HEALTH & NUTRITION RESOURCES
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The Myth of a Well Balanced Diet
The genetic constitution of humans has changed relatively
little since the first human beings roamed the earth.
Quantum changes in diet, agriculture and lifestyle have
reduced the nutrients present in food and in the average
diet. Many diseases are presumed to be the result of
these changes. This paper discusses the dietary
challenges facing people today and the near impossibility
of getting a “well balanced diet” without
including some form of food supplementation. The authors
stress the importance of paying attention to the quality
of food and food supplements that are included in the
diet.
Diet, ADHD, and Behavior: A Quarter
Century Review
In 1999 The Center for Science in the Public Interest
published this detailed report on the role played by diet
in the behavior of children with Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This objectively written
paper summarizes the results of research studies that
have shown dietary effects and those that have shown no
effects. A detailed discussion explores the impact of
these studies on management programs for children with
ADHD. Guidelines for choosing medication or dietary
alternatives are presented. The website also includes a
second paper, “Parents Guide to Diet, ADHD and
Behavior”, which summarizes the information for
parents and presents specific alternatives for exploring
the impact of dietary changes.
Reassessing the Need for Dietary
Supplements for America’s Children
This well-researched article addresses the criteria used
for dietary recommendations for infants and children and
the extent to which children’s diets meet these
recommendations. It also examines factors that influence
children’s dietary intakes. For a wide variety of
reasons most children are not receiving the nutrients
that they need in their typical diets. In addition
recommended levels of nutrients are based on the ideal
healthy child. Scientific studies have confirmed that the
body needs increased nutritional support during periods
of stress, when there are identified health problems, and
when children are on special diets or receiving
medications. The authors discuss what parents can do to
improve their children’s diets and suggest that
until major improvements in the diet are achieved, a
daily multivitamin/mineral supplement is advisable for
most children.
Position: Functional
Foods
In 1995 the American Dietetic Association presented this
position paper on phytochemicals and functional foods, a
position that was then reaffirmed in 1997. Phytochemicals
are food components that are derived from plant foods.
Functional foods are defined as any modified food or food
ingredient that may provide a health benefit beyond the
traditional nutrients it contains. “It is the
position of The American Dietetic Association (ADA) that
specific substances in foods (e.g., phytochemicals as
naturally occurring components and functional food
components) may have a beneficial role in health as part
of a varied diet.” This paper describes their
research rationale and differences between consuming
these nutrients as part of the diet or in supplement
form. The role and responsibility of dietitians in this
new area is suggested.
In Harms Way: Toxic Threats to Child
Development
This extensive report by the Greater Boston Physicians
for Social Responsibility describes and delineates the
interaction between environmental chemicals and child
development. They discuss the existingresearch and the
role that environmental chemicals may play in
developmental disabilities (including ADHD, autism,
neurodevelopmental disease). Normal brain development and
developmental toxicology are discussed in detail along
with known and suspected developmental neurotoxicants.
This is a paper that should be downloaded and read by
parents and therapists who are concerned about the role
played by the environment in the well being of children.
An Experimental Intervention for Autism
Understanding and Implementing a Gluten & Casein Free
Diet
Children with autism spectrum disorders may show an
elevated level of opoid peptides that contribute to the
behaviors associated with this disorder. It is speculated
that these substances come from an incomplete digestive
breakdown of certain foods, resulting in a high level of
these peptides in the blood and urine. Casein in milk and
gluten in wheat and other grains are two of the food
components that can create this neuroendocrine problem.
This paper discusses research and clinical perspectives
that support dietary modification in children with
autism.
Minerals/Vitamins and Down Syndrome
This article is a collection of bibliographic references
on studies of vitamin and mineral status and needs in
children with Down Syndrome. The author includes summary
comments on each published study.
Growth Charts in Down Syndrome
Growth charts are a major tool for measuring the
adequacy of children’s growth. A child’s height
and weight are compared with these growth measures for a
standardized group of children of the same age and sex.
