As a leading family chiropractor in Plantation and the greater Fort Lauderdale area, Dr. Gena Chiropractic works with children of all ages for a wide variety of reasons.

Our ultimate goal as chiropractic care specialists?

To ensure all of our patients are feeling and living their best lives. And when it comes to working with children, there is a reason why Dr. Gena is known as the “kid whisperer” – there isn’t a child around that doesn’t leave Dr. Gena’s office without a huge smile on their face (or a shirt full of stickers)!

One specific issue that more and more parents are contacting Dr. Gena for is a common learning disability on the rise: Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD).

The diagnosis of AD/HD is outlined by the American Psychological Association in the DSM-5 as a lifelong, persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development across time and settings. This includes a child’s (or adult’s) inability to focus, or excessive hyperactivity and impulsivity, and in the case of ADHD, both.

Currently, 11 million Americans are diagnosed with AD/HD in the United States, including 5% of the adult population of our country.

But where AD/HD presents a larger problem is in children, when they are expected sit, focus, learn, and fall in line as they go through their educational careers. While chiropractic care is not a cure for AD/HD, many studies have shown the relationship between chiropractic adjustments in children and less interferences in the brain-body connection and communication which ultimately results in more ease.

And more ease in the nervous system of our children means kids who are feeling, acting, and living healthier lives– every parent’s dream.

Another key component to take into account with AD/HD in children is a key lifestyle factor: nutrition.

What we feed our children plays a huge role in how well they thrive, which is likely why the number of children with AD/HD in this country increased from 150,000 in 1970 to almost 5 million just thirty years later. A major culprit attacking our children’s nervous systems is artificial food coloring and sugars, major artificial stimulants to the nervous system.

As reported by the ICPA,

“In a 2009 scientific review article published in the journal Explore, Sanford C. Newmark, M.D., cited sensitivities to certain food additives and foods, as well as other nutritional factors, as possible culprits in this rise. “Research has shown a consistent relationship to the intake of artificial colors and/or preservatives on the symptoms of ADHD or hyperactivity,” he wrote.

After describing two large British studies linking food dyes and preservatives with hyperactivity, he concluded: “One can see how the intake of these substances could ‘shift’ in a positive direction the proportion of children diagnosed with ADHD.”

Consumption of artificial food dyes has increased almost threefold since the 1980s, rising from about 6.4 million pounds in 1985 to more than 17.8 million pounds in 2005. The American Academy of Pediatrics have suggested “a trial of a preservative-free, food coloring-free diet” for hyperactive children; nineteen prominent scientists cosigned a letter calling on Congress to ban these additives.

Dr. Newmark concluded his review by recommending that “all families [whose children have ADHD] eliminate artificial colors and preservatives from their children’s diet as much as possible.” He also suggested that these children be checked for food sensitivities, as well as for low iron and zinc levels, all of which have been linked with ADHD.”

Luckily, we’re living in a time where healthy, organic food options are becoming more easily accessible and available to the average consumer. At Dr. Gena Chiropractic, we’re committed to educating our families on the best lifestyle choices combined with the most helpful chiropractic care we can offer.

To learn more about how chiropractic care can benefit the life of your child or children, contact us today!

Your health is in your hands, but Dr. Gena’s hands are here to help!