Is Juice Dangerous for Our Kids?

As parents, we are always concerned with the health and well-being of our children. We are careful to make sure we know the kids they hang out with, the places they visit, and certainly the foods that they eat. In recent months, T.V. personality, Dr. Mehmet Oz, told the nation about the presence of arsenic in common brands of children's apple juice. Dr. Oz reported that after independently testing three dozen varieties of apple juice, it was found that 10 brands had total arsenic levels exceeding 10 parts per billion (ppb). Although there are no federal regulations for juice or most foods, the limit for public and bottled water is 10 ppb. After reporting this, Dr. Oz was attacked on all fronts from the mass media to former colleagues and peers for even suggesting that we may be, potentially and unknowingly, poisoning our children. However, new information may just prove this point. Read the following article to find out more for yourself.

http://health.yahoo.net/articles/nutrition/arsenic-in-juice

Affecting ADHD with Diet Changes

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) now affects between 3-5% of children under the age of 19 worldwide! Although there are still controversies over how it's diagnosed and treated, there have been some successful treatments discovered in recent years when addressing a child's diet. Here are a few ways that have shown potential in easing the effects of ADHD:

-Avoid foods containing artificial
colors like red and yellow

-Avoid MSG, nitrites (think
processed meats like bacon and
deli meats), as well as aspartame
(artificial sweeteners like
NutraSweet and Equal)

- Eat fewer simple carbs such as
candy, soda, white flour products,
white rice, and white potatoes.
These carbs turn into sugar faster
when digested and spikes blood
sugar.

- Eat more complex carbs like fruits
and vegetables such as oranges,
apples, grapefruit and pears a well
as whole grain bread products,
sweet potatoes, brown rice and
broccoli. These types of carbs are
digested and used for furl over a
longer period of time while keeping
blood sugar levels stable. This
allows us to have more sustainable
energy throughout the day.

- Add protein to your meals
including breakfast and snacks.
Good choices include beans, string
cheeses, eggs, nuts and lean
meats.

- Add foods rich in omega-3 fatty
acids such as tuna, salmon,
walnuts, and olive oil.