Leaky gut and our kids

[fuelforall]

I have been eating a Paleo diet for a month or so now. This study may be a cue for many of you with children who have adhd. Getting rid of grains, dairy and legumes is a good policy for gut health.

The study suggests IGG sensitivity RAST tests are meaningless and that the only real test is elimination.

 

These are some serious numbers here! That's a lot of kids whose ADHD went away with the extreme diet change!

Oh, since you can't get the full text, I'll quote from someone who did. The restrictive diet that eliminated symptoms was composed of meat, veggies, pears and water. And for the lone mostly harmless starch.... rice. (arguable the kids could do even better without rice)

 

 

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2810%2962227-1/abstract

[Ozimum]

Hi,

Interesting article, thanks for posting.

Ds17 does not have a diagnosis of ADHD, but a year ago we were told he has AS. (Sudden onset!!?? Yeah...right!) He got every cold/flu/virus going around and didn't recover well but our Ped didn't want to know...but he did have a raft of OCD symptoms, anxiety, frighteningly rapid mood changes which would leave us shell shocked and she recommended meds!

Instead we headed off to a Biomed/Dan doctor (who prescribes antibiotics) and found he had a leaky gut (strep, staph etc) and a bunch of vit/mineral deficiencies. To support him, as a family we've been moving increasingly towards a Paleo diet over the past several months - We're not quite there because we still have some grains but much reduced (but definately no gluten and no casein). Along with the gut healing diet he has been getting supplements, probiotics, enzymes.

I can say we are all really healthy! But better yet my ds says he feels better, is much more focussed, concentrates better, skin cleared up, looks well, he's happier and comes out of his cave, talks with me and jokes and is giving lots of eye contact. His psychologist says he's never seen him so amenable and talkative.

So something is working!

Our big test will come when he has another strep exposure...he's just gone back to school after the summer break.(Can you tell I'm holding my breath?!)

Edited February 9, 2011 by Ozimum

[fuelforall]

Instead we headed off to a Biomed/Dan doctor (who prescribes antibiotics) and found he had a leaky gut (strep, staph etc) and a bunch of vit/mineral deficiencies. To support him, as a family we've been moving increasingly towards a Paleo diet over the past several months - We're not quite there because we still have some grains but much reduced (but definately no gluten and no casein). Along with the gut healing diet he has been getting supplements, probiotics, enzymes.

I can say we are all really healthy! But better yet my ds says he feels better, is much more focussed, concentrates better, skin cleared up, looks well, he's happier and comes out of his cave, talks with me and jokes and is giving lots of eye contact. His psychologist says he's never seen him so amenable and talkative.

So something is working!

 

I think this is an underdiagnosed condition.

If people are struggling on the diet, increase the eggs and saturated fats. Our brain requires 70 percent fats, it gets it from nutrition.

I really wish more people on this forum would read this post so I hope this bump helps.

[GraceUnderPressure]

We tried to go paleo, but I've got to tell you, we have struggled massively. Even without the complications of trying to homeschool 5 kids & running them to the extracurricular stuff (which actually isn't really all that much) while fixing all of our meals from scratch (& trying to come up with a variety that doesn't leave my picky eaters refusing to eat) - when we eat just meats, produce & nuts/seeds, my body keeps telling me that it's wanting for something.

 

I've had enough sugar cravings to be fairly certain that this is something different. I thought it was more healthy fats, because that helps a bit, but maybe it is a specific kind of fat because it just doesn't seem to satisfy. We're doing enzymes that include lipase so I don't think that's it.

 

And then with my ds18's serotonin being low, we had to add some starchy carbs back in - but his ELISA showed him reacting to Candida (in addition to gluten, casein, eggs, citrus & soy). And his endocrine system is so messed up that he has been perpetually hungry from birth. He is only satisfied when his stomach physically feels full so I am assuming that his leptin/ghrelin signaling is messed up (maybe that has something to do with my problem as well).

 

The frustration of trying to figure all this stuff out & make it all work leaves me falling off the diet frequently. We do better when we eat healthy, but we have seen greater benefits since he started exercising by doing taekwondo classes. Ironically, getting him to & from that class makes it harder to fix the healthy meals. I so wish I could figure out how to manage both!

[fuelforall]

We tried to go paleo, but I've got to tell you, we have struggled massively. Even without the complications of trying to homeschool 5 kids & running them to the extracurricular stuff (which actually isn't really all that much) while fixing all of our meals from scratch (& trying to come up with a variety that doesn't leave my picky eaters refusing to eat) - when we eat just meats, produce & nuts/seeds, my body keeps telling me that it's wanting for something.

