Monday, October 27, 2008

Supplements Need More Recognition

Nutrition in general and supplements are way under-rated. I guess because you can't pack them into a single pill (just lots of little pills taken regularly). They also aren't come by easily, unless you happen to be blessed with health-conscious parents who drum it into you from day one. If you aren't that lucky (as most of us aren't), it takes a considerable life style adjustment to eat the right foods and take the right supplements. I'm speaking primarily about health challenged kids/people who could benefit so mightily from good nutrition and supplements rather than drugs.

I've mentioned KSN before, a group I regularly follow since Demi has Kabuki. I've recently met a poster there who really gets it. I hope others in the group pick up on the benefit that nutrition (like Juice Plus, gfcf diet, allergen awareness, organic, etc) and supplements (fish oil (most of them do this already), melatonin, ALA, probiotics, yeast fighters, etc., etc.) could have on their children. Yes, it takes some effort (mostly in the learning, not the doing!), but it's SO much better than drugs with side effects and unknown long term effects.

I've learned most of it from the AutismNCD group, even though Demi doesn't have autism. She still has toxins and yeast issues that affect behavior. I specifically started her on Natural Cellular Defense because I thought it might improve cognition. I had no idea that I would discover so much more about nutrition and supplements that would benefit her.

My suggestion for a parent wanting to start but not knowing where: Just start! It usually doesn't matter where. NCD is easy to start with. Probiotics are easy to start. Just start with ONE THING and then build from there. It's not that hard once you get started!!

Moments of Brilliance?

Ok, maybe not brilliance, but brightness at least. Math is not Demi's strong point, but occasionally while doing homework, she seems to "get it." There's that moment of brightness. At least the answers come a bit more quickly and naturally. Rarely and for a very short burst. But they come.

I wonder where they come from? How do these moments of understanding happen?

Just today, I spoke to her resource (aka special ed) teacher who said she just doesn't get numbers. I guess she hasn't yet been dazzled by one of Dem's "moments of brilliance." While I recognize that's true most of the time, why does she get it sometimes and not others. It would be nice to know...