TOXIC SOUP It ’ s What ’ s for Lunch

1. TOXIC SOUP It’s What’s for Lunch Improving Mood, Academic Performance and Behavior with Better Nutrition Vicki Kobliner MS RD 3 Hollyhock Road Wilton CT 06897 203 834-9949 vicki@holcarenutrition.com www.holcarenutrition.com

2. The Problem The Number of children in the United States with chronic health conditions has increased dramatically in the past 4 decades. JAMA, June 27, 2007—Vol 297, No. 24 The percentage of children with a parent-reported ADHD diagnosis increased by 22% between 2003 and 2007. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/data.html Asthma increased by 73.9% from 1980 to 1996. ongoing increase since then. MMWR Surveill Summ. 51 (2002)

3. The Problem The prevalence of depression appears to be increasing in successive generations of children, with onset at earlier ages.” Am Fam Phys 2000 Nov 15;62(10) :2297-308, Childhood cancer increased by 27.1% from 1975 to 2002. .. Tucson, Arizona. 40th Annual Meeting – American Academy of Environmental Medicine, October 27–30, 2005

4. The Problem From 1997 to 2007, the prevalence of reported food allergy increased 18% among children under age 18 years. Children with food allergy are two to four times more likely to have other related conditions such as asthma and other allergies, compared with children without food allergies. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db10.pdf

5. Varied Symptoms – frequently multisystem • GI – bloating, discomfort, constipation, Impaired digestion & absorption • *****(almost always involved)****** • CNS – altered thinking, behavior, impaired cognition, memory problems, headache, mood problems, fatigue, insomnia, tics • MSK – Inflammation, discomfort, impaired mobility, etc. • Skin – Acne, itching, dry skin, eczema, etc • Stephen Genuis MD

6. The Loaded Gun and the Trigger

7. …a total of 287 chemicals ……The umbilical cord blood of these 10 children, …. harbored pesticides, consumer product ingredients, and wastes from burning coal, gasoline, and garbage. Environmental Working Group

8. ADHD Is Associated With a “Western” Dietary Pattern in Adolescents “A higher score for the Western dietary pattern was associated with ADHD diagnosis “ Journal of Attention Disorders July 2011 15: 403-411

9. The effects of a double blind, placebo controlled, artificial food colourings and benzoate preservative challenge on hyperactivity in a general population sample of preschool children “…a general adverse effect of artificial food colouring and benzoate preservatives on the behaviour of 3 year old children.” Arch Dis Child 2004;89:506-511 doi:10.1136/adc.2003.031435

10. It’s Not Just the Food Exposure to Polyfluoroalkyl Chemicals and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in U.S. Children 12–15 Years of Age “consistent with increased odds of ADHD in children with higher serum PFC levels”.

11. Back to Basics • What do our children need for optimal health and function? • What are they not getting enough of? • What are they getting too much of? • What can we do as parents and teachers to change the balance?

12. What Children Need

13. Nutrient Dense Foods High in vitamins, minerals , protein, good fats etc. Fiber Antioxidant rich Non- inflammatory

14. PROTEIN • Essential to structure of red blood cells, proper functioning of antibodies resisting infection, regulation of enzymes and hormones, for growth, and repair of body tissue. • Important at all meals, especially early in day. • Sources: Animal foods, nuts, beans, seeds, certain grains, dairy

15. Protein at breakfast can improve academic performance • Spring, Maller, Wurtman, Digman, and Cozolino (1982)

16. FAT Not all the Same: • Monounsaturated (liquid) types can reduce inflammation • Allow more plasticity of brain cells-better communication • According to the NCEP 80% of the Fats in the Diet should be monounsaturated • Saturated (hard) cause inflammation, heart disease. • Trans Fats are hard

17. Good Fats • Avocadoes • Sunflower Seeds • Coconut Oil • Macadamia Nut Oil • Olives • Some Nuts • Olive Oil (not at high heat) • Fish and Flax

18. Omega-3’s, ADHD, and LD • 41 Children with ADHD and LD given a Omega-3’s for 12 weeks or a placebo. • After 12 weeks, children in the treatment group had significant improvement in their ADHD scores compared to placebo. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry (2002)

