Diet change gives hyperactive kids new taste for life in Norway (AFP

[KarenJ]

Diet change gives hyperactive kids new taste for life in Norway (AFP (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080224/hl_afp/norwayhealthchildrenmedicinehyperactive&printer=1;_ylt=AlQI2giUNzuAe3fgFrOylnOKOrgF)

[Nancy LC]

Paleo kids!

[tom sawyer]

Maybe its less a matter of intolerance to specific proteins, and more a matter of carb consumption? Its kind of like the diet that has ADHD kids go off all artificial chemicals. Maybe there are more basic changes in diet as unintended consequences to the restrictions, that are more important than the restrictions themselves. Eating no grain or milk, would almost certainly result in a significant reduction in carbs in the diet.

[Nancy LC]

I think they're right. There's pretty good evidence that milk and wheat proteins are broken into casomorphins and another one that resembles morphine. They attach to the morphine receptors in our body (gut, brain, etc), they're small enough to pass through the blood brain barrier.

There may also be other things, but I bet this is a big one.

"I can tell right away when I've eaten something I shouldn't. It's really hard to concentrate. I'm always careful before tests," he says, taking a big bite of gluten and milk-free carrot cake.
Also, a gluten free diet is anything BUT low carb. They use potato starch, rice flour, tapioca all stuff vastly higher in carbs than wheat flour. I was shocked to see how high carb those gluten replacement products are.

[M Levac]

Casein and gluten are proven to be alergenic. I'm not surprised to find that they also affect behavior. Taking them out can't hurt anyway. Whatever "benefit" they can have, we can find elsewhere.

[waywardsis]

FINALLY.

How long before they start trying this on a large scale in North America? (answer: A million billion years! NEVER!)

[KarenJ]

I found this interesting:

A number of the children have since stopped following the diet for different reasons and some were put on medication, but after eight years six were still strictly avoiding all milk products and several had also cut out gluten, which is found in wheat, rye, barley and to some extent oats.

I wonder, did these children cut out gluten voluntarily? Did their parents initiate this, or was it a suggestion from a medical professional or researcher? And why did they cut out the gluten?
A child does not 'usually' decide, on their own, to go on a gluten-free diet, as most children do not know what gluten is.

[Squarecube]

Paleo kids!


I dunno

"I can tell right away when I've eaten something I shouldn't. It's really hard to concentrate. I'm always careful before tests," he says, taking a big bite of gluten and milk-free carrot cake."

Good Grief.

An aside

When I was a kid, I've never really trusted carrot cake -- I mean, after all they don't make carrot lollipops or carrot candy bars, why should there be carrot cake? I hesitated for a few years, but by the time broccoli pizza was all over the place carrot cake was one of my regular indulgences. Today, I've said goodbye to carrot cake, brocolli pizza, and Ronald Reagan and said hello to sardines, pork rinds and a certain kind of emptiness.

[vavcon]

Hey squarecube,

Don't say goodbye to pizza! Instead, check out Cleo's ideas for mini pizzas using rev rolls, or, better yet, her caulilflower pizza crust!
Chris

[KarenJ]

Today, I've said goodbye to carrot cake, brocolli pizza, and Ronald Reagan and said hello to sardines, pork rinds and a certain kind of emptiness.

That was beautiful.

I remember making that broccoli pizza.

[eryalen]

Hey squarecube,

Don't say goodbye to pizza! Instead, check out Cleo's ideas for mini pizzas using rev rolls, or, better yet, her caulilflower pizza crust!
Chris
I have had some meat-crust pizzas that are awesome.

[waywardsis]

I weep for my lost carrot cake. Though I betcha I could make a good one with nut flour...

[Nancy LC]

I think so too :) I made some awesome coffee cakes with alternative ingredients.

[Tarlach]

Reminds me of what Jamie Oliver did with his TV show School Dinners (http://www.jamieoliver.com/schooldinners). The teachers all commented on how the kids were much more attentive after the change in diet. The aim wasn't a low carb diet, but the introduction of much more fresh meat, fruit and veg cut the carb count by at least 75% I'd say (it was all chips and deep fried rubbish).

Our boy is 6 months old soon and I'm glad that we don't have set school food in Australia. I'll be sending him to school with paleo food and I hope he sticks with it as he grows up ;)