What your child eats affects their brain

GUT AND PSYCHOLOGY SYNDROME

All parents worry about their children’s health and well being but many don’t realise just how much what your child eats effects their brain.  Everyday food can be a link to your child’s mental health, as well as their other areas of development.

We know the common ones like avoid sugar, limit junk food, increase fruits and vegetables etc.  With an ever increasing number of children showing up at Doctor’s treatment rooms with allergies, obesity, and a range of what could be considered food related problems, it’s time to take stock of some of the science behind some of those problems.

Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride is a specialist in children’s dietary problems and in particular a syndrome called Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAPS).

Here is what Dr Natasha says about GAPS

GAPS – what is it? A condition which is behind many mental and physical problems, which our children and adults suffer from, such as autism, hyperactivity and attention deficit, dyslexia, dyspraxia, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders and more.

Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAP Syndrome or GAPS) is a condition, which establishes a connection between the functions of the digestive system and the brain. This term was created by Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride, MD, MMedSci (neurology), MMedSci (human nutrition) in 2004 after working with hundreds of children and adults with neurological and psychiatric conditions, such as autistic spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD/ADD), schizophrenia, dyslexia, dyspraxia, depression, obsessive –compulsive disorder, bi-polar disorder and other neuro-psychological and psychiatric problems. (courtesy of www.gaps.me)

If your child has been associated with any of the above conditions, there may be a link between what your child is eating and the effect on their brain.  It might be very worth while you reading Dr Natasha’s GAPS book to find out if there are any pointers that your child has Gut and Psychology syndrome.

If not, then the science and the information contained in this book may save your child’s health and well being well into their future. As with all things, especially related to children, information is king and the more your read, the more informed your life choices and decisions will be.

There are some very specific guidelines when applying strictly the GAPS diet if your child already suffers from GAPS but in general, trying to alter some of the normal ways in which your feed your child may make a huge difference to their concentration, their energy levels, the illnesses they catch and their overall sense of well being.

To learn more about this syndrome, here is the link directly to Dr Natasha’s information

Well worth reading – I have now read it multiple times and run seminars about it’s content with the approval of Dr Natasha and I have rated this book with 5 stars in terms of reference to children’s health and especially their mental and psychological functioning.