Overview: If your child has focusing, attention, or sensory issues it’s possible to help him or her focus better without harmful medication. Find out how!
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Does your child have focusing, attention, or sensory issues? Do you have a child who appears to have to work very hard to stay focused on a task?
Does he instantly stop working as soon as you leave the room? Does it take him a long time to complete his work? Does he seem lazy and unmotivated?
If these statements describe your child, there is hope. Your son may suffer from a low level of serotonin.
A few years back, I was blessed to be able to hear some amazing talks by Dianne Craft. Dianne has a master’s degree in special education, she’s a certified nutritional health professional, and she was a homeschool mom.
She has a heart for helping kids who are often labeled as having attention issues. Diane has some common-sense advice which might be surprising to you. Not all of these kids need to be medicated!
It takes lots of energy to stay focused on something which isn’t interesting to you. If your son’s body isn’t producing enough serotonin, his ability to focus will be greatly impaired.
Benefits of Serotonin
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter which is mostly manufactured in the gut (intestines.)
Serotonin has the following beneficial effects:
- Relaxes the mind
- Instills a sense of well-being
- Helps us handle stress
- Keeps our mind focused
- Promotes falling asleep and staying asleep through the night
- Is an antidepressant
- Helps us control impulses
- Gives us a more positive outlook on life
You can see how a lack of serotonin would put a real burden on a child’s system. Many of these kids are put on Ritalin or some other psychotropic drug in order to help with these behaviors.
Ritalin works by helping our bodies to release serotonin. It also has 23 side effects, some of which are quite dangerous.
As of 2010, according to the National Health Interview Survey, 8.4 percent, or 5.2 million children, between the ages of 3 and 17 had been given diagnoses of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
My boys have never struggled with their ability to focus. In fact, I almost missed going to this talk of Dianne’s because I didn’t think I needed to hear it.
Little did I know that a lack of serotonin can also cause all sorts of sensory issues as well. Take a look at the various issues which can be caused by sensory processing problems:
Auditory Sensory Processing Symptoms:
- Sensitive to loud noises
- Dislikes being in a group
- Language was delayed
Taste Sensory Processing Symptoms:
- Food textures bother them
- Won’t eat meat
- Chews on clothing
- Very selective eater (“carbivore”)
- Foods can’t touch on their plate
Touch Sensory Processing Symptoms:
- Clothing tags bother them
- Socks have to have soft seams
- Dislikes non-soft clothing such as jeans
Loud noises have always bothered both of my sons. They actually bother me and my husband as well!
My oldest son also had a tendency to chew on the neck of his shirt, he needed me to cut the tags off of all of his shirts, and he was a “carbivore”. Both of my sons had struggled with several of the other issues as well.
Once Dianne gave out these symptoms I was definitely listening. I thought these were character traits in my sons – I had no idea that they were symptoms for which we might be able to give them some relief.
Behavior Issues Originate in the Gut
Dianne said that she did some research as to what was going on in these kids that could cause them to have these symptoms. She came across some research done by different doctors, one of whom was Dr. Leo Galland.
He attributed these and other behaviors to something called “leaky gut.” When your gut doesn’t contain the right amount of beneficial bacteria your body will not produce as much serotonin as it should.
Also, the yeast in your system can grow out of control. Having an upset gut ecology causes the following symptoms:
Behavioral Characteristics of Upset Gut Ecology:
- Mood Swings
- Spaciness
- Anger/irritability/aggression
- Inconsistent performance
- Inattention
- Sensory Processing Issues
- Depression
- Asperger’s and Autistic-like behaviors
- Memory problems (math facts, spelling, etc.)
- Inappropriate behavior such as talking loudly, getting into other people’s space, etc.
Physical Characteristics of Upset Gut Ecology:
- Canker sores
- Stomach aches
- Leg pains
- Sugar Cravings
- Food allergies – especially to dairy
- Bed Wetting
- Nervousness
- Anxiety
- Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- Constipation
- Repeated ear infections
- Thrush, athlete’s foot, etc.
- Rashes, eczema
- Night terrors
Overcoming Focusing, Attention, or Sensory issues with Nutrition
The good news is that it may be quite simple to get the ecology of your child’s gut back into balance – and to greatly reduce or even eliminate the bad effects they are experiencing.
Dr. Galland recommends doing this with food; however, Dianne knows that in real life, it can be hard to get these kids to be willing to eat the foods necessary to get their gut back on track.
Because of this, she suggests several supplements which will be easier to get your child to take:
1. Take Probiotics
Plant Acidophilus in your child’s gut 3 times a day for 3 months. Dianne recommends exact brands with which she has seen the best results. These probiotics are refrigerated and they are potent!
2. Get Rid of Excess Yeast
Use an antifungal agent such as Grapefruit Seed Extract or Caprylic Acid for 3 months, 3 times a day.
