3 Benefits of the Color of Vegetables

3 Benefits of the Color of Vegetables

The 3 benefits of the Color of Vegetables discussed here expand to much more. However, to simplify, let's categorize the benefits of the color of vegetables into three broad categories: (post contains affiliate links)

1) Minerals

2) Vitamins

3) Phytonutrients

(This post contains affiliate links).

I. Color Provides Minerals

The four main minerals in vegetables are magnesium, potassium, manganese, and iron.

Magnesium

Magnesium is found in ALL green vegetables. If you read my previous post on magnesium, you already know that magnesium is the central atom in the chlorophyll molecule.

Magnesium protects against depression and prevents excess blood clots. It also helps the body digest nutrients, and builds strong bones.

Green vegetables include broccoli, spinach, zucchini, asparagus, and cucumber.

Potassium

Potassium and sodium are important for fluid regulation in the cells. When there is enough potassium in the diet, sodium and potassium are in balance. This regulates the amount of fluid your cells hold. However, if not enough potassium is eaten, water retention occurs.

For example, excess water in the cells causes the heart and kidneys to work harder. Sufficient potassium in the diet will fight against high blood pressure and protect the heart and kidneys.

Potassium rich vegetables include potatoes, including sweet potatoes, beet greens, swiss chard, and lima beans.

Manganese

The benefits of manganese include prevention of Epileptic seizures. In addition, manganese helps control blood sugar levels in Diabetics. Manganese is also important for healthy bones and protects against bone fractures.

Vegetables rich in manganese include lima beans, lentils, and green leafy vegetables.

Iron

Iron has been discussed previously. However, it is an important mineral in the formation of healthy red blood cells and for preventing anemia.

Lentils, spinach, chick peas (garbanzo beans), and collard greens are all high in iron. See below for my delicious Lentil Stew recipe.

II. Color Provides Vitamins

Vitamins A, C, B6, and Folate are four vitamins that are abundant in all vegetables, regardless of color.

Vitamin A

Deficiency of vitamin A results in dry skin, eczema, dry eyes, and night blindness. Also, vitamin A deficiency is associated with acne, stunted growth, and infertility.

Vegetables high in vitamin A include kale, pumpkin, carrots, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes.

Vitamin C

As mentioned previously, vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that fights infection and protects skin cells from sun damage. As a result, deficiency of vitamin C results in scurvy, poor wound healing, reduced immunity.

Vegetables high in vitamin C include broccoli, spinach, tomatoes, and bell pepper

Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 is essential for protein metabolism and healthy nerve function. Also, vitamin B6 is important in forming red blood cells.

Foods rich in vitamin B6 include carrots and spinach.

Folate

Protects against Birth Defects

III. Color Provides Unique Phytonutrients

I have written previously about phytonutrients. So, I don't want to bore you here. Just a quick summary with a link to the original post will suffice, I hope. 🙂

Lycopene

Lycopenes are found in tomatoes, red bell peppers, beets, and other red vegetables. Click here to read more.

Carotenoids

Beta-Carotene and other carotenoids are found in carrots, yellow and orange bell peppers, pumpkins and sweet potatoes.

Anthocyanins

Anthocyanins are found in blue, purple and red vegetables. One interesting tidbit I didn't mention previously is that the anthocyanins change color depending on the pH of the food. For example, science experiments on acid and base result in red cabbage changing color.

Chlorophyll

The fact that chlorophyll is the basis for the green in plants and that it has magnesium at the center of its molecule fascinates me. Read more about chlorophyll here.

Green vegetables include avocado, asparagus, broccoli, spinach, green beans, and green peas.

Anthoxanthins

Anthoxanthins are antioxidants and are found in white/colorless/brown vegetables. So, expect anthoxanthins to be in garlic, onion, mushrooms, parsnips, turnips, radishes, and lentils.

Read more about phytonutrients here.

As most of you know, I'm working on education materials. I am designing these materials to help you more easily communicate to your kids the importance of eating fruits and vegetables.

I'm also hoping these materials will help you and your kids meet educational standards requirements. So far, I've produced pre-k to kindergarten fruit color matching and vegetable color matching. When I am finished, there will be something for all ages!

