Behavior-Diet 

Are They Connected?

Behavior-Diet

Does one really influence the other? I know that behavior-diet are connected, but in our society today, the answer to emotional and behavior problems seems to be to drug our children. Is there a safer, more practical way of identifying and correcting behavior problems in our children? I think, in some cases, the answer lies in the real and direct connection between diet and behavior.

You Are What You Eat

There was an age old expression – you are what you eat. If we are feeding our kids loads of processed overly sweetened and artificial food, how can we expect them to grow up healthy much less with socially acceptable behavior? The food that is available in every mega-market these days is loaded with additives that someone has declared is safe for our consumption – but are they really?

There are also medical conditions which cause food to effect behavior, as well as things in the environment and even the weather! These are all things that happen in my house each and every day. I see with my own eyes what happens when my children eat certain foods, are exposed to things in the environment and we all know for certain when the weather is going to change, or when there is a storm on the way. I know that behavior-diet are connected.

Proof?

There are studies out there which show the behavior-diet relationship, but I am not going to quote scientific, medical, or even political statistics here. You get enough of those every day to know that numbers, studies, and opinion can be made to show anything they want – all I am going to do is tell you about the experience of my family. You want proof? Come and live with us for a few days! I know there are plenty of families out there who can say the exact same thing, and this is for you!

Anielei

Anielei has eosinophilic gastroenteritis, which means that her immune system responds to most foods the way it should respond to biological invaders. We continue to trial foods, but she only has about 5 or 6 things that she can eat without reacting. How does she react? Well, one of the obvious reactions is gastrointestinal, but she can react without any noticeable change in her digestion with her behavior. The behavior-diet connection! And that is how we knew when she was failing certain food trials even before there was any noticeable physical reaction.

Amazing. A change in behavior due to a change in diet. And, oh yes! We have had doctors and psychologists, therapists and psychiatrists tell us there is no connection between behavior and diet. Not one of them ever asked what she is fed in relation to her behavior – and most times in relation to her overall health! 

Cosette

Other examples from our own house include removing gluten (wheat) from Cosette’s diet. There has been a noticeable improvement in how she feels and since she has been gluten-free, she has begun to make progress in her social and communication skills. Cosette is on the Autism spectrum, and there are many articles out there about the positive results of removing gluten from their diets. Again - the behavior-diet connection is there and it is real. 

What we Learned About Food Sources

We have learned a lot about food and what is in it since we have been dealing with food allergies for the past 15 years. Now we look at everything, and read every label. We stay away from the mega food marts, canned and processed food, and we buy as much as we can from natural and organic local farmers. Over the years of buying our food at the local farmers market, we have gotten to know many of the farmers and we know who to trust and who to buy from.

Don’t assume just because it is at a farmers market that it is pure food, or even grown locally! Just as you should not assume that buying fresh or organic food at the mega mart that you are not also getting chemical sprays, dyes, waxes and coloring. These all affect the behavior-diet relationship as well.

We now buy our meat by the cow or pig (half or whole!), and we have found where to buy naturally raised chickens and eggs. You will be surprised at the difference it makes. We buy locally grown fruits and vegetables all season long – often going to pick our own (kids love to go fruit picking!) and freezing or canning it for the winter months. If you look around you can probably find a farmer who will pre-sell you fresh greens all season – and through the miracle of greenhouses – all winter, too.

Behavior- Diet

Behavior-Diet are directly connected, but you will be hard-pressed to find a doctor who will back up that statement or even recommend dietary changes – beyond the standard: “eat a healthy, well balanced diet, low in fat and sugar”. The latest food pyramid being pushed by the FDA is absolutely certain to make your children sick and candidates for obesity and diabetes. But the most dangerous is all the stuff they put in the food to make it last longer and look better.

Additives

It will cost you more to get food without the chemicals and drugs in it, but it is worth it.

What they don’t tell you is that these additives that are supposedly safe for human consumption do not leave the body and build up over time. Now you do have a problem. Same with HFCS or High Fructose Corn Syrup they are pushing in commercials now. What they don’t tell you is that they take what comes from natural sources and chemically modify it until your body cannot process it like it does with natural sugars. And yes, in moderation it may not cause damage for years to come, but HFCS is in everything - it is nearly impossible to consume it in moderation.

Emotional Behavioral Issues

If your child is having emotional and behavioral issues, take a look at the behavior-diet connection. Look very closely at what your child is eating. ADHD, learning disabilities, Bipolar, Autism, ODD, OCD, anxiety – look at what your child is eating.

This is not a cure-all, and in no way is a suggestion that you do not seek professional help, if needed, but sometimes a small change (or a BIG change!) in your child’s diet may make a huge difference – with definite long-term benefits. We have been consulting dieticians, pediatricians, gastro-eneterologists, and a host of others, so be assured that this information - and decisions about our children's diet - have been carefully researched and we have obtained the opinion of many experts. 

Remember – you are the parent – you decide what your child eats and not the other way around! Just cut out the soft drinks and excess sugar your children consume – then write and tell me about the noticeable differences in health and behavior!

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