Growth charts for typically developing children are not
appropriate to use in determining growthadequacy for
infants and children with Down syndrome. Special growth
charts developed for this group are presented on this
website. Separate charts for boys and girls allow
comparisons to be made in Metric and English scales.
Search the USDA Nutrient Database for
Standard Reference
Here's a marvelous resource if you need detailed nutrient
information on a specific food. Enter the name of the
food in the USDA database. Select the specific brand or
preparation of the food, and the amount. The resulting
chart will give you calories, grams of carbohydrates,
fats, and protein. Amounts of specific vitamins,
minerals, lipids, and amino acids are also provided.
Nutrition Analysis Tool
The Nutrition Analysis Tool can be used to analyze the
nutritional value of foods eaten at a single meal or for
a full day. This is an extremely helpful tool for arents
and therapists who are making day-to-day decisions about
a child's food intake. The Food Suggestor feature
supplies a list of foods containing nutrients that are
too low or too high in the diet.
GlycoScience.org
Healthy bodies comprised of many components working
together in harmony must have accurate internal
communication to function optimally. In its most basic
form this communication occurs at the cellular level, as
cell-to-cell communication. The role played in
cell-to-cell communication and health by a select group
of carbohydrate molecules known as monosaccharides has
been the subject of thousands of scientific studies. The
GlycoScience.com website brings this information together
in a way that is accessible to both medical professionals
and the lay public. Plan to spend time exploring this
information-rich website. Be sure to check out the
following articles that provide an understanding of
glyconutritionals and their relationship to breastfeeding
and early development and to children with failure to
thrive.
Introduction to Glyconutritionals
The Importance of Glycoconjugates in
Breastfeeding and Early Development
Glyconutritionals and Glycoconjugates: Implication in Failure to Thrive Syndrome
The Effect of Glyconutritional Supplementation on Toddlers with Failure to Thrive
Phytochemicals: Nutrients of the Future
Phytochemicals, or natural plant chemicals, play a major
role in protecting the cells of the body and stimulating
the immune system. This commercial site summarizes the
different categories of phytochemicals and the role they
play in health.
Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and ADHD–Can
Nutrition Help?
This downloadable article by Alexandra J. Richardson is
the best online resource we’ve found that examines
the role played by essential fatty acids in dyslexia,
dyspraxia and ADHD. Richardson discusses the dietary
importance of DHA and AA, two fatty acids that are
usually converted from essential fatty acids in the diet.
These play a major structural role in the development of
the brain and eye. Many individuals have deficiencies of
these fatty acids because their body is inefficient in
its ability to make this dietary conversion. The
remainder of the article discusses the evidence for fatty
acid deficiency in dyspraxia, dyslexia and ADHD and
frequent questions related to diagnosis of deficiencies
and the use of supplements.
Food
Allergy and Anaphalaxis Network
The Food Allergy Network answers common questions about
food allergy, supports a newsletter, and provides a
listing of product alerts. The Product Alert section
provides life-saving information on common allergens not
listed on food product labels.
Dysphagia Diet 5 Levels Difficulty In
Swallowing Diet
Individuals with dysphagia require dietary changes that
support their nutrition and ability to swallow while
reducing the risk of aspiration. This website presents a
5-Level diet rated by difficulty in swallowing. Examples
of foods and a sample menu are presented at each of the
following levels: Level 1 = Pureed Foods; Level 2 =
Minced Foods; Level 3 = Ground Foods; Level 4 = Chopped
Foods; and Level 5 = Modified Regular Foods. Practical
strategies for altering the degree of thickness for
liquids and foods are also presented.
Latex Allergy Links - Main Menu
Latex allergies are a growing concern for health care
professionals and children who have received extensive
medical and therapy services. This is a comprehensive,
up-to-date listing of latex allergy-related sites on the
Internet.
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