ADHD Diagnosis Associated with Western Type Diet

A new Australian study shows that adolescents that eat a typical western-style diet instead of a "healthy" diet are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD.

According to Doctor Wendy Oddy, "We found a diet high in the Western pattern of foods was associated with more than double the risk of having an ADHD diagnosis compared with a diet low in the Western pattern, after adjusting for numerous other social and family influences."

Dr. Oddy is the Leader of Nutrition studies at the Perth's Telethon Institute for Child Health Research. The study examined the eating habits of more than 1800 adolescent subjects.

A western-style diet is defined as a diet that trends towards takeaway foods, confectionary, processed, fried and refined foods. These diets tend to be higher in total fat, saturated fat, refined sugar and sodium.

A "healthy" pattern is a diet high in fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains and fish.

Our lifestyle here in the United States is killing us, and it is disrupting the development of our children. The diseases that plague us are diseases of choice. We choose to eat poorly... and to develop heart disease, cancer, alzhiemer's, arthritis, asthma, obesity, diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, etc.  When are we going to wake up and realize that health is never going to be found in a pharmaceutical bottle?  When are parents going to stop hurting and killing their children through poor diets?

Keith Biggs, DC
www.eastmesachiropractor.com
biggschiropractic@gmail.com
480-985-3334

Research Australia (2010, July 29). Western diet link to ADHD, Australian study finds. ScienceDaily. Retrieved August 3, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2010/07/100729091454.htm

Vitamin E May Help Prevent Alzheimers

By Keith Biggs, DC
www.eastmesachiropractor.com
biggschiropractic@gmail.com

A recent study showed that high blood levels of Vitamin E might be helpful in reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease (AD).

The study followed 232 participants over a six year period of time. All subjects were 80+ years old and AD free at the beginning of the study.

After six years, 57 of the original 232 had developed AD. The results of the study showed that the subjects with higher blood levels of Vitamin E were 50% less likely to develop AD.

Although this study shows that  Vitamin E may play a significant role in reducing the affects of neurological aging, excessive doses of Vitamin E can be harmful.  The RDA is 15 mg for adults. The upper safe limit is estimated at 1000mg per day, according to the National Institutes of Health website.

Many foods provide vitamin E. Nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils are among the best sources. Significant amounts are available in green leafy vegetables and fortified cereals (see the table for a more detailed list). Most vitamin E in American diets is in the form of gamma-tocopherol from soybean, canola, corn, and other vegetable oils and food products.

  Selected Food Sources of Vitamin E (Alpha-Tocopherol)

Food	Milligrams (mg) per serving	Percent DV*
Wheat germ oil, 1 tablespoon	20.3	100
Almonds, dry roasted, 1 ounce	7.4	40
Sunflower seeds, dry roasted, 1 ounce	6.0	30
Sunflower oil, 1 tablespoon	5.6	28
Safflower oil, 1 tablespoon	4.6	25
Hazelnuts, dry roasted, 1 ounce	4.3	22
Peanut butter, 2 tablespoons	2.9	15
Peanuts, dry roasted, 1 ounce	2.2	11
Corn oil, 1 tablespoon	1.9	10
Spinach, boiled, ½ cup	1.9	10
Broccoli, chopped, boiled, ½ cup	1.2	6
Soybean oil, 1 tablespoon	1.1	6
Kiwi, 1 medium	1.1	6
Mango, sliced, ½ cup	0.9	5
Tomato, raw, 1 medium	0.8	4
Spinach, raw, 1 cup	0.6	4