Eating Healthy Food Leads To Healthy Kids

Philosophy of Holistic Nutrition


The philosophy of holistic nutrition is that a person’s health is an expression of the complex interactions between the physical, mental and emotional, as well as spiritual, chemical, and environmental aspects of the individual’s life and being. Practitioners trained in holistic nutrition believe health and healing begins with a whole-person perspective. Using education as a primary tool, holistic nutrition practitioners emphasize the enhancement of health and reduce the risk of disorder or disease by recognizing that each person is a unique individual. This requires the individual be actively involved in his/her health recovery process and honoring his/her innate wisdom by working in an empowering and cooperative manner to map out a course to optimal health.

  • Identifying the Root Cause of the Behaviors

    • Lifestyle Changes
    o Organic Holistic Nutrition (Henele, 2013)
    o Nutritional Supplements as needed (Rucklidge, 2014 & Yehuda, 2011)
    o Physical Activity (Young, 2014)
    o Meditation / Yoga (Travis et al., 2011; White, 2009 & Gavalas, 2013)
    o Modifications – Kitchen Cookware & Storage Containers (Henele, 2013)
    o Involve the Whole Family in Shopping & Cooking
    • Delayed Food Allergy (IgG) Testing (Henele, 2013)
    • Educational Opportunities for the Entire Family
    • Educational Opportunities for School Districts (Micha et al., 2010 & Pittman et al., 2012)
    • Educational Opportunities for Communities

  • Positive Results

    • Allows children to be involved in their treatment & take responsibility for their choices
    • Safe with little or no side effects
    • Re-establishes nutritional balance
    • Restores self-confidence
    • Rebuilds damaged relationships
    • Improves overall feelings of self
    • Healthier Kids
    • Healthier Families
    • Healthier Communities (Key Findings, 2014)

If You’re Into The Research - Check Out These References

A new report describing how US children are diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. (2015). Retrieved from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/features/how-us-children-diagnosed.html

Arnold, L. E., Lofthouse, N., & Hurt, E. (2012). Artificial food colors and attention-deficit/hyperactivity symptoms: Conclusions to dye for. Neurotherapeutics, 9(3), 599-609. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13311-012-0133-x

Bernardi, S., Faraone, S. V., Cortese, S., Kerridge, B. T., Pallanti, S., Wang, S., & Blanco, C. (2012). The lifetime impact of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Results from the national epidemiologic survey on alcohol and related conditions (NESARC). Psychological Medicine, 42(4), 875-87. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S003329171100153X

Boorady, R. (2016). Side effects of ADHD medications: What to look for, and how to handle them. Retrieved from the Child Mind Institute website at http://childmind.org/article/side-effects-of-adhd-medication/

Bouchard, M. F., Bellinger, D. C., Wright, R. O., & Weisskopf, M. G. (2010).  Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and urinary metabolites of organophosphate pesticides in U.S. children 8-15 years. Pediatrics 125(6). 1270-1277. doi:10.1542/peds.2009-3058.

Causes of ADHD. (2021). Retrieved from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/facts.html

Childhood hyperactive behaviors exacerbated by food additives and artificial colorings. (2007). Pediatric Health, 1(1), 09-11. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.2217/17455111.1.1.9

DSM-5 Criteria for ADHD. (2016). Retrieved from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/diagnosis.html

Gavalas, E. (2013). Kids yoga may help relieve ADHD.  Retrieved from the HuffPost Health Living blog at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elaine-gavalas/yoga-for-adhd_b_3849766.html

Henele, E. (2013). Energetic Health, Volume 1, Interesting Insights into Natural Medicine. Genesis Health Systems. Los Angeles, CA

Jaslow, R. (2012). CDC: Kids consume too much sugar, mostly from processed foods.  Retrieved from the CBS News website at http://www.cbsnews.com/news/cdc-kids-consume-too-much-sugar-mostly-from-processed-foods

Kamal, M., Bener, A., & Ehlayel, M. S. (2014). Is high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency a correlate for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder? ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders, 6(2), 73+. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA369292527&v=2.1&u=lirn12711&it=r&p=HRCA&sw=w&asid=8cd42baeb3c37bfe2f0a10bfa5bc1629

Kim, Y. & Chang, H. (2011).  Correlation between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and sugar consumption, quality of diet, and dietary behavior in school children. Nutrition Research and Practice 5(3). doi: 10.4162/nrp.2011.5.3.236

