Blog Category: ADHD

 As parents, we strive to give our kids the best tools possible for success. However, sometimes they struggle with their focus in school or their brains can’t seem to get on track. It’s easy to blame the teacher if you send your kids to public school, but we must look at our own actions first. Are you providing your child with the right foods that will help them stay focused throughout the day?  Food is medicine for your body, and breakfast is essential to set up a good learning environment. Read below for some tips on how to get your kids focused with holistic brain-friendly foods. 

Start With Breakfast 

Getting your kids off to a great start begins with breakfast that fuels their minds, not distracts it. Sugary cereals, breads, and processed snacks should be avoided because they lead to an energy boost followed by a crash which can affect concentration levels when learning during the day. Instead of giving them these types of processed cereals for breakfast, feed them whole grains such as oats, millet, or quinoa and add in some nuts and fruits for extra nutrients. Also adding in healthy fats like almond butter can help provide lasting energy throughout the morning hours. 

Incorporate Brain-Boosting Superfoods 

Certain superfoods are known for their ability to improve brain health and functioning in children. Incorporating these into their diets can really help increase focus and concentration levels while also boosting memory recall and cognitive skills. Some examples include blueberries, salmon, chia or flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, quinoa, walnuts and dark leafy greens like spinach or kale. These are all packed with vitamins and minerals that promote brain health while also providing long-lasting energy without any sugar crashes or spikes which can disrupt concentration levels throughout the day. 

    

Find Healthy Alternatives To Snacks & Drinks 

Snack time is inevitable but it doesn't have to be unhealthy! Swap out sugary drinks like soda or juice for water or herbal tea. Instead of candy bars opt for slightly sweetened granola bars or trail mix containing dried fruit pieces and nuts such as almonds or walnuts - both great sources of Omega 3 fatty acids which are essential for optimizing brain functioning in children. If you find your kids reaching for chips try substituting vegetable sticks like carrots, peppers, or celery served with hummus instead - this provides great nutrients AND flavor! And if all else fails chocolate covered nuts are always a great option too!  

Feeding your children brain-friendly foods helps make sure they get off on the right foot each morning at school and is key in helping them stay focused throughout the day despite whatever distractions may occur around them! Start incorporating these holistic approaches into meal planning today so you can rest assured that when it's time to learn they have everything they need inside of themselves (and what's on their plate)to achieve success!

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common condition in children that often continues into adulthood. If you are the parent of a child struggling with ADHD, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out how to best manage their symptoms. It's even more difficult if you have ADHD and your child has ADHD, too.  The good news is that there are many natural ways you can help your child manage their ADHD (and these work for adults, too!). 

One of the most effective ways of managing ADHD is through diet and supplements. A well-balanced diet as found in "Disease Proof Your Child:  Feeding Your Kids Right" by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, with plenty of plant-based protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates can help keep your child’s blood sugar levels stable throughout the day, helping them maintain focus and concentration. Adding specific supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and magnesium can also help support the brain as recommended in books like “Healing ADD” by Dr. Daniel Amen. Supporting the gut microbiome with  probiotics, prebiotics, and enzymes is also incredibly beneficial for managing ADHD symptoms naturally.  It is essential to remove dyes, fast food, processed food, refined sugars and refined grains from the home.  (Yes, this means no candy!)

Essential oils have been used for centuries to improve mental clarity and emotional balance. The scents from essential oils move through the olfactory system and go straight to the brain.  For those living with ADHD, diffusing essential oils like vetiver, cedarwood, lavender, peppermint, and frankincense can help immensely with focus, calmness, and sleep while you are healing from the inside out through diet and supplements. These can be applied topically, as well.  Find my "Focus" roller recipe here.  My daughter loves how these oils make a difference for her concentrations levels.  It is best to use these morning and night - breathing for several minutes at a time, and then breathing them during study times.  

Eliminating dyes (especially artificial colors), refined sugar and flour products (like candy bars or white bread), fast food meals or any other processed/junk food from your home will make a huge difference in your child’s behavior and overall health.. Keeping an organized environment with labels on things like drawers and shelves can also be helpful in providing visual cues to help them stay on task throughout the day. Also, establishing a daily routine where expectations stay the same each day helps provide structure so they know what to expect throughout the day which helps alleviate anxiety associated with change or unpredictability.  Finally, lists of daily tasks to be checked off can be very effective to help both parent and child see progress throughout the day.  

 Living with someone who has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder does not have to be overwhelming if you take actionable steps towards managing their symptoms naturally through diet changes, specific supplementation as suggested in the books above, using essential oils, eliminating certain dyes, and avoiding refined sugar/flour products & fast food/junk food meals.  You can keep it under control through keeping a clean organized environment, providing visual cues, and maintaining routines that provide structure and predictability throughout each day.  These things will all contribute towards successfully managing your child's ADHD behavior naturally! Taking these proactive steps may seem daunting but trust me when I say it is worth it! As a holistic mom who deals with ADHD in myself and several of my children daily, I understand how difficult this journey can be but I assure you that these strategies work! Good luck!

When it's time to take your schoolwork seriously, having a little extra focus can go a long way. That's why I'm going to show you how to make your own focus roller with essential oils. This simple DIY project will help your family stay focused and energized when taking on those tough tasks! 

Let’s start by gathering our supplies. You will need a 10ml glass roller bottle, fractionated coconut oil, and these five essential oils: vetiver, lavender, frankincense, peppermint, and cedarwood. Once you have all of your ingredients gathered together, you can begin creating your powerful focus roller blend! 

 

Add 5-10 drops of vetiver oil to your roller bottle. Vetiver is known for its calming abilities which can be helpful when trying to focus on a task or activity. Next add 3-5 drops each of lavender and frankincense oil. Lavender has the ability to soothe and relax the mind while frankincense helps promote clarity and alertness. For an extra boost add 2-3 drops each of peppermint and cedarwood oil. Peppermint naturally energizes while cedarwood helps sharpen concentration and mental alertness. Finally, fill the remaining space in the bottle with fractionated coconut oil before replacing the roller top and giving it a good swirl!  

 

When it's time to use your new focus roller simply apply one drop behind each ear or roll onto the temples as needed throughout the day for an extra boost of energy and concentration! The great thing about this blend is that it's safe enough for children over 2 years old so they can get in on the action too! 

    

Making your own DIY essential oils focus blend is quick, easy, and affordable - perfect for busy moms looking for natural solutions for their families! With just five essential oils plus some fractionated coconut oil you can create a powerful focus blend that everyone in the family will love using again and again throughout hectic school days or stressful days at work. So don't wait until chaos ensues - grab those ingredients now and make your own DIY focus roller! You'll be glad you did!