http://www.mercola.com/2006/jul/4/fi...an_ritalin.htm

Another interesting link.

US DEA Report on Ritalin, Methylphenidate

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Wow, that second article was way too much for me to read this morning. I have heard that fish oil is great for adhd kids, well all kids actually. I actually bought some from Avon when I was selling it, but the kids burp a fishy taste when they take it, so I am looking for a different brand. If anyone has any suggestions, I would be happy. I know you have to be careful where you buy it from, so I have to look into that too.
As for Dr Mercola, something doesn't sit right with me. I signed up for his email list after reading an article of his that I liked. But the more I read his articles, the more I think that this man is in it for the money. All his great ideas on how to improve health, he tries to sell you the information. I know he needs to make a living, but there are other ways to do that. He could sell his vitamins, sell advertising on his site, and give his information away free.
The problem I have with these medications, is sometimes it is the only thing insurance comanies will pay for. And when your kid is on medicaid, good luck finding a doctor that will suggest any type of natural program before giving you medication for your kid. They brush it off. And the only testing you get is a sheet of paper for you and your childs teacher to fill out that describes their behavior.

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I have heard this from a few sources. From what I understand it is the Omegas in the oil, particularly the EPA form. I have yet to try it as this ADHD journey is just beginning for us, but I did find Omega Brite - OmegaBrite | 100% natural, advanced Omega-3 formula. They have a kid's luiquid that is flavored so that may help w/ the fishy taste.

Thanks. I am going to check that out.

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A good cod liver oil is by Carlson Labratories. We take the the lemon flavor and the kids take it without a problem. A good benefit to the cod liver oil is the Vitamin D which is great for the winter months when we aren't getting the Vit. D from sunshine. Last winter, my son struggled with depression, which I believe is related to the Vit. D because this winter has been really good for him despite the really nasty, long winter.

Yeah, Mercola does definitely make money on his products, books, etc., but he also puts out some really great health information if you can take what works for you and leave the rest. I've never purchased anything from him, but have gained some valuable knowledge on health. Some of it is a bit out there for me, but that's what I leave behind!

Amanda

I bought some Krill oil gel caps from the Mercola site and haven't had the fish burps from them. I've even squeezed the liquid into smoothies and the kids don't notice at all.

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I use a liquid form of fish oil for my son. It has a mint flavoer to it. I mix 3 teaspoons with
some OJ in a tupperware midget. Shake well and he drinks it with no problem. We call it his "brain food"

Fish oil is indeed good for the brain. It is also a mood stabilizer. Nordic Labs makes a good supply. The studies are well funded and have good controls. But, before we tried meds, we also tried fish oils with no noticeable improvement.

BUT

While this one article has some good, valid info, be careful with this resource. I feel Dr. Mercola is a quack. And I agree. He's in it for the money. Have you seen his bashing cell phones due to radiation to the brain? Well, mind you, he, of course, sells the solution. I've been following his articles for awhile yet. I always like to see the junk that is out there. Plus, I have a family member who quotes him, as I guess he's on the radio. Quack. Do some web searches and you will find agreement. Unfortunately, when he does have a gem of information on the rare occasion, as this one is, his quackery overrides it.

Yes, fish oil has helped some. Even my Dr. has told me to try it for depression. It made no difference in me. It's just not a one size fits all solution, and I've yet to find anyone firsthand say it cured. It's not to knock fish oil, as it is definitely beneficial. But it is not the final answer. Also, you have to be careful of where you get it from. Some oils have high levels of mercury. Because, once again, the industry is not standardized, the levels of the Omegas are often in question. Be sure that you buy from reputable manufacturers. Trader Joes also sells fish oil that is safe and as effective, for much less than some of the other places.

There's bashing of Ritalin, which is unfair to those parents trying to do the absolute best for their child. It is an amphetamine. All amphetamines carry risks. Parents must watch their child closely and not tolerate the negative side effects that pop up. If there are negative side effects, the med isn't right for the child, and there are other choices. The doctor doesn't see the child every day. If the doctor is complacent about side effects, find one who cares.

And look at everything with a critical eye. Thank you, Bekki, for sharing this information. It's great to read what is said, but verify, and don't follow blindly. Be careful of what the "expert" is an expert in.

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I actually asked my pediatrician about this, and she said that although the studies are looking promising, taking fish oil (or any oil for that matter) depletes the body of certain minerals, especially calcium.

She warns that taking fish oil should be done at a time when you aren't taking any calcium, and to boost your calcium intake. I have decided not to try the fish oil yet (I first found the article in the Nutrition Journal) but I want to wait to see what they have to say about the calcium.

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Not all fish oil is created alike---many still have contaminants such as mercury. We use Nordic Naturals brand that is third party tested to make sure all the impurities (heavy metals, dioxins, PCBs) are removed. Ds (ADHD) has been taking cod liver oil since he was 4 and he's now 8. They are 'flavored' but not with artificial flavors. We've had luck with the orange and the strawberry--ds will do an orange juice chaser after taking it.

My older dd takes the soft gels by Nordic Naturals (she's a very picky girl so it's amazing she will take this stuff). She doesn't have ADHD but the fish oil is good for brain development and cardiovascular system. When youngest dd turns 5 she will start taking it, too.

Nordic Naturals is probably more expensive than most other brands but the fact they remove all the extra junk makes it worth it. We buy ours at the Vitamin Shoppe (I think they have a website) and I've seen it at some health food stores.

In addition to taking the fish oil, we watch what we eat (eliminated dyes, preservatives, etc.--try to eat totally organic). We are very cautious of the chemicals our children are exposed to and don't allow things like flame retardant pajamas, fabric softeners, toxic cleaning chemicals, etc. We also do things like make sure he washes his hands after touching batteries, electrical cords, etc. We try to keep everything as toxin free as possible. We tried a gluten free diet also. Having done all that for the past 4 1/2 years, this past summer we made the hard decision to put him on meds. It has helped him a lot and our hope is for him to eventually not take the meds.