3. Reduce sugar or sugary carbs
Try to reduce sugar & carbs by increasing protein, especially for breakfast and snacks. This helps to build up the adrenal gland, which stabilizes our mood and gives us more energy.
Dianne explains these and several other suggestions as well in her Biology of Behavior audio CDs, which I highly recommend.
She also discusses how antibiotics are wonderful, healing medications… however, they have some harmful side effects. The big problem Dianne talks about is that they upset the ecology of your child’s gut.
→ Related Content: Is Your Son’s Brain Starving? Solving Behavior Issues with Nutrition
Because both of my sons had multiple ear infections and were on antibiotics quite a bit as babies, my husband and I decided to try Dianne’s suggestion of the Acidophilus and grapefruit seed extract three times a day.
We noticed a difference in our sons within days! We were so pleased that we quickly put our sons on the rest of Dianne’s regimen as well.
Over time, we have tweaked what supplements our sons take according to what seems to work best for them.
My husband and I have also started taking many of these supplements. We have noticed such a difference not only in our sons but in ourselves as well.
While some children may genuinely require medication for their attention and focusing difficulties, that isn’t always the case. If your child struggles with any of the above symptoms, consider purchasing Dianne’s “Biology of Behavior” CDs and listen to what she has to say.
I’ve been thrilled with the results that we have seen and want to share what we have learned with other families who may be having similar struggles.
Listen to what Dianne has to say and see for yourself! It’s worth making the effort to try some of the above dietary changes when you know what a positive impact it could have on your child’s behavior.
Biology of Behavior – $27.99
Could Heavy Metals Be the Problem?
If you’ve tried all of the above suggestions and your child is still struggling, he may have a large dose of heavy metals in his body. Heavy metals are attracted to fat and we are exposed to them on a regular basis in the following ways:
- Amalgams (silver fillings)
- Dental work such as braces
- Vaccines
- Steroid shots
- Food cooked in aluminum pots and foil
- Mercury from seafood
- Arsenic from rice
- Lead from broth cooked with bones from conventionally raised animals
- Contrast from MRIs
- Environmental pollution
- Antibiotics
- Cosmetics and toiletries
- Old copper water pipes
- Mercury exposure from broken thermometers and light bulbs
And heavy metals can even be passed down from the mother to her child in utero. If you suspect your child may need to detox some heavy metals from his system, I have good news.
I’ve recently learned of a tasteless spray called TRS which removes toxins with a positive charge including aluminum, mercury, arsenic, fluoride, barium, strontium, uranium, lead etc), herbicides and pesticides, mold and yeast toxins, carcinogens from smoke and haze, plastic residues, and radioactive material in the body.
Some families who use TRS see results very quickly and some see more results after using it for 6 months. TRS is safe for newborns, infants, and pregnant and nursing mothers because the toxins are completely encapsulated before being removed from the body.
If you want to learn more about TRS, leave a comment and I’ll send you an invite to a Facebook group which has thousands of testimonies from people who have been helped with Lymes, Candida, vaccine injuries, regressive autism, seizures, thyroid, drug detox, heavy metals detox, and prions, and more.
Or you can order TRS yourself by going here.
Question: Do you have a child who struggles in any of these areas? Do you have any other tips you could share with parents who are dealing with these same issues? Please leave a comment below.
Will like to know more cos my son has all most all that’s listed and am worried
I would highly recommend you buy the Biology of Behavior book by Dianne Craft, then. She has all sorts of nutritional things you can try to help your son!
i wish there was mire here as well. my son has a several symptoms. low income family though, so can’t buy cd 🙁
I would recommend you follow the advice in this post. Just doing those things might make a huge difference for your son. After that, go to Dianne’s website and do some research to see what else you can do to help your son. Check out some of Dr. Leo Galland’s books from the library. That should help you to be able to figure out natural ways that you can help your son. 🙂
Is the link to the probiotic the one Dianne recommends?
Yes, that is a link to what Dianne recommends. Depending on the age of your child, you may need to one of these instead:
Nature’s Way Primadophilus for Kids
Nature’s Way Primadlphilus for Children
You mention taking probiotics 3 times daily, yet the link you give has instructions for 1 time daily. Is it still ok for children (or adults) to take 3 times daily?
Dianne recommends taking that much for 3 months and then going down to once a day. Our family did it and it definitely helped us. Feel free to look for more info on Dianne’s website or to research that yourself. I know that I was surprised at how integral a healthy gut is to our immune systems and so many other things as well. 🙂
Thank you for this link… I’m ordering Biology of Behavior asap!
This I’d definitely what we’re dealing with with our 3 yr old. It’s very exciting when you have hope! :))
Yes, it certainly does feel good. I loved the Biology of Behavior. I hope it helps!!!
Great information! I got to hear Dianne Craft last month concerning right brain learners and it was very interesting. With the grapefruit seed, is that also 3x/day for 3 months and then once daily? Is it ongoing or can you wean off once the good bacteria seem established?