Fruit Matching Activity

Vegetable Matching Activity

https://www.myfooddata.com/articles/high-potassium-vegetables.php

Lentil Tomato Spinach Stew
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Lentil Tomato Spinach Stew

Delicious, fragrant, healthy and inexpensive/frugal 
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keyword: beans, easy, frugal, healthy, high fiber, high protein, iron rich, vitamin a, vitamin c
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories: 185kcal
Author: Deborah Hanyon, MPH, RDN, ACE-CHC

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces Dried Lentils (1/2 package) Don't need to soak before cooking
  • 4.5 cups Water
  • 2 cloves Garlic
  • 1/2 cup Onions chopped
  • 1 14.5 ounce can Tomatoes (no salt)
  • 6 oz Spinach Fresh (can use frozen, thawed, 5 oz)
  • 2 tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon Oregano, dried
  • 1/8 teaspoon Black Pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt to taste
  • 2 tablespoons Parsley, fresh or 1 teaspoon dried
  • 2 tablespoons Olive Oil

Instructions

Combine all ingredients into Dutch Oven

    Bring to a Boil

      Reduce Heat and Simmer covered for 45 minutes.

        Serve with pita or sourdough bread and hummus

          Nutrition

          Serving: 1cup | Calories: 185kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 405mg | Potassium: 452mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 700IU | Vitamin C: 17.3mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 3.2mg

          Healthy Alternatives for Picky Eaters

          Healthy Alternatives for Picky Eaters

          People have been asking me what they should be feeding their kids who have ADHD. One of the major things you want to try to achieve is a balanced diet.

          What I mean by this is, regular meals and healthy snacks, sufficient protein, calcium and iron, and as natural as possible. So, I have put together three healthy alternatives for picky eaters to help make transitions easier.

          Three Healthy Alternatives for Picky Eaters

          Most kids love macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets, and don't like vegetables much. This “problem” is exacerbated when the child will only eat macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets and won't eat vegetables.  OR when all they are eating is boxed macaroni and cheese and frozen processed chicken nuggets.

          This is often the case for children with autism, ADHD, and sensory processing difficulties. As a result, I have looked for and found three healthy alternatives for picky kids, that hopefully won't be too time consuming or difficult to make. Especially because you can double the recipes and serve as leftovers and/or freeze for a later time.

          It's kind of a “Instead of this, Eat that,” scenario.

          Healthy Alternatives for Picky Eaters Number 1

          Hiding vegetables in sauce by pureeing the sauce and vegetables together.

          I discovered a recipe “Hidden Veggie Mac and Cheese” a couple of months ago through Pinterest. We finally made the recipe (I had previously posted the recipe from the website–THIS IS AN UPDATE).

          I decided after thinking about it for a few months that this recipe would probably not be successful because of the cauliflower and butternut squash. Our son hates cauliflower, and the texture of squash is just too much for him.

          I evaluated the nutrition facts on MyFitnessPal.com last night, after my husband made the macaroni and cheese and my son loved it.

          The vitamin A in each serving is increased from about 7% to over 40% from our original homemade macaroni and cheese. This with only 1/2 cup of carrots. I would've liked to add more to the recipe but didn't want to overdo it because my son is so picky.

          Foods HIgh in Iron
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          High Protein Mac and Cheese with Carrots

          This delicious, creamy, healthy macaroni and cheese will tickle your kids' taste buds.
          Prep Time15 minutes
          Cook Time15 minutes
          Total Time30 minutes
          Course: Main Course
          Cuisine: American
          Keyword: adhd diet, autism diet, autism menu, high protein, kid friendly recipes, recipes kids love, vitamin a
          Servings: 6 Servings
          Calories: 334kcal
          Author: Deborah Hanyon, MPH, RDN, ACE-CHC

          Ingredients

          Carrots

          • 3/4 cup water 1/2 cup plus 1/4 cup water
          • 3 medium carrots Yield 1/2 cup pureed carrots

          White Sauce

          • 1 1/2 cups 2% milk
          • 2 tbsp flour
          • 3 tbsp butter
          • 1/2 tsp salt
          • 1 dash white pepper

          Cheese

          • 4 ounces shredded cheddar or other favorite cheese 1 cup shredded

          Pasta

          Instructions

          • Cook carrots in 1/2 cup water until soft enough to puree.
          • Add carrots to food processor or small blender with 1/4 cup water.
          • Puree until smooth

