diet, schools & 'ADD'

[Dave Hartley]

An interesting informal, practical case-in-point regarding "epidemic" of ADD
/ ADHD & schools.
Diet of junk food "proven" to be maintaining if not primarly "cause"
Interesting to ponder on vaccines as part of the picture; but what an
astounding story of decent food as the best medicine
Dave Hartley
www.Mr-Notebook.com
www.localcomputermart.com/dave
Seattle, WA 425.820.7443
Asheville, NC 828.285.0240
Please copy and distribute to other interested individuals and groups

**********
http://www.stratiawire.com/article.asp?id=655

Monday, October 14, 2002

A MIRACLE IN WISCONSIN

OCTOBER 14. In Appleton, Wisconsin, a revolution has occurred. Its taken
place in the Central Alternative High School. The kids now behave. The
hallways arent frantic. Even the teachers are happy.

The school used to be out of control. Kids packed weapons. Discipline
problems swamped the principals office.

But not since 1997.

What happened? Did they line every inch of space with cops? Did they spray
valium gas in the classrooms? Did they install metal detectors in the
bathrooms? Did they build holding cells in the gym?

Afraid not. In 1997, a private group called Natural Ovens began installing
a healthy lunch program. Huh?

Fast-food burgers, fries, and burritos gave way to fresh salads, meats
"prepared with old-fashioned recipes," and whole grain bread. Fresh fruits
were added to the menu. Good drinking water arrived.

Vending machines were removed.

As reported in a newsletter called Pure Facts, "Grades are up, truancy is
no longer a problem, arguments are rare, and teachers are able to spend
their time teaching."

Principal LuAnn Coenen, who files annual reports with the state of
Wisconsin, has turned in some staggering figures since 1997. Drop-outs?
Students expelled? Students discovered to be using drugs? Carrying weapons?
Committing suicide? Every category has come up ZERO. Every year.

Mary Bruyette, a teacher, states, "I dont have to deal with daily
discipline issues -- I dont have disruptions in class or the difficulties
with student behavior I experienced before we started the food program."

One student asserted, "Now that I can concentrate I think its easier to
get along with people..." What a concept---eating healthier food increases
concentration.

Principal Coenen sums it up: "I cant buy the argument that its too
costly for schools to provide good nutrition for their students. I found
that one cost will reduce another. I dont have the vandalism. I dont have
the litter. I dont have the need for high security."

At a nearby middle school, the new food program is catching on. A teacher
there, Dennis Abram, reports, "Ive taught here almost 30 years. I see the
kids this year as calmer, easier to talk to. They just seem more rational.
I had thought about retiring this year and basically Ive decided to teach
another year---Im having too much fun!"

Pure Facts, the newsletter that ran this story, is published by a
non-profit organization called The Feingold Association, which has existed
since 1976. Part of its mission is to "generate public awareness of the
potential role of foods and synthetic additives in behavior, learning and
health problems. The [Feingold] program is based on a diet eliminating
synthetic colors, synthetic flavors, and the preservatives BHA, BHT, and
TBHQ."

Thirty years ago there was a Dr. Feingold. His breakthrough work proved
the connection between these negative factors in food and the lives of
children. Hailed as a revolutionary advance, Feingolds findings were soon
trashed by the medical cartel, since those findings threatened the
drugs-for-everything, disease-model concept of modern healthcare.

But Feingolds followers have kept his work alive.

If what happened in Appleton, Wisconsin, takes hold in many other
communities across America, perhaps the ravenous corporations who invade
school space with their vending machines and junk food will be tossed out
on their behinds. It could happen.

And perhaps ADHD will become a dinosaur. A non-disease that was once
attributed to errant brain chemistry. And perhaps Ritalin will be seen as
just another toxic chemical that was added to the bodies of kids in a
crazed attempt to put a lid on behavior that, in part, was the result of a
subversion of the food supply.

For those readers who ask me about solutions to the problems we
face---here is a real solution. Help these groups. Get involved. Step into
the fray. Stand up and be counted.

The drug companies arent going to do it. Theyre busy estimating the size
of their potential markets. Theyre building their chemical pipelines into
the minds and bodies of the young.

Every great revolution starts with a foothold. Sounds like Natural Ovens
and The Feingold Association have made strong cuts into the big rock of
ignorance and greed.

Go for it.
**********
related:

http://www.moorefoundation.com/newsletter4.html

http://www.google.com/search?num=100&q= ... %22+school

[jpgregorich@aol.com]

In a message dated 11/1/02 2:13:34 PM Mountain Standard Time,
dave@localcomputermart.com writes:
Thanks for this article, Dave.
Jim Gregorich
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[isali]

thanks dave