 

I've had enough sugar cravings to be fairly certain that this is something different. I thought it was more healthy fats, because that helps a bit, but maybe it is a specific kind of fat because it just doesn't seem to satisfy. We're doing enzymes that include lipase so I don't think that's it.

 

And then with my ds18's serotonin being low, we had to add some starchy carbs back in - but his ELISA showed him reacting to Candida (in addition to gluten, casein, eggs, citrus & soy). And his endocrine system is so messed up that he has been perpetually hungry from birth. He is only satisfied when his stomach physically feels full so I am assuming that his leptin/ghrelin signaling is messed up (maybe that has something to do with my problem as well).

 

The frustration of trying to figure all this stuff out & make it all work leaves me falling off the diet frequently. We do better when we eat healthy, but we have seen greater benefits since he started exercising by doing taekwondo classes. Ironically, getting him to & from that class makes it harder to fix the healthy meals. I so wish I could figure out how to manage both!

 

 

Hi, Grace,

A couple of articles you might find interesting are here. (others may find it interesting as well) Stephanie, perhaps? The doctor in this article says kids should stay away from nuts and raw foods because their stomachs are so messed up.

 

http://www.westonaprice.org/modern-diseases/digestive-disorders/1955-food-allergies.html

http://www.westonaprice.org/childrens-health/1379-gaps.html

 

With all the variations on Paleo, you have to find what fits you and your children. What a pity he can't eat eggs. Load on the saturated and monounsaturated fats, stay away from polyunsaturated ones. Get him to eat more meat to feel full, don't sweat the saturated fat, but do try to find grass-fed meats. Omegamaine makes the best fish oils in terms of potency. It doesn't taste fishy either. Allow small amounts of rice and potatoes. Make hearty soups.

DON'T boost your son's seratonin through cheap carbs. It's temporary anyway, like caffeine (which I still have daily). The best thing I can recommend to normalize seratonin is a product called Zija. They don't say that's what Zija does when you look it up but that is what happens- i can attest to that. My son should take more of it, but despite its good taste, he is not fond of it. It's also a multi powered vitamin, mineral supplement derived from the moringa tree. It also has healing properties but that's another story.

Gotta go home and try making Paleo pizza from almond meal flour. No cheese, natch. I do indulge mildly in dairy but no grains, legumes ever, if possible.

Oh, yes, if you don't already know this, coconut, coconut, coconut. Milk, yogurt, even ice cream (So Delicious) and cook in cans of coconut milk. Extra virgin coconut oil.

 

Sorry for the lecture. Good luck, I know how tough it is.

 

Michael

[Ozimum]

I agree that it's necessary to make diets work for your circumstances. I'm figuring that getting close to the principles of the Paleo diet is better than not doing it at all. Our priority is to avoid gluten and dairy, and everything from there is a bonus. As said previously, our diet isn't quite paleo...our biggest compromise is because ds absolutely adores pasta, so we use the gluten free pastas (alternating between the rice ones and the maize/potato.)

I make a lot of big pot stews/casseroles/soups and freeze the leftovers in portions for the hungry teenager who snacks at all times of the day or night! (and for breakfast!) Spag bol is a staple in our house...I grate different veggies into it, so it will vary from batch to batch. I'll use it to make lasagna with a basic white sauce using gluten free flour and nut milk and I put nutmeg on top. (No cheese - those in the family who tolerate it can add grated cheese at the table if they really want it, but we found it really doesn't need it.) Greek pastitso is another variation.

Avocado has become a staple in our diet - it's effectively replacing potato! Ds adores broccoli so he gets alot of it, with all sorts of veggies boiled or steamed, plus simple salads. And we're eating alot more fish.

I second the idea of using coconut oil for cooking - it's a lovely clean and fresh oil and it's now the only cooking oil I use. Plus coconut milk is great for making fruit smoothies (dilute it with rice/nut milk) and it's good for making icecream too. Honey, maple syrup and a little xylitol are our sweeteners.

My boy is thriving. And his intrusive thoughts are way down! Whoohoo! Yes...something is definately working!

[fuelforall]

Natasha Campbell-Mcbride has a system starting from scratch with kids. Everyone google her. Someone in my area is practicing nutrition for kids and moms using her system, which is linked of course to Specific Carbohydrate Diet. Based on what I've read on this blog, moms here have had success with it, radical though it may be.

 

It means going back to "beef tea."

 

(Sorry, Emerson, there's just got to be meat if you or anyone are going to thrive. Somehow, some way. Yes to the veggies, no to grains, legumes and dairy) Try to eat a little rare meat every day (not cheap stuff) and get your enzymes. )

A side note: someone I know sez her husband is 21 years a vegan. He is now suffering from a severe metabolic disorder. No real testing has been done on the long term effects of going vegan.