The ADD and ADHD Cure: The Natural Way to Treat Hyperactivity and Refocus Your Child

THE ADD AND ADHD CURE

"The ADD and ADHD Cure will be welcomed by parents who reject drug protocols and/or whose children have not been successfully treated with drugs. I highly recommend this important and groundbreaking new book."

—Jenny McCarthy

"I rely on Dr. Jay for more than my children's health. No matter what I call about—concerns about a sick kid, a parenting question, or worries about nutrition—Dr. Jay has answers and presents them in the most parent-friendly way."

—Julia Roberts

"Dr. Jay's support will be a fantastic gift for parents facing ADD/ADHD. His words come from decades of experience and a wealth of real concern and compassion for your child and your family."

—Matt and Lucy Damon

"Every new parent sometimes feels in the dark. Dr. Jay has been a constantly bright light and guide. We can't say enough great things about him or adequately express our gratitude for the patient, honest, intelligent, compassionate care he has given to our children. We enthusiastically support him and his book."

—Casey Affleck and Summer Phoenix

"This empowering book will teach, inspire, and coach your entire family to break the unhealthy nutritional habits that prevent you and your children from living healthy, focused lives."

—Tobey and Jennifer Maguire

"With this guide, you can go from panic mode into proactive mode. You can take charge of your child's health—naturally."

—Tea Leoni and David Duchovny

"I have watched Dr. Jay Gordon care for children and families who needed his skill and experience as they faced ADD and other tough diagnoses. His techniques and advice will guide you from a medication-oriented treatment to sensible, scientific nutritional and behavioral care."

—Edison de Mello, M.D., Ph.D., Director and founder, The Akasha Center for Integrative Medicine

Diets, supplements, sleep, exercise, and other natural treatments are discussed in a practical handbook for dealing with ADHD in a positive way in order to reduce common symptoms while avoiding prescription medication solutions.

If you have—or know—a child who suffers from Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), you may be as concerned at the possible ramifications of prescription drug treatment as you are that he or she might suffer academically, socially, or emotionally if the condition is left untreated.

The good news is that a diagnosis of ADD/ADHD does not have to mean the start of a lifetime on serious medication. In this book, Dr. Jay Gordon presents an all-natural approach to treating ADD and ADHD in children—an approach that has helped thousands of children with ADD/ADHD to focus, function, and interact productively. Dr. Gordon's program has worked extraordinarily well without drugs. The ADD and ADHD Cure includes real-life examples from Dr. Gordon's practice so you can learn what has worked for other families.

Dr. Gordon advises that you not give your child any foods with processed sugars, dairy ingredients, or artificial additives. If that sounds difficult, don't worry. He gives you all of the tools and information to do it, from what to look for on food labels to a thirty-day meal plan complete with weekly shopping lists. You'll find nearly a hundred kid-friendly recipes for breakfasts, snacks, soups and stews, entrées, salads, desserts, and more.

Dr. Gordon also advocates behavioral therapy and explains how to create structure and goals so that change is a positive experience. He discusses how to refocus your child by identifying his or her passion and building on it and shows you how to create and stick to a schedule to ensure that your child gets enough sleep. Exercise is also an essential component of The ADD and ADHD Cure and there's a thirty-day exercise program to ease your family into regular daily exercise.

Jay Gordon, MD, FAAP, IBCLC, took an unusual step in the middle of his residency training. Deciding that he needed greater knowledge about nutrition, vitamins, and alternative medicine, he served as Senior Fellow in Pediatric Nutrition at Sloan-Kettering Institute in New York City. Today, he uses that knowledge treating young patients in his pediatric practice in Santa Monica, California. Dr. Gordon is the author of Listening to Your Baby and the coauthor of Good Nights. He hosts a weekly chat on AOL's "Ask the Pediatrician," and writes for the Los Angeles Times, New York Parent, and Parenting. He has been featured on The Early Show, Good Morning America, 20/20, the Today show, and National Public Radio.

Jennifer Chang is a Los Angeles–based writer and editor. She is the founder of The Worldly, a world culture Web magazine and nonprofit organization.

Acknowledgments.

Introduction.

Part I: The Quick Start.

1. The ADD and ADHD Cure.

2. What Is ADD/ADHD and Does Your Child Really Have It?

3. The ADD and ADHD Cure Handbook.

Part II: The Details.

4. No One Knows Your Child Better Than You Do.

5. Taking Charge of Your Child's Health.

6. Let's Behave!: Behavioral Therapy.

7. Refocusing Your Child's Energy.

8. Getting Your Kid to Get Up, Get Out, and Exercise!

Part III: The Home Stretch, and Beyond.

9. Doing More: Additional Natural Treatments.

10. Revisiting School Choices.

11. Support for the Whole Family.

Resources.

Index.