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How Food Sensitivities or Nutritional Deficiencies Can Mimic ADHD, Asthma and Other Illnesses
When my son was younger he was diagnosed with asthma. At the worst time, he was prescribed 5 different medications and we were told that he would be on medication for the rest of his life. He was 3. 
After much research and a lot of determination, I finally got to the root cause and guess what? His ‘asthma’ was really just multiple food sensitivities. After I removed the culprits from his diet, he became asthma-free and has been ever since.
Food Sensitivities
Food sensitivities can mimic many different conditions including acne, allergies, ADHD, asthma, digestive disorders, learning and behavior issues and more. Many times, these health issues are misdiagnosed and therefore can lead to unnecessary medication.
When you eat food that your body is sensitive to (which means that your body doesn’t digest it the correct way), it is usually a sign of leaky gut and after time, if left unresolved will result in gut inflammation.
Chronic inflammation can lead to allergies, asthma, skin rashes, pain, insomnia, migraines and more. It also sets the perfect stage for many more serious diseases, such as autoimmune diseases, diabetes, neuro-degenerative diseases, heart disease, and cancer.
Chronic inflammation due to food sensitivity can mimic many health disorders.
Dr. Lidy Pelsser of the ADHD Research Centre in the Netherlands says, “If a child is diagnosed ADHD, we should say, ‘OK, we have got those symptoms, now let’s start looking for a cause.’ “
A study performed by Dr. Pelsser found that 64% of children diagnosed with ADHD actually had a hypersensitivity to a specific food or foods. When they found which foods were causing the problems, they removed the food and the children’s symptoms improved.
It can be that simple.
This is why the answer isn’t always to medicate (which can lead to things like addiction, anxiety and psychosis).
Nutritional Deficiencies
Have you ever heard the saying garbage in, garbage out? A very true statement when talking about food and health.
Our bodies need certain nutrients and when they don’t get them, they react negatively. Behaviors associated with children who appear to have ADHD can mimic symptoms of vitamin, mineral, antioxidant and essential fatty acid deficiencies.
Many people may not realize that often times children with ADHD will also experience excessive thirst, dry skin or asthma, which is also a sign of an omega-3 deficiency. Also, children with poor diets or food sensitivities can lack Vitamin B12, which can lead to hyper or anxious behavior.
Did you also know that, every diet should include a balance of protein, fiber, and fat to prevent blood sugar spikes that produce energy lulls and concentration issues — two symptoms typified by ADHD.
What Can You Do?
So which foods can be affecting your child’s focus and behavior and health?
- High fructose corn syrup
- Sugar
- Soy
- Eggs
- Corn
- Artificial colors and additives
- Wheat
- Dairy
- Chocolate
And which nutritional deficiencies should you focus on to see if adding them can improve your child’s focus and behavior?
If you’re looking for an all-in-one supplement for your child, check out doTERRA’s A2Z chewables. “Combining a blend of B vitamins with a blend of vitamins A, C, and E, as well as botanical extracts, doTERRA a2z Chewable supports healthy cell development and longevity when taken daily.”
But the only real way to know which food sensitivities and nutrient deficiencies are present is to test. But not all tests are created equal, especially when it comes to food sensitivity testing.
Do you know if have any food sensitivities? I’d love to hear your story in the comments below!
Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links.