Key findings of the prevalence of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Its diagnosis and treatment in a community based epidemiologic study. (2014). Retrieved from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/features/adhd-key-findings-play.html

Medical Costs (2022). ADHD Numbers: Facts, Statistics, and You.  Retrieved from the A.D.D. Resource Center at https://www.addrc.org/adhd-numbers-facts-statistics-and-you/

Micha, R., Rogers, P. J., & Nelson, M. (2010). The glycemic potency of breakfast and cognitive function in school children. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 64(9), 948-57. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2010.96

Mueller, A. K., Fuermaier, A. B. M., Koerts, J., & Tucha, L. (2012). Stigma in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders, 4(3), 101–114. http://doi.org/10.1007/s12402-012-0085-3

New report finds 43 percent increase in ADHD diagnosis for US school children. (2015). Retrieved from the Science Daily website at https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151208150630.htm

Pittman, D. W., Parker, J. S., Getz, B. R., Jackson, C. M., Le, T. -., Riggs, S. B., & Shay, J. M. (2012). Cost-free and sustainable incentive increases healthy eating decisions during elementary school lunch. International Journal of Obesity, 36(1), 76-9. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2011.205

Pizzorno, J. and Murray, M. (2011). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Chapter 16, pg. 1252-1255. Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, St. Louis, MO

Polanczyk, G., de Lima, M. S., Horta, B. L., Biederman, J., & Rohde, L. A. (2007). The worldwide prevalence of ADHD: a systematic review and meta regression analysis. The American journal of psychiatry, 164(6), 942–948. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.2007.164.6.942

Randall, I. (2020). Chemicals commonly used in food packaging, cosmetics, fragrances, and pharmaceuticals may trigger ADHD in teenagers, study warns.  Retrieved from DailyMail.com, Science & Tech website at https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8674773/Chemicals-used-food-packaging-cosmetics-fragrances-medicines-trigger-ADHD-teenagers.html

Rucklidge, J. J., & Kaplan, B. J. (2014). Broad-spectrum micronutrient treatment for attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity disorder: Rationale and evidence to date. CNS Drugs, 28(9), 775-85. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1640741818?accountid=158302

Skounti, M., Philalithis, A., & Galanakis, E. (2007). Variations in prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder worldwide. European Journal of Pediatrics, 166(2), 117-23. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00431-006-0299-5

Small, S. (2003).  Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: General education elementary school teachers' knowledge, training, and ratings of acceptability of interventions.  Retrieved from http://www.scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/1479/ 

Stevenson, J. (2006). Dietary influences on cognitive development and behavior in children. The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 65(4), 361-365. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0029665106005118

Swanson, N. L. (2013). GMO’s & Neurological Disease: ADHD, Autism, Alzheimer’s Schizophrenia, Bipolar. Retrieved from the Sott.net website at http://www.sott.net/article/267227-GMOs-Neurological-Disease-ADHD-Autism-Alzheimers-Schizophrenia-Bipolar

Treatment of ADHD (2021).  Retrieved from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/treatment.html

Travis, F., Grosswald, S., & Stixrud, W. (2011). ADHD, brain functioning, and transcendental meditation practice. Mind & Brain, 2(1) Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/881276396?accountid=158302

Walker, S., Venter, A., van der Walt, A. & Esterhuyse, K.G. (2011). Prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptomatology and psychiatric co-morbidity among adolescents diagnosed with ADHD in childhood. South African Journal of Psychiatry. 17(1). p. 24. http://www.hmpg.co.za/journaldetail.php?journalno=4

Weiss, B. (2012). Synthetic food colors and neurobehavioral hazards: The view from environmental health research. Environmental Health Perspectives, 120(1), 1-5. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/919707925?accountid=158302

Western diet linked to ADHD. (2011). Chiropractic Journal, 25(4), 32. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/846994350?accountid=158302

White, L. S. (2009). Yoga for children. Pediatric Nursing, 35(5), 277-83, 295. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/199437885?accountid=158302

Yehuda, S., Rabinovitz-Shenkar, S., & Carasso, R. L. (2011). Effects of essential fatty acids in iron deficient and sleep-disturbed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) children. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 65(10), 1167-9. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2011.80

Young, J. H. (2014). A systemic review assessing the efficacy of physical activity in the school setting as a mediator to behavior, cognitive, and academic performance in students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).  Retrieved from ResearchGate.net website at h http://www.researchgate.net/publication/281298292