It is all too common for children of all ages to be prescribed pharmaceutical drugs for "disorders" like ADD and ADHD. According to a survey conducted in 2003 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children as young as 4 are being prescribed drugs for ADD and ADHD.

These drugs often have side effects that worsen a child's behavior and in some cases cause permanent physical damage. Furthermore, kids are taking medication while at the same time being fed a steady diet of processed foods. Processed foods full of sugar, artificial colors and preservatives that are linked to BEHAVIOR problems.

So doesn't it make sense to get to the root cause of the problem by cleaning up the diet and improving health habits? Let's also understand that kids, especially the younger ones, are not meant to sit at a desk for long hours.

Here are some tips that I recommend to my clients with kids who have been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD:

1. Stop buying highly processed foods, organic or not. Those include granola bars, cereals, fruit leathers, chips, soda, commercial fruit juice of any kind, puddings, ice cream, muffins and bagels made with white flour, foods made with white flour, sugar and/or partially hydrogenated or palm oils. Basically anything that isn't made with WHOLE ingredients that you can understand.

Examples of healthy replacements include organic whole oats (NOT instant), dried unsulphered fruit, raw unsalted nuts, home made fruit juice or fruit smoothies using whole fruit and plant milk (rice, soy, almond, oat, hazelnut, etc.). Homemade baked goods should be made only occasionally not weekly, using whole wheat flour, oats and agave nectar.

2. Make whole fruits and vegetables the mainstay of your family's diet. Keep fruits out on the counter for kids to snack on. Higher calorie fruits are good for smaller kids and athletes who need more calories. Veggies should be prepared as soon as you bring them home. Keep cut up celery, carrots, and other veggies that can be dipped in hummus.

3. Make sure kids are getting sun exposure daily. At least 15-20 minutes of unfiltered sun exposure produces natural Vitamin D. Vitamin D is has an important role in the development and function of the brain. Low levels have been linked to depression and mood disorders. So let your kids get some sun and then if they are going to be out for more than 30 minutes, apply sunscreen.

4. Kids need 1 to 2 hours of vigorous exercise daily. According to positive discipline expert, Becky Bailey, "Exercise is the best exercise for the brain".
Kids today are going for days without exercise because PE classes have been cut in the public schools and recess times in private schools have been shortened to fit in more academic time. Make sure your child is getting enough exercise through after school programs or through family walks and bike rides in the evenings.

5. Kids of all ages need 12 hours of sleep a night! Sleep deprived kids have trouble concentrating, and are irritable and emotional. Keep TV's, phones, and computers out of your child's room. Keep a strict bed time routine and stick to it 90% of the time. Older kids need limits on how late they can stay up as well.

Kids don't need medications for ADD and ADHD. These "disorders" have natural solutions that get to the root cause of the problem. If you found this information helpful, please post in the Holistic Health Forum.