You already know your child does not have a typically functioning nervous system. What you may not know is that a poor diet filled with unhealthy processed foods and tons of sugars only inhibits your child’s nervous system. That’s right…it actually goes down to the cellular level. It is especially important to implement a healthy diet for optimal functioning of your child’s body and here’s why!
Something you may or may not remember from high school science class (no judgement here) is acids versus bases.
Now, I know you’re thinking…how the heck does this relate to my child’s diet!? Well, everything we eat affects the pH of our bodies and how it functions. For example, we eat cheese and this changes the pH levels in our body to become more acidic. However, if we drink water which is likely to be a neutral pH level, it can help balance our our internal systems. Our bodies function BEST actually at a higher alkaline (basic) level. Your child’s body that is struggling with daily activities such as sitting, standing, walking, etc. is actually working harder to perform tasks and utilizing more energy to achieve these tasks. So why bog it down with a poor diet? Your child already requires more repetitions of a task to achieve a functional outcome, and it makes it that much more difficult to function efficiently if they aren’t eating the right foods!
After exercise (i.e. therapies for your child such as PT/OT), your child creates lactic acid in their bodies. The function of this lactic acid is to produce more energy and protect our bodies. This lactic acid also delays nerve conduction throughout our bodies, which is responsible for creating movement and learning. In your child with special needs’ nervous system, the nerve conduction is already slowed and not working efficiently. The prolonged presence of this lactic acid actually makes learning harder.
What you may also not know is that sugar and flour are also very acidic.
If you haven’t checked your food labels lately, you may want to. It is actually a little frightening at how many foods you buy contain sugar when you wouldn’t even think they do. Did you know OATMEAL contains high levels of sugar? I was shocked too… Next time you’re at the grocery store, start looking at the labels and you’ll notice just exactly how sugar finds its way into nearly everything we buy. Your child’s nervous system will have a greater chance of making new connections and pathways (neuroplasticity) with a better diet. That’s not to say that nothing is safe and never eat sugar again because well…I’m addicted to ice cream myself… but obviously implementing a lower sugar diet and prioritizing ALKALINE (basic) foods into your child’s diet can go a long way.
Here are some alkaline foods that you can try implementing:
- 1. Broccoli
- 2. Spinach
- 3. Carrots
- 4. Garlic
- 5. Avocado
- 6. Tomato
- 7. Almonds
- 8. Watermelon
- 9. Sweet Potato
- 10. Quinoa
Implementing more of these foods into your child’s diet can also help to strengthen their immune systems! If you’re interested in learning more and maybe even trying out a few changes in your diets, click below for our free report on 5 recipes for smoothies with anti-inflammatory effects!
Let us know which ones you try and how they are!
Questions?
Send us an email: christine@breakthroughptli.com or call 631-348-0959.
Christine 🙂
She discovered her passion for the neurologic pediatric and adult population during her clinical affiliation at a special services school in Cape May, New Jersey. She is an active member of the APTA and continues to take post-graduate course work related to treatment methods for neurological diagnoses.
- Run to Break Through – The Perfect Day - November 17, 2021
- Episode 11: Autism mom and children’s author, Amy McCoy, shares her journey as mom and Advocate for Inclusivity - April 14, 2021
- Episode 10: Living with Cerebral Palsy Part II: Sharing Experiences, Outlook, and Challenges with Irene Dashiell, LCSW - March 16, 2021
