Is Your Child's Diet Impacting Their Behavior?

You've been there before. You are enjoying a nice evening and then all of a sudden your kiddo starts throwing a fit over something that wouldn't normally phase them? Or bedtime has always been a bit of a struggle, but tonight they are crying unconsolibly.

Or you say no to a play date and expect your kid to respond how they normally do, but out of left field they start thrashing around, scream crying, and there is nothing you can say to reason with them.

Or maybe there is another kind of challenge. One that shows up in school or at home. There is a lack of focus. You tell them to do a chore over and over again and continually find them somewhere else.

Or maybe you tell them directions time and time again just to find them doing something else and can't remember a single step you explained.

You found emotional intelligence training so you are doing your best helping them reset their emotions. Taking time out to take a deep breath. Closing their eyes to reduce all stimulus.

But you watch your kid continue to struggle with basic tasks over and over again. Leaving you feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, ready to pull your hair out....

What if I told you, I've been there. Know that you are doing a great job Mama! The fact that you are even here, reading a functional nutritoin blog shows how much you care. How dedicated you are to finding solutions to help you and your family thrive. You are on the right path!

What I've discovered is our diets play more of a role in our behavior than we ever gave it credit.

Slowly but surely people are waking up to the impact artificial dyes play in behavior. Red 40 is strictly banned in my house because of it's impact on all of our moods. From tempers flaring to massive headaches.

But surprisingly other foods can also impact our behaviors. Foods that cause inflammation in the body like dairy, wheat, ultra-processed foods, refined sugar, etc. can impact our moods and behaviors.

The tricky thing here is, triggers are different for different people. Our genetics are different. The damage done from inflammation is different in everyone. This is why it can be hard trying to figure this all out on your own and why working with a trained professional will save you time and stress.

The more I learn the more I find most diseases have chronic, low-grade inflammation as a root risk factor. Inflammation wreaks havoc on our health and can lead to depressive and anxiety symptoms, as well as behavioral changes like lack of focus, trouble following directions, lack of reasoning, impulse control...any of these symptoms sound familiar?

Before looking for other means, check their diet, triggers, patterns, you may be surprised how inflammation is playing a role and what steps you can take to reverse it's progression.

The good news is our bodies can heal. We are made wholly and perfectly! Our bodies can shut off the inflammation pathway. They can clean up the damage done by inflammation, and you can finally take control of your health.

Work with your body by giving your cells the tools they need to shut off inflammation, mop up the mess, and start healing the damage.

Build resiliency in your body systems so they can handle the occasional inflammatory food or dye.

Getting your body back in balance takes time, effort, and a little bit of know how.

Here are a few of my go-to recommendations:

1. Nourish First. Before you start taking things out of your or their diet, add good stuff in. This is a much easier starting point. Boost fruits and vegetables first as a means to get all those anti-inflammatory benefits on the inside.

2. Focus on gut-health. Gut health is foundational health. You get a lot of resiliency by just healing your gut.

3. This is hard. This takes time. Be gentle with yourself and your kids. Progress over perfection is key.

Are you ready to explore how to nourish your family?

Follow along here where I will share the best of the best of what I'm learning in my Masters program in Integrative and Functional Nutrition.

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