          For White Sauce

          • Melt Butter in medium saucepan
          • Add flour, salt and white pepper to pan
          • Mix with wire whisk
          • Add milk all at once, stirring constantly.
          • Use wire whisk to evenly distribute flour mixture and to prevent lumps
          • Stir milk mixture constantly at medium heat, until mixture is thickened and boiling.
          • Cook 2 minutes longer.
          • Remove from heat
          • Add shredded cheese and 1/2 cup carrot puree
          • Pour over pasta and stir
          • Serve as is OR sprinkle with extra cheese and bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes for gooey topping

          Nutrition

          Calories: 334kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 219mg | Potassium: 543mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2150IU | Vitamin C: 1.7mg | Calcium: 80mg | Iron: 3.6mg

          My son likes macaroni and cheese in all forms, except I have had a tough time recently getting him to accept whole wheat pasta with his cheese. My solution to this problem is to use lentil pasta. This is perfect for those of you who are gluten-free or who are trying to reduce the amount of wheat in your diet.

          Lentil pasta is super high in protein, and an excellent source of iron, folate, magnesium, and fiber.

          When I cook lentil pasta, I usually cook it a little longer than the package directions say. This is because it doesn't taste as good al dente, and my son complains unless it's just right–past al dente state.

          Personally, I think we all could benefit from eating a wider variety of grains and legumes. In fact, I've recently been scratching my head wondering when did we start eating only wheat pasta and bread?

          He likes this better than the original mac and cheese recipe

          Healthy Alternatives for Picky Eaters Number 2

          Making Cream of Fresh Vegetable Soups.

          This is one I've been using successfully for years.

          Broccoli, carrots, potatoes, and mushrooms all make excellent pureed cream soups. And there are others as well. However, my son likes the broccoli soup the best, especially if I add cheese. (Can anyone say, “Cheese Sauce?”)

          Cream of Broccoli Soup

          Click here for pureed vegetable soup recipes

          When you give your picky eaters vegetable soup, you are not only giving them more vegetables, but you are also helping to make sure their fluid needs are being met. This is one way I use to help prevent my son from being dehydrated, since he won't drink water.

          Healthy Alternatives for Picky Eaters Number 3

          Processed chicken nuggets…Not only are they expensive, but most of them are filled with artificial stuff and preservatives galore. Plus, they are high in sodium. So, making homemade chicken nuggets (or tenders if you prefer), is a fantastic way to ensure you child is getting enough protein in their diet. The recipe below can be doubled or tripled, or even cut in half, and the rest can be frozen for future use.

          Homemade Chicken Nuggets

          Ingredients

          2 pounds chicken breast meat (tenders, fillets) cut into 1-inch pieces/squares

          1 cup flour of choice (wheat, rice, or Bob's gluten free flour, for example)

          1 cup Panko or other breadcrumbs (gluten-free option)

          2 eggs

          1 cup milk

          1 teaspoon garlic salt (We use Lawry's, because it has no MSG or artificial colors or flavors)

          Canola oil (okay to use other vegetable oil, but don't use olive oil, because olive oil has a low smoke point, and will smoke)

          Directions

          Mix egg and milk together until combined in one bowl

          Mix garlic salt with flour

          Put flour mixture in separate bowl

          Put Panko crumbs in separate bowl

          (Keep flour, panko, and egg mixture in separate bowls)

          Dip chicken in flour first, and egg mixture second, then dip chicken in panko mixture last.

          Preheat canola oil in pan, about an inch deep, until temperature reaches 350 degrees F

          Carefully place coated chicken pieces in oil, and cook until golden brown, about 10 minutes.

          Place cooked chicken pieces on paper towel covered bowl to drain excess oil.

          Makes about 20 nuggets

          Click here for recipe

          Other things you might find helpful:

          Sensory Play for Toddlers Using Regular Household Items

          Why are Kids Picky Eaters?