19. CARBOHYDRATES • Comes from • simple sugars : fruit/vegetables and refined sweets • Complex carbs-grains and starchy foods • Primary energy source for body and brain

20. Not all Carbs are Created Equal • Fruits • Vegetables • Whole Grains • Legumes • Nuts • Seeds Slow infusion of good energy which body can regulate

21. WHAT CHILDREN ARE MISSING

22. Vitamins and Minerals • Needed at cofactors in myriad body processes • Iron, Zinc, Magnesium • often low in typical American diet • Implicated in behavior and academic performance

23. Zinc • Inadequate Zinc related to ADHD and aggression • Multiple studies link zinc supplementation to reduced aggression, hyperactivity and improved behavior in deficient individuals

24. Magnesium • Inadequate Magnesium related to ADHD • Supplementation of Magnesium shown to reduce negative behaviors and improve attention in ADHD, autism

25. Supplementation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, magnesium and zinc in children seeking medical advice for attention-deficit/hyperactivity problems - an observational cohort study. ..a beneficial effect of a combination of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids as well as magnesium and zinc consumption on attentional, behavioural, and emotional problems of children and adolescents.” Lipids Health Dis 2010 Sep 24;9:105.

26. Iron • One of the most prevalent nutritional deficiencies of children in the US • Leads to reduced immunity, shortened attention span, irritability, fatigue, and difficulty with concentration. • Anemic children do poorly on vocabulary, reading, and other tests.

27. Low serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) among psychiatric out-patients in Sweden “Patients with ADHD had unexpectedly low iPTH levels.” “….further supported by the considerable psychiatric improvement that coincided with vitamin D treatment” J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2010 Mar 7.

28. WHAT ARE THEY GETTING TOO MUCH OF?

29. Negative Effects of Sugar Suppresses immune system and impairs defenses against infectious disease. • Upsets mineral relationships in the body: interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium. • Cause can cause a rapid rise of adrenaline, hyperactivity, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and crankiness in children.

30. High Fructose Corn Syrup Contains Mercury which is toxic to brain Implicated in increased Obesity

31. Fast Food ….children who ate fast food three or more times per week performed lower on standardized tests in reading and math.” Equivalent to a 17 point difference in grade Tobin, Presentation to American Educational Research Foundation

32. Artificial Colors, Flavors, and Preservatives • Headaches/migraines • Nausea, Abdominal pains, Diarrhea • Fatigue (blocks sufficient glucose entry into brain) • Sleep problems • Vision problems • Anxiety attacks • Depression

33. Artificial Colors, Flavors, and Preservatives • Asthma/chest tightness. • Dizziness • Poor Memory • Decreased attention • Neuralgia, loss of sensation in extremities • Aspartame overstimulates neurotransmitters, resulting in cell death

34. Artificial Colors, Flavors, and Preservatives • 273 three year olds with hyperactivity enrolled in DBPC • Given a diet free of food coloring and preservatives, then a daily drink with colorings and sodium benzoate. • Significant increases in hyperactivity when getting the active mixture. • Arch Dis Child. 2004 Jun

35. PESTICIDES, CHEMICALS. HORMONES and ANTIBIOTICS • Children at increased risk • internal organs still developing and maturing • children ingest more than adults per pound of body weight • Impact of chemicals more pronounced in children than adults

36. HORMONES and ANTIBIOTICS • Precocious puberty • Endocrine disruption • Increased risk of breast and prostate cancer • Possible antibiotic resistance

37. FOOD SENSITIVITES? • Gluten • Dairy • Corn • Soy • Egg • Etc…..

38. PESTICIDES and CHEMICALSHORMONES and ANTIBIOTICS Organic Food does not pollute the bodies of our children and may have increased levels of nutrients as well

39. What You Can Do • Lean Proteins • Vegetables • Whole Grains • Fruits • Healthy Fats • Nuts and Seeds • Whole Foods - Minimally Processed without artificial additives • Avoid Refined Sugar • Organic, Fresh, Local, and Seasonal

40. Resources Better School Food www.betterschoolfood.org Environmental Working Group www.ewg.org Healthy School Lunch Campaign www.healthyschoollunches.org Center for Ecoliteracy www.ecoliteracy.com