I was excited to learn recently that Judy Converse has a new book out. Her Special Needs Kids Eat Right book was what inspired me to start our whole dietary intervention journey with my daughter, who is on the autistic spectrum, over a year ago. I didn’t think that Special Needs Kids Go Pharm Free would apply to us as much, as my daughter has never actually been on any prescription medications.
But I was wrong! Special Needs Kids Go Pharm Free was more than I would ever have expected in a nutrition-focused book for special needs kids! You may think this book doesn’t apply to you because you don’t have a special needs child, but take a look at what is covered- what family isn’t affected by at least one of these?
- Appetite
- ADHD
- Allergies
- Anemia
- Anxiety
- Asperger’s
- Autism
- Bed wetting
- Bilirubin (Jaundice)
- Breastfeeding (issues with allergies in a baby)
- Candida
- Colic
- Cradle cap
- Diabetes
- Diarrhea
- Down’s Syndrome
- Eczema
- Failure to Thrive
- Feeding tubes
- Gas (in special needs babies)
- Growth failure
- Growth impairments
- Gut dybiosis
- Heavy metals
- Insomnia
- Iron
- Lead toxicity
- Mitochondrial disorders
- Obsessive compulsive disorder
- Overweight
- School (nutrition at school)
- Seizures
- SIDS
- Sleep
- Underweight
Special Needs Kids Go Pharm Free offers low-to-no risk solutions to problems that many families face. Unlike pharmaceuticals, which treat symptoms, nutrition therapy goes to the cause of most problems and offers solutions. I got lots of ideas on what I’d like to try for my daughter- before I got supplement ideas from the highly scientific (sarcasm) method of word of mouth or searching terms such as ‘cure autism’ during one of our more challenging weeks/nights. Of course, I was always careful to throughly research anything before trying it on my child, but the book Special Needs Kids Go Pharm Free really helps give good solid ideas for different supplements and holistic methods of healing to try.
Some quotes from Special Needs Kids Go Pharm Free that spoke to me
[Low inositol levels have corresponded to OCD behaviors, anxiety, and depression] When we have healthy bowel bacteria, one of their jobs is to produce inositol as a by-product of digesting the foods we eat- and this is perhaps yet another reason why correcting bowel flora in children with conditions like autism or ADHD improves behavior and mood. p188
See, I’m not the only one who repeatedly talks about gut flora ;) I’m not really a big advocate for supplements for most people, I first encourage people (myself included) to correct any dietary problems that may be present. Converse also holds this belief and encourages parents and children to correct gut problems before moving on to supplements.
[Talking about children who struggle to put on weight, and the doctors who struggle to give parents helpful advice] It is not okay to shrug and say “she’s just petite” if your child is actually in growth regression, a status that is quickly noted on growth history charts. Simply telling parents to feed their children more isn’t useful, nor are vague assurances that “she probably gets enough food.” A common strategy is to put kids on higher-calorie drinks such as Boost or Ensure, but this will backfire if the protein in those drinks is a source of inflammation. It usually is. p143
This book is full of real problems like these, and real solutions to help fix them.
Until providers [mainstream doctors] learn to work beyond their prescription pads, little will change p133
It is devastating that in this era, our children are so heavily saddled with chronic disease and disability. They are expected to live shorter, less healthy lives than we are enjoying as their parents. I couldn’t do my job if I couldn’t find a silver lining in this, and I think it is this: Our children’s urgent needs are forcing a shirt in medicine. They are calling for an integration of old thinking with new… p215
Special Needs Kids Go Pharm Free should appeal to parents, care providers, and even mainstream doctors. Studies are cited, any possible adverse reactions are noted, and a careful thoughtful approach to nutrition care for children is detailed. Personally, I found the chapter on sleep and the special needs child to be especially helpful, as was the information on amino acids for mood and minerals as they relate to each other, food, and drugs.
This book is a great resource to have, I encourage you to go check it out for yourself!
Learn how to heal leaky gut
60-page ebook of all my best GAPS Diet (Gut and Psychology Syndrome) articles all in one place.
Hi Cara – I saw this book title on the FB page for this author last week and ever since have really wanted to read it! It’s going to be on my list. It sounds like a great read, I hope more parents discover it! Thanks for posting about it. :)
A lot of what you wrote so sounds like what my friend the bio chemist believes and works with – I mentioned about her some time back to you. The only difference I can see w out reading the book is the bio chemist can do labs to see just what is going on and off w in the child/person! Then she can start to help the person heal…she was able to help our little guy…He is so much better thanks to her.
Jessica
Wow, great info, thanks so much for putting this together in such an informative way. I am twittering! I hope this will help to heal more kids, what a sad situation for our children…
I’am a parent of a 12 year old boy his name is Noah. He has a nero seizure musclaur disorder. He is tube feeding. only noting by mouth. he needs more calories. in his diet, could you please help us to help him put on wieght.