          Preschool Food Theme Activities

          Whole Wheat Versus White Flour Baking

           

          Why a Zinc Deficiency May Be Contributing to Your Child’s Pickiness

          Why a Zinc Deficiency May Be Contributing to Your Child’s Pickiness


          Why a Zinc Deficiency May be Contributing to Your Child's Pickiness

          There are SO MANY THINGS that can be causing your child's picky eating behavior. From sensory/tactile issues, to food allergies and intolerances, the cause and cure can seem impossible to figure out. Limited food intake, including few different foods accepted, can make the problem even harder to figure out. There is often a vicious cycle of unwillingness to try new foods which then results in a limited variety of foods eaten. The fewer different foods a child eats the more likely they are to be deficient in one or more vitamins and minerals.  Often, the deficiency can make the appetite disappear, and can affect taste and smell.  This is especially the case with zinc.

          Zinc is an important nutrient. It is a trace mineral that is vital for a healthy immune system. Research has shown that taking zinc for five months before and even within 24 hours of catching a cold can actually shorten the cold recovery time.

          Besides iron, zinc is the most concentrated trace mineral found in the human body. It is also important for wound healing. In fact, a common practice in long-term care facilities is to give zinc and Vitamin C supplements to patients JUST IN CASE they develop a wound, or in order to prevent a wound from developing.

          Adequate zinc also helps to ensure proper growth in children as well as a healthy appetite. Not only does a lack of zinc in the diet affect appetite, it also affects taste and smell.

          Symptoms of zinc deficiency include:

          • Frequent infections
          • Hypogonadism in males
          • Loss of hair
          • Poor appetite
          • Problems with the sense of taste
          • Problems with the sense of smell
          • Skin sores
          • Slow growth
          • Trouble seeing in the dark
          • Wounds that take a long time to heal

          Although in the ideal world, everyone would eat all the right foods in all the right amounts, this is obviously not the case. As a result, I normally encourage parents of picky kids to take a multivitamin with minerals to help offset the potential nutrient imbalances. Unfortunately, gummy vitamins do not have sufficient minerals of any kind in them.

          I really do not recommend mega doses of any one nutrient unless there is a proven reason for it.  This is because when a person takes an excessive amount of one nutrient, it can make it difficult for the body to digest other important nutrients.

          The best and safest way to ensure proper nutrition is through the diet. However, if there is a severe deficiency, and your child doesn't eat much, it may be necessary to supplement. How much to give your child really depends on the level of deficiency, the age and weight of your child, and other factors.  So, if you suspect that your child might have a zinc deficiency, I suggest you have them tested first.

          So, how do you determine if your child has a zinc deficiency? Unfortunately, traditional blood tests will not be able to rule out a zinc deficiency. There is one test that may at least help determine if zinc deficiency is a possibility. It's called the “Zinc Taste Test.” However, it is probably not all that accurate either. And it might be difficult to get a picky eater to cooperate anyway.  It you can convince your child, It might not hurt to try it, but I would talk to your child's doctor first. In the meantime, it will be helpful to know what the best sources of zinc are.

          Keep in mind that often a person will crave something they are low in. For example, my son loves seafood. Despite that he is so picky, he will eat oysters, octopus, clams, squid (I know, right?).

          Good Sources of Zinc

          • oysters, and some other types of seafood
          • beans
          • poultry
          • fortified breakfast cereals
          • nuts
          • dairy products
          • red meat
          • whole grains

          References

          Help with picky eaters.

          https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22784341

          Strickland, Elizabeth. Eating for Autism: The 10-Step Nutrition Plan to Help Treat Your Child's Autism, Asperger's, or ADHD (Kindle Locations 3027-3029). Perseus Books Group. Kindle Edition.

          https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002416.htm

          Diet and ADHD in Children – Part 2

          Diet and ADHD in Children – Part 2

          In the previous post, Diet and ADHD in children, Part 1, I focused on


          Making sure your child is getting his or her basic nutritional needs met.

          Today I'm going to focus on how to avoid (or minimize) the food additives that are detrimental to his or her health.

          Since reading the book, “Eating for Autism,” and others like it, I have made quite a few changes to Nathan's diet. That is, I've removed things that I've decided aren't so good for him.

          I must be honest when I say that I haven't noticed any remarkable changes in his behavior, like many have when making these significant changes. However, I still know that it's making a difference. One of the things about prevention is that you're preventing it from happening. So, obviously it didn't happen. You can't know about something that didn't happen, right? I believe that's important to remember.

