your Calcium is stored in your bones which leaves 1% to be used in your blood stream and muscles. When you are calcium deficient your body will have to pull the it from your bones and muscles so it can utilize it in your blood stream to neutralize acid. Remember that the next time you decide to give a child with ADD/ADHD sodas, junk foods, fried food, sugary food, etc that you are creating an acidic pH in their body.

FYI: Calcium citrate absorbs 2.5 times faster than Carbonate. Calcium Carbonate is more absorbable than most other types of Calcium, and if the Citrate form is not available, the Carbonate form is fine. However, there are some types of Calcium supplements that are not recommended at all:  those that have bone meal, oyster shell, or dolomite as their source of Calcium. Regardless of how inexpensive they may be, these sources of Calcium are not good choices because they may contain high levels of lead.

BIOMETICS’ CAL/MAG 100 contains 100% of the US Daily Values of Calcium, and  50% of Vitamin D. When added to water, the Calcium in CAL/MAG 100 undergoes a carbonation reaction, which converts Calcium Carbonate to Calcium Citrate, the most absorbable form of calcium,  to enhance skeletal and other body systems. *

Enthusiastically yours,

Posted in ADD/ADHD Vitamin Supplements, ADD/ADHD Brain Chemistry, Proper Nutrition for ADD/ADHD | 2 Comments »

13. November 2008 by Shirley.

     As I have mentioned many times before and will continue to do so; it’s important for ADD/ADHD to avoid all artificial sweeteners, flavors, and colors. So I’m gonna mention some of the harmful effects of aspartame. Did you know when aspartame is paired with carbohydrates it causes your brain to slow down its production of serotonin which most ADD/ADHD, depression, and bi polar already have low levels. 

     Did you know that the FDA has received more complaints about aspartame than any other ingredient to date? Aspartame not only effects ADD/ADHD but it has been linked to arthritis, birth defects, lupus, diabetes, seizures, depression, Alzheimer’s, fibromyalgia, and many more. Aspartame is a carcinogenic, that’s means it can cause cancer. And it’s totally toxic. How? Well when the methyl alcohol which is a component of aspartame, enters the body, it turns into Formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a deadly neurotoxin. Anytime you see the word “neurotoxin” that means this is SUPER BAD for ADD/ADHD because they already have problems with lack of neurotransmitters. The last thing they need is a toxic agent that destroys or damages the neurons they do have left. 

     O and for you adult ADD/ADHD who like drinking sugar free drinks loaded in aspartame because you think regular sugar drinks make you fat, just know aspartame is highly acidic. What does that mean to you? Acidic foods and drinks equal fat cells. When your body is overloaded with acidic foods and drinks, it has to convert the acid into fat cells then stores it to protect your organs from this acidic damage. Your body will also pull calcium from your blood stream in order to neutralize the acid. And if there isn’t enough calcium in your bloodstream, it’ll pull it from your muscles, and it there is not enough calcium there, your body will pull it from your bones to neutralize all the acid in you stomach. The long term effect of this results in acid reflux, heart burn, osteoporosis, bone spurs, kidney spurs, acne, Oh and lots of mosquitoes bites (they love people who are acidic). BTW, ADD/ADHD are already highly deficient in calcium and magneisum.

      FYI, Aspartame is in NutraSweet, Equal, almost all sugar free gums, sodas, and energy drinks. Bottom line: Don’t buy anything that’s Sugar Free. It’s worth the 3 seconds to read the label. Stick with Fructose a natural slow releasing sugar.

Enthusiastically yours,

Posted in ADD/ADHD Neurotransmitters, ADD/ADHD Brain Chemistry, Proper Nutrition for ADD/ADHD | 1 Comment »

7. November 2008 by Shirley.

So how does Folic Acid affect ADD/ADHD? Well, like many of the B vitamins, Folic Acid affects mental function. It helps serotonin production (very important for ADD/ADHD-it’s the “mood” neurotransmitter) by elevating mood and can even act as a mild antidepressant. However, it takes extremely large doses — up to 50 mg — to get results. Plus a certain amount of memory loss seems to go along with age and this could be slowed by taking folic acid supplements, because it lowers levels of homocysteine. Although folic acid is found naturally in legumes, carrots, artichokes, cantaloupe, avocados, apricots, beans, lentils, soybeans, garbonzos, barley, whole wheat, dark green leafy vegetables, and in some cereal grains, taking a multivitamin or a B-complex vitamin is the best way to ensure you get enough Folic Acid each day. It’s a water soluble vitamin so the body does not store what it doesn’t use. The US Daily Value is 400mcg per day for most individuals, and 800mcg for women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. Remember, the US Daily Allowance is the mininum amount an idividual needs to take daily. Biometics Bio Fuel and Get-Go-N both contain 400mcg of Folic Acid.