Isn’t Dianne wonderful?!? Yes, 3 times a day for 3 months… then you can wean off of it. We don’t take grapefruit seed every day anymore. But I have it in the cupboard because it is a natural antibiotic. Whenever I feel like I’m coming down with something, I’ll take one or two of them in the morning and quite often I don’t catch anything. Also, if you ever need to take antibiotics again, I would do the grapefruit regimen at the same time to help counteract the negative effects. 🙂
I am all for natural interventions but please don’t be afraid to seek help from the medical community (this includes therapists). When my son was 1.5, I knew he had sensory issues so I asked for a referral to a neurologist and occupational therapist. After their evaluation, I was directed to the state’s early intervention services. If my son had not received those services from age 2-3, he would not be able to function as a typical nine year old boy today. You can go directly to the state for an evaluation for services – you do not pay for this evaluation! Bottom line, use natural remedies but also ask for help if you suspect your child is on the spectrum or has sensory issues because early intervention as is key!
Thanks for posting! This is fascinating, we have been through so many hoops with our son. We have had diagnoses and therapies and tried medications. I am happy to learn about other approaches.
You’re welcome, Debbie. I hope this information is helpful for you son!
Thanks for this useful information.
Can I administer same dosage for 8yr old kids?
You’d need to look at the back of the bottle to know the answer to that question, Caroline. I’m not a doctor or a pharmacist.
Would the probiotic and grapeseed extract dosage be the same for a 3 year old boy?
In the description for the grapefruit seed extract, they say that they don’t recommend it for children under the age of 6… although I’m not sure why. You could always try it and see how he does. Or feet him lots of grapefruit! This would probably be a good question for Dianne Craft if you wanted to ask her on her website.
As for the probiotic, Nature’s Way makes probiotics which are specifically made for children that you should probably use instead. They make a powderpowder as well as chewable tablets.
Okay thanks!
Great post! We are linking to this particularly great content on our
site. Keep up the great writing.
Thanks so much! I appreciate your kind words. 🙂
My son is 7 and has sensory processing disorder. He has pretty severe issues with eating issues. Only meat he will eat is chicken nuggets and fish sticks, though he seems to be eliminating the fish sticks now. No fruits or vegetables. I’m at my wits end. He’s brand specific and extremely particular with a lot of anxiety in regards to food. I’m always directed to food clinics but we cannot afford to send him there. Help!
You may want to try contacting Dianne Craft to see if she has any further ideas for you. She has a heart for kids and she might be willing to try to come up with a cheaper solution for you than a food clinic. Check out her materials as well. She has some excellent lectures that are available on CD and DVD.
Do you have any suggestions on how to get my 5 year old to swallow the grapefruit extract pill?
There are lots of tricks for helping young kids to swallow pills. If you’d rather, you could open the capsule and sprinkle it into some applesauce or yogurt – or mix it into some grape juice. There’s also something called the Oralflo Cup which helps kids 4 and older to swallow medication. I haven’t used this personally but it looks pretty clever!
Check with Dianne Craft re other types of Grapefruit Seed Extract. My understanding is there is a powder as well for younger kids. It can be hard on the esophagus, so make sure your child takes it the recommended way.
Omg I’m so glad I stumbled upon this! My son was told her has sensory processing disorder and it’s mainly with food. He is super high energy, gets moody frustrated and mad really fast.
I’m glad you found this post as well. I hope this information helps your son!!!
Hi Michelle,
Is it ok to take the probiotic and GSE at the same time?
Thank you!
GSE – Grapefruit Seed Extract? Just want to be sure I’m understanding you. Yes, we take those together all the time. If you have concerns, though, then check with your doctor. 🙂
My son is 6years old and when i checked the natures way probiotic it shows 12-up. what do you advise? Is there anyone for younger kids?
There are several options for probiotics for kids, depending on whether your son can swallow pills or needs chewable. If you go to Amazon and search for “Nature’s Way Primadophilus for Kids” it will show you your options. I hope that helps!
Is it Grapefruit seed extract or Caprylic acid 3x a day, or is it both 3x a day? I think I am going to order Diane’s cd, but I need to start IMMEDIATELY with my 3 year old son. I’m a pretty desperate Mom here!
I have loaned out my copy of Dianne’s CDs right now so I can’t double-check it for you. We used grapefruit seed extract so I’m certain that that one is 3 times a day. I think the caprylic acid was as well but since we didn’t use it, I’m not 100% sure. Here are some questions/answers directly from Dianne’s site which may help you: https://www.diannecraft.org/biology-of-behavior-faq-update-part-1/
Hi I’m interested in TRS and the facebook group for that as well
thanks
I just sent you an email with the information you requested, Joyce. Let me know if you have any questions!
I would love to join the Facebook group and learn more!