          It's not just about reducing behavior and allergy issues; it's about preventing them from happening at all.

          The process is complicated and time consuming. However, if you have a child with major behavior issues, who is nonverbal, or has any other extreme symptoms, you may find the time and effort worth it in the end.

          The next step is straight forward:

          Get Rid of Harmful Toxins

          So, what should you strive to remove, or at least reduce, and why? You should eliminate all synthetic food additives because evidence is growing that these additives do affect people who are sensitive.

          Food additives include artificial colors, artificial flavors, artificial preservatives, and artificial sweeteners. Click here for partial list

          One of the issues with toxins is that there are so many of them in the diet of Americans. And food manufacturers are quite skilled at hiding these worrisome ingredients under different names. For example, MSG (Monosodium Glutamate), which I will talk about in a minute. But first, let's talk about “GRAS.”

          GRAS

          “GRAS,” which stands for “Generally Regarded as Safe,” is the label or certification the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gives when they determine that an ingredient in food is safe to eat. Once a food is labeled as “GRAS,” it's impossible to get it removed from this list.  Unfortunately, many food ingredients that have been labeled GRAS aren't necessarily safe for everyone.

          Here's what the FDA has to say about GRAS:

          “GRAS” is an acronym for the phrase Generally Recognized as Safe. Under sections 201(s) and 409 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act), any substance that is intentionally added to food is a food additive, that is subject to premarket review and approval by FDA, unless the substance is generally recognized, among qualified experts, as having been adequately shown to be safe under the conditions of its intended use, or unless the use of the substance is otherwise excepted from the definition of a food additive. (Emphasis Mine)

          But if you look at the list of food additives, you might not be feeling so positive about the “safe” part of GRAS, especially when you realize that certain substances were “grandfathered” into the GRAS designation under the Food Additive Amendment of 1958. In other words, they were never really tested for safety before GRAS was slapped on them.

          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generally_recognized_as_safe

          Saccharin is one of these ingredients.

          Saccharin, which has been clearly shown to cause bladder cancer in rats, is still on the market because it falls under “GRAS.”

          Other ingredients that are labeled as GRAS are questionable, including Aspartame and MSG. Despite the fact that numerous people have reported adverse symptoms to Aspartame and MSG, the FDA refuses to budge on its classification of GRAS for both additives.

          https://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/GRAS/

          So, GRAS was created in an effort by the FDA to monitor food additives. The designation GRAS, according to the FDA, is supposed to mean the food additive is safe for the general public. But kids with ADD, ADHD, and Autism are not the “general public.” And studies are showing that many of these food additives have detrimental effects on these kids and other sensitive people.

          Many of these additives contain suspicious ingredients or are created by suspicious means. For example, artificial colors.

          Artificial Colors

          Most artificial colors contain Coal Tar. Coal Tar is a by-product of coal, and it has been shown to be a carcinogen. So, besides the fact that artificial colors have been shown to increase behavior problems and hyperactivity, there's the risk of cancer. Coal tar is also used in shampoo, soap, and as a treatment for lice (yikes)!

          The current artificial colors used include Blue #1 and #2, Green #3, Red #3 and #40, Yellow #5 and Yellow #6, and Orange. Look for these ingredients on food labels if you want to avoid them.

          Artificial Flavors

          Artificial flavors are added to food to improve and enhance the flavor of natural food. For example, MSG (Monosodium Glutamate), which is the most common. Do any of you remember the old “Accent” spice? The commercials used to say, “Enhances the flavor of foods.” Well, that's what Accent is: MSG. In fact, it turns out that Accent is alive and well in the food community. My husband was just in the hospital, and I discovered that they were giving him an Accent packet on his meal trays.

          Here is the ingredient list for Accent:

          MSG, salt, chili pepper, Tricalcium Phosphate, (anticaking agent), spice (cumin, oregano), Paprika Extractives (color), Garlic Extractives, Onion Extractives, Yellow Lake No. 6, Yellow Lake No. 5.

          Hello!!!???

          I could not eat Chinese food as a child, because I got sick. I remember one time I was so sick I didn't even get out of bed. My mom was not happy with me! When I was older, someone told me it was MSG that made me sick. Fast forward to the current day. The food manufacturers still claim it's all in our head that MSG causes symptoms. Yet many Chinese (and other Asian) restaurants are MSG free.