TIP: When you look at high quality multi-vitamin supplements, make sure you select a product that list folate versus folic acid. Folate means that it is a natural form of Folic Acid. If it says Folic acid on the label this means it is the synthetic type.

Enthusiastically yours,

Shirley Highers

Posted in ADD/ADHD Vitamin Supplements, ADD/ADHD Brain Chemistry, Proper Nutrition for ADD/ADHD | No Comments »

17. October 2008 by Shirley.

Tyrosine Is A Key Neurotransmitter For ADD/ADHD

Tyrosine is an essential amino acid that plays a major role in improving alertness and focus. It is also necessary for the body to be able to make the natural skin pigment melanin. But most importantly, it’s needed to produce the hormones Norepinephrine-Revving Up Neurotransmitter and Dopamine-Focus Neurotransmitter (both important to the brain and the nervous system) which are extremely important for ADD/ADHD. Tyrosine also produces the thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine.

Tyrosine is considered a natural antidepressant. It is currently being studied for its effects on the body’s production of neurotransmitters, depression and other mood disorders because it is so closely tied to hormones. Tyrosine is not only being studied for it’s benfits with ADD/ADHD and depression but also it’s benefits for neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia.

Most people who take Tyrosine as a supplement are using it to boost their energy, since it is so closely connected to the brain and the nervous system. However, Tyrosine has to be taken in combination with a B-vitamin complex or with a multivitamin containing the B-vitamins, because there are several vitamins that the body needs to be able to convert Tyrosine into neurotransmitter Dopamine (Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, and Copper).

Tyrosine is a very safe supplement, and is not known to have any side effects. Large doses, up to 7 grams per day, have been taken by people participating in a variety of medical studies with no problems, although the average person would never get that much Tyrosine in their diet. L-tyrosine is most commonly found in proteins, as well as in dairy products, wheat, oats, and fermented foods such as yogurt and miso (a kind of thick paste made from soybeans and usually used in soups).

Biometics Get-Go N contains 500mg of Tyrosine and contains B-vitamins too.

Enthusiastically yours,

Posted in ADD/ADHD Neurotransmitters, ADD/ADHD Brain Chemistry, Proper Nutrition for ADD/ADHD | No Comments »

6. October 2008 by Shirley.

If you think you or your child may have ADD/ADHD, you should request to take a neurotransmitter test. It’s always nice to have a starting point and to also see the exact neurotransmitters you are lacking. After 2-3 months down this natural remedies path for ADD/ADHD, take another neurotransmitters test so you or your child can track your results. You should also become familiar with your key neurotransmitters. One of your major players is Acetylcholine (memory neurotransmitter) which is synthesized from Choline.

Choline is in the B-vitamin family. One of the most important functions of Choline is to be turned into both Phosphatidylcholine and Acetylcholine by the body. Phosphatidylcholine is essential for normal brain function, and proper liver health and function. Acetylcholine is important for normal brain development in infants, and for conduction of nerve signals and brain function in adults. Researchers have concluded that during pregnancy, the Choline intake of the mother can influence memory and brain development in the growing infant. For this reason, the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences has recommended that pregnant and nursing women increase their intake of Choline. There was a study done at NC State where children at the age of 2 were given an IQ test. The children that took Choline during pregnancy tested higher on their IQ test than children who did not get this supplement during pregnancy.

So for ADD/ADHD pregnant women or for any pregnant woman for that matter, I would highly suggest being on a Choline and Omega (also important for proper brain development) supplements. For children and adults with ADD/ADHD, Acetylcholine is the most vital neurotransmitter when it comes to memory and cognitive abilities!! It can boost your memory for up to 4-5 hours. If you are an athlete, this is great supplement to take 15-30  minutes before games (football, basketball, baseball, soccer, etc) because it helps with eye and hand coordination.

BIOMETICS’advanced liquid nutritional Bio Alert supplement contains 1000mg of Choline. Remember Biometics has a patent process that allows you to absorb 85-100%, so it’s very powerful! You should start with 1/2 tbsp for about 3-5 days before going up to a full serving size. Great stuff!!!! If you decide to go with another brand of Choline, try to purchase a high quality liquid form versus capsule.

Enthusiastically yours,

Posted in ADD/ADHD Neurotransmitters, ADD/ADHD Brain Chemistry, Proper Nutrition for ADD/ADHD | No Comments »