Understanding Mental-Wellness ADHD and Nutrition Deficiencies

By Dr. Andrea Bretal M.D.

esearchers are beginning to learn how to favorably influence genes via the study of epigenetics, a gene-altering process called methylation which is involved in 70% of serious psychiatric conditions.

Several studies revealed that most mental disorders involve disturbances or imbalances of essential nutrients that alter brain function.

All heritable mental illnesses were presumed to have an unavoidable genetic component and people believe their biological and psychological fate has already been predetermined and is locked in by gene mutations.

Many mental disorders now appear to be epigenetic, rather than genetic. This means that gene protein making can be switched on (called gene expression) or off (called gene silencing) by environmental factors such as radiation, temperature, food or lack of food. Certain molecules within foods (vitamins, minerals, amino acids, essential oils) can do this reliably.

Most severe heritable mental disturbances will be reversible once we understand how to tap into epigenetics. Moreover, present nutrient therapies have already resulted in thousands of reports of recovery in persons diagnosed with violent behavior, ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia.

More than 70% of people with behavioral and mental disorders have a methylation imbalances, this chemical that dominates gene expression. About 42% of schizophrenics are over-methylated while 28% are undermethylated. More than 95% of persons diagnosed with autism, OCD, and antisocial personality disorder (e.g., convicted felons) exhibit undermethylation.

The body’s methyl groups arise from methionine, one of the amino acids s a mother of two and an expert in preschool education, I am bombarded daily with tons of questions about whether to breastfeed or not, vaccine choices, potty training, is biting or hitting normal, the cause of tantrums, etc. One of the most common questions I am asked is, “how do you feel about children sleeping with their parents?” Here is my humble opinion, I UPGRADED TO A KING-SIZE BED!

Rpresent in meat and other proteins. There are nutrient therapies that can normalize methylation and correct many brain chemistry imbalances without resorting to drugs.

Copper overload is a primary offender in many mental disturbances, including autism, paranoid schizophrenia, clinical depression, hyperactivity, learning disability, and postpartum depression. Excessive copper reduces the brain chemical dopamine and increases norepinephrine.

During pregnancy, blood copper levels more than double to stimulate the development of new blood vessels as the baby grows rapidly. If copper levels do not return to normal after birth, then postpartum depression may result and antidepressant drugs usually do not help these women.

Vitamin B6 is another nutrient that is associated with many mental health issues, producing symptoms of irritability, depression, poor short-term memory, insomnia, muscle weakness, difficulty walking and even psychosis. B6 is needed to produce important brain chemicals such as serotonin, dopamine and GABA (a relaxing brain chemical).

Zinc deficiency is the most frequently observed chemical imbalance in mental health populations. Zinc deficiency is associated with temper control problems, weak immunity, depression, poor wound healing, epilepsy, anxiety, learning problems and hormone imbalances. Another common imbalance is a chemical produced in the body called pyrrole that binds to zinc and vitamin B6 and increases their excretion in the urine. Nearly one-third of persons diagnosed with depression, behavioral disorders, autism, and psychosis have elevated pyrroles. A urine test can reveal whether a pyrrole disorder is present. This important chemical imbalance can be corrected within weeks using supplements of zinc, B-6, and augmenting nutrients.

Experience with ADHD and depression patients report significant improvement within month of individualized nutrient therapy and some of them are able to wean away from psychiatric drugs without a return of symptom. Women with post-partum depression have reported significant improvement after blood copper levels were normalized.

If you do your research for expert advice in books or online, you will find very different opinions about the impact of co-bed or family bed, commonly known as children sleeping with their parents. Some experts say sleeping with your children is emotionally unhealthy because it makes them co-dependent, others will defend cultural acceptance for sleeping with their children since this will give the child a sense of security. I say, forget what these experts say, they don’t live with you, and they don’t

By Ivis Mateos

Aknow the needs of your child like you do. I believe that as a parent you should go with your gut feeling first and foremost. There is no better sensor of truth than that instinct that lives inside your maternal or paternal gut (some may argue my theory – but I side with my gut).

Perhaps you are more like me, somedays you want to hold your child tight in your arms and don’t mind the leg over your neck and arms spread so wide you only have a small, 10-inch corner of the bed for you to spend the next 8 hours of sleep in. Other nights, you want to be the one spreading the arms and legs and taking up all the sleeping space, while the child sleeps in their room. There are some days your child will demonstrate a need for additional nurturing – maybe they are not feeling well, or they simply have a need for an extra dose of TLC. Take advantage of these moments.

I had both my boys sleep with me on and off and when it was time for them to ween off, they did it on their own. Nothing wrong with that! Yet, my boys have grown up to be very independent, dependable, intelligent, young men (most of the time). Still, on occasion, my teenage boy sneaks in, in the middle of the night and I welcome him. They are kids for a very short time; soon enough, they will be sleeping in their own place, perhaps in a faraway land. You never know where the future may take them. Deciding what is best for you and your family is a very personal decision, and it is our responsibility to make the decision with the child’s best interest in mind. When the intention is healthy and fueled with love the results will yield just that.

▸ Ivis Mateos is a mother of two boys and has more than 22 years combined experience in educational consulting and management. In addition to earning her National Administrator Credential, Mateos has lead workshops on curriculum development, teacher development and parenting. She has been the General Manager at Tiny Planet Preschool and an Educational Consultant for Graven International Group for the past three years. For more information, call 954-384-4884.