          And the FDA is requiring MSG to be labeled if it is in a particular food. That should make us all wonder.

          Some people think MSG is addicting.

          For example, many fast foods contain MSG. I have found when I eat a lot of fast food, I want to eat more. In fact, my first job was at McDonald's. I remember that I always wanted to eat there even on my days off. Addicting? Maybe.

          While in college, I read a book titled, “The Slow Poisoning of America.” It seemed extreme at the time, but it did discuss MSG in depth. If you're interested in reading this book, it is available on Amazon.

          Some people believe that MSG is added to foods because of its addictive properties.

          Do an internet search under “Is MSG addictive?” and you will see what I mean.

          At any rate, if you are interested in removing MSG from your kids' diets, you will need to learn to identify it on food labels. Unfortunately, it's not so straight forward. Even though the FDA requires a manufacturer to state “Contains MSG” on the package, food manufacturers figure out ways to avoid putting it on the label.

          The reason is because it's not actually the sodium part of MSG that is bad. It's the glutamate part.

          Glutamate, or glutamic acid, is a naturally occurring amino acid. So, technically it's “natural.” As a result, if a food contains any form of glutamate (if it's not actually MSG), it can be labeled under “natural flavors” or “spices.”

          Also watch out for the chemicals “disodium inosinate” and “disodium guanylate,” because these are always associated with MSG. Other ingredients that contain glutamate are hydrolyzed vegetable protein, autolyzed yeast, hydrolyzed yeast, yeast extract, soy extracts, and protein isolate.

          As you can see, carefully reading labels and doing your research is extremely important, if you want to eliminate or reduce MSG in your family's diet.

          Artificial Food Preservatives

          Two artificial food preservatives that have caused controversy are butylated hydroxy anisole “BHA” and butyl hydroxytoluene “BHT.” These two preservatives are used in cereals, certain oils, and in cosmetics.

          When I first learned about BHA/BHT, I discovered that Cheerios had them listed as an ingredient. I was really bummed because Cheerios are one of my favorite cereals. Reluctantly, I stopped buying Cheerios after that.

          The good news is that Cheerios stopped using that preservative. One day I was in the grocery store, thinking, “Boy some Cheerios really sounds good right now. It's too bad they contain that cursed ingredient!” Just for fun, I checked the label. It was no longer there! So now my family can eat Cheerios again.

          So, read food labels, and re-read them again, because food manufacturers are starting to get the hint that increasing numbers of people don't want that junk in their food!

          Other common preservatives that are often not tolerated and that can be harmful are sulfites and sodium nitrites/nitrates. Sulfites are found in dried fruit, certain aged cheeses, and wine. Nitrites are found in ham, hot dogs, salami, other cold cuts, and bacon. The good news is that there are sulfite free versions of most foods. There are also nitrate free versions of cold cuts as well.

          In part 3 of this series, I will discuss specific vitamins and minerals, and why they are important, in more detail.

          What's in Your TV Dinner?

          Artificial Additives and Our Kids' Health

          Diet and ADHD in Children – Part 1

          Diet and ADHD in Children – Part 1

          ADHD and Diet in Children – Part 1. My son was diagnosed with ADHD in Kindergarten. I was a Registered Dietitian back then and had been since 2000. However, I admit all I was thinking about back then was keeping his diet balanced. This included ensuring he received enough protein, iron and other essential vitamins and minerals through the foods he ate. I never thought about diet and ADHD in children.


          I never seriously thought about food additives to avoid or specifically, “Diet and ADHD in children,” until recently.

          Nathan was pickier when he was younger, and he was thin. So, in addition to giving him a multivitamin with iron, I gave him one bottle of Pediasure every day. I also gave him 1000 IU of Vitamin D (and still do) every day. (I take 6,000 IU per day. We use Seeking Health D3 drops).

          I started giving Nathan vitamin D after I was diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency. My doctor prescribed a high dose of vitamin D (10,000 IU per day) to counteract the deficiency. The vitamin therapy had amazing effects on my mood–within 3 days I felt better. I was ready to start selling vitamin D, I was so impressed. I've struggled with depression in the past, so this was a HUGE deal!

          I also noticed that as I continued to take it, I got sick with the cold much less often. To this day, if I get a cold, it's milder and it doesn't last as long. This is the same with my son.

          More people are realizing that vitamin D is essential for much more than strong bones.

          It treats and prevents depression, increases your immune system, and is even helpful for diabetes. However, not everyone is on the bandwagon.

          The standard 400 IU is not enough to prevent deficiency in most people, but this is the most common amount on multivitamin labels. In fact, this is still another vitamin that many people are deficient in, and most aren't even aware of it. (See my articles on Zinc Deficiency and Magnesium Deficiency for two other examples).

          The research is still catching up on how important vitamin D is for good health. However, the vitamin D council has the latest, and the most accurate information regarding vitamin D. (Vitamin D is not actually a vitamin. It's a hormone and is part of the endocrine system). Click here for my article about foods high in Vitamin D.

          Diet and ADHD - Child in Striped Shirt Eating Fruit Loops Cereal

          What about Additives to Avoid?

          Okay, so I was satisfied with the fact that Nathan was getting all the most important nutrients through his diet and/or through the supplements I was giving him. One thing I didn't think about back then, however, was whether there were food additives in his diet that could be contributing to his symptoms. I never asked the question, “Do certain foods or ingredients affect kids with ADHD?”

          New Discovery of the Importance of Diet and Children with ADHD

          I didn't start thinking about food additives until Nathan was seven, because I was overwhelmed with all his other issues. And let's face it. Most doctors don't emphasize food or nutrition as potential therapy for special kids such as ours. My son's doctor certainly didn't.

          As a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, we are required to complete a certain number of continuing education units.  So, when it was time to search for that perfect continuing education class, I came across an awesome book titled, “Eating for Autism,” by Elizabeth Strickland. When I read this book, the lights started coming on. And I immediately made changes to further improve Nathan's health.

          For example, I immediately put Nathan on a high-quality Omega-3 supplement. (I will talk more later about why quality is so important and how to know you are getting the best quality). I also changed his multivitamin so that it did not contain any artificial flavors or colors. Previously he was taking Flintstones chewable vitamins, which were prescribed by his pediatrician. He wasn't taking omega-3s at all before this.

          I want to point out a few things that I believe are important to know about children's multivitamins.

          When Nathan's pediatrician first prescribed multivitamins, I had to tell the pharmacist I wanted iron in the vitamin, because the doctor ordered them without iron.  The doctor was worried about the supplement causing constipation.  However, a multivitamin with iron only contains 100% of the US RDA and shouldn't cause constipation (be sure to check with your doctor before making changes like this).  Normally, iron causes constipation when taken as a single mineral supplement because it is a larger amount. NOTE: I do not recommend iron supplements without a doctor's order because of the risk of toxicity.

          A separate iron supplement should only be necessary if your child is diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia (low iron in the blood). This requires a simple blood test. At that point, the risks of constipation outweigh the risks of iron-deficiency anemia.

          Cow's Milk and Iron Deficiency

          I previously worked for the Women, Infant, and Children program as a Public Health Nutritionist. While there, I discovered that iron deficiency is common. I also completed my master's degree project on Iron Deficiency Anemia and its connection to excessive cow's milk intake.  So, this issue is close to heart.

          For those interested, the results of the study showed that children who stay on the bottle longer than 12 months are at increased risk of iron deficiency anemia.

          This is because:

          1. Cow's milk has no iron, and in fact too much cow's milk can interfere with iron absorption (affect the ability of your child to use the iron from other foods)
          2. Drinking from a bottle usually means drinking substantial amounts of milk. Whole milk is high in calories*, and so will fill the child up and make him less interested in other foods (such as iron rich foods).

          So, prevention of iron deficiency was important to me before Nathan was even born.

          This is because Iron deficiency is serious and should not be taken lightly.

          Iron deficiency anemia results in developmental delays, (and can even cause permanent mental retardation, if it's severe enough, and doesn't get treated). Iron deficiency also results in increased risk of infection, fatigue, and a whole slew of other issues. Prevention is the best treatment.  The good news is that most doctors test for iron deficiency early on. If your child has not been tested. I strongly encourage you to get him or her tested.

          It is important to note that if there is no deficiency of iron, and your doctor has not ordered an iron supplement to treat the deficiency, a simple multivitamin with iron should prevent iron deficiency anemia, even if the diet is inadequate in iron.

          I gave Nathan the Flintstones vitamins with iron for several years. They were free through his insurance. Once I started learning more about the risks of artificial colors and their effects on kids with ADHD and autism, I started giving him vitamins that don't contain artificial additives.  I paid for these myself, which was worth it to me. Although to be fair to the doctor, she might have been willing to prescribe the healthier ones, I just never asked.

          It's important to know that gummy vitamins do not contain iron.

          It can be hard to get your kid to chew healthier multivitamins. This is something I started having problems with. Nathan got to a point where he wouldn't take the chewable vitamins. Of course, he liked the gummy vitamins. However, I knew he needed iron to prevent anemia, because he wasn't eating much meat at all (or meat alternatives, such as eggs, beans, peas, nuts, seeds). So, I searched high and low for gummy vitamins that contained iron. I could not find one with iron!

          So, if you want your child to get iron in his multivitamin, you'll need to find another type than gummies.

          (If you know of a gummy vitamin with iron, please let me know)!

          So, back to the first step to healing.  I didn't necessarily do the steps in order (nor did I even do all the steps. For example, I see no evidence that Nathan is gluten or casein intolerant).  However, I'm going to try to talk about them in order–sort of.

          Anyone who knows me knows that I tend to jump around from topic to topic when I'm talking. Since I am writing to you, that shouldn't be too much of a problem!

          First, like I discussed above, make sure your child is getting his or her basic nutritional needs met.  You can do this by:

          1. Completing a 3-day diary of everything your child eats. (Click here for a basic 3-day food record–it's free–that I whipped up). Make it as detailed as possible, including serving sizes, brand names, time of day eaten, how much actually eaten, how much your child likes the food. Remember it's only 3 days! 🙂
            • Try not to make any changes or improvements during this 3-day period. Don't judge yourself or your child. No one has to see this except you.
          2.  Use MyFitnessPal.com or some other calorie/nutrient calculator to help. MyFitnessPal.com will make it much easier to see any major deficiencies (or excesses) in intake off the top.
            • For example, proteins, carbohydrates (simple, complex, fiber), fats (saturated, mono and poly, trans), cholesterol
            • Vitamins A, C, sodium, potassium
            • This is a good starting point.

          After you've done a 3-day diary for your children (and yourself, if you're feeling brave :D), The next is to recognize, and then to avoid (or minimize) synthetic (artificial) food additives that are detrimental to his or her (and your) health.

          I was going to cover both parts in this post, but I realize this post is getting too long already. high-quality Omega-3 supplement. In the meantime, there's a bit of information in my post, “Artificial Additives and our Kid's Health.”

          So, in summary, record and review your children's and your (whole family's?) diets. Look for glaring deficiencies. Think about adding a multivitamin with iron (if not already taken) to your child's diet. Talk to your doctor about having your child tested for iron and/or vitamin D deficiency if you feel it's a problem.

          Ask your doctor to test for:

          1. Vitamin D deficiency. – or you can test at-home using a high-quality Vitamin D supplement. The cost of a Vitamin D kit is around $50. This may be cheaper than going to the doctor. However, either way, you should

          Check with your doctor before putting your kids on a high dose vitamin D supplement.

          1. Iron Deficiency – If the test hasn't been done recently and you are concerned about protein/iron intake.

          Click here for part 2 of “Diet and ADHD in Children.”

          Here is a basic 3-day Food Record Template, with a couple of pages for note taking.

          Click here for a free handout of food combinations that increase absorption of Iron. Hint: Combining iron rich foods and vitamin C rich foods is the key. Click here for recipes and articles on iron rich foods.

          In case you don't already know this. Adobe Reader is free and allows you to type into the document. When you click “Fill and Sign,” it allows you to type on the lines. This is something I just recently discovered.

          Take care until next time! 🙂

          Seven Surprising Symptoms of Iron Deficiency

          Recipes High in Iron and Vitamin C

          Why Are Kids Picky Eaters?

          3 Superfoods that are Truly Healthy

          Foods High in Folate and B6

          The Benefits of Iron in the Body (eBook)

          Cow's Milk Allergy or Lactose Intolerance?