Brain Launch Nutritional Program
Brain Launch Nutritional Program
The purpose of the nutritional program is to eliminate the foods and ingredients that studies have shown to have a negative effect on attention, concentration, learning, behavior and overall health.
Dietary changes are vitally important for all children and adults that are experiencing some of the symptoms listed below.
- Lack of Focus and Concentration
- Difficulty Staying Calm and Relaxed
- Difficulty Remembering Things
- Moody
- Behavior Issues
- Congestion
- Headaches
- Sleep Issues
- Aches and Pains
- Lack of Energy
- Stomach Aches
- Dark Circles Under Eyes
- Puffy Eyes
- Constipation or Diarrhea
- Gas, Bloating, Stinky Stools
- Hives, Rashes, Eczema
- Wheezing
- Coughing
- Excessive Viruses (Colds, Flu) or Infections
Tips Before You Begin the Nutritional Changes
- Don’t be misled by deceptive marketing. Companies make foods sound healthy (All Natural, No High Fructose Corn Syrup, 100% Whole Wheat, Gluten Free, etc.). Always read the ingredients of every packaged food or drink you buy because most are not healthy.
- Get rid of all the unhealthy foods in the house.
- Allow your child to be the detective in figuring out what foods may be causing problems.
- Create a journal to notate changes in symptoms that may occur.
If you have not read Dr. Helms’ Blogs listed below, please do so.
Foods & Ingredients You Should Eliminate Forever
We recommend cutting out these inflammatory trigger foods for 3 weeks and notate changes in the symptoms above if they are occurring. You will reintroduce some foods at the end of 3 weeks and notate changes if they are occurring. It will be difficult for a lot of children. Especially if they are picky or limited eaters or whose diet was mainly comprised of the foods you are eliminating. Try the best you can without causing too many negative emotions and explain why this is so important. Use a lot of praise and encouragement when they cooperate.
Most packaged foods and drinks contain many of these ingredients:
Synthetic Additives
If you can’t pronounce it, or it sounds like a chemical, don’t buy it.
Food Colorings
Blue #1 Brilliant Blue, Blue #2 Indigo Carmine, Citrus Red #2, Green #3 Fast Green, Red #40 Allura Red, Red #3 Erythrosine, Yellow #5 Tartrazine, and Yellow #6 Sunset Yellow.
Preservatives
Benzoates (sodium benzoate, benzoic acid), Butylates, BHA, Caramel, Nitrites (sodium nitrite), Sulfites (sulfur dioxide), and Sorbates (sodium sorbate, potassium sorbate).
Artificial Flavorings
There are too many to list. Anything that contains the words – Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), Ethyl, Glycerol, Ethanol, Acetate, Methyl, Acetyl, Vanillin, Butyrate, Hyde, Linalool, and Diacetyl.
Acceptable Additives in Small Amounts
Ascorbic acid, citric acid, diatomaceous earth, castor oil, vinegar, tocopherol, rosemary extract, guar gum and xanthan gum.
Processed Oils
Vegetable, Canola, Corn, Peanut, Safflower, Cottonseed, Soybean, and Palm Oils.
Acceptable Oils
Extra Virgin Olive, Avocado and Coconut Oils.
High Mercury Fish
Tuna, Swordfish, Orange Roughly, Marlin, Mackerel, Shark, and Tilefish.
Foods to Eat in very Limited Amounts
These foods and ingredients are almost impossible to avoid, But, try your best, especially when eating at home. Studies indicate that sugar and flour may be more addicting than heroin and cocaine and are possibly the two most harmful foods we consume. High amounts cause inflammation which leads to diseases and poor brain function. They are also the biggest contributors to weight gain and obesity.
No sugary foods or fruit juice in the morning before school. Make sure your child has protein for breakfast. High-quality organic protein shakes are great for breakfast.
Processed Sweeteners
High Fructose Corn Syrup, Table or Cane Sugar, Sucralose (Splenda), Fructose, Aspartame (Equal), Glucose Syrup, Agave, Non-Organic Honey, Non-Organic Maple Syrup, and Brown Sugar.
A good rule to follow. Don’t buy any packaged foods or drinks that have more than 4 grams of sugar per serving. This will eliminate about 80% of packaged foods and drinks.
Acceptable Sweeteners in Limited Amounts
Organic Stevia Leaf (not extract), Xylitol, Erythritol, Monk Fruit, Raw Organic Honey, Organic Coconut Sugar, and Organic Maple Syrup.
None of these sweeteners have much if any nutritional value, but most have not been shown to be harmful to our health like the ones above.
Gluten
Wheat and derivatives of wheat (white flour, semolina, durum, spelt, farina, graham, and wheat berries), Rye, Barley, Malt Brewer Yeast. Most all baked goods – Bread, Pasta, Pastries, Tortillas, Cereals, Pancakes, Waffles, and Crackers (look for the Gluten-Free Symbol).
Research has shown that gluten causes inflammation in most everyone, even if you do not have Celiac disease.
Acceptable Gluten-Free Grains and Flours
Almond, Coconut, Quinoa, Chickpea, Buckwheat, Amaranth, Brown, Black or Wild Rice, and Oats (labeled gluten-free). Read the ingredients because some food labeled gluten free are loaded with unhealthy ingredients.
Dairy
Milk, Cheese, Ice Cream, Yogurt, Nonorganic Butter, and Cottage Cheese. If you need to butter vegetables so your child will eat them, use Grass Fed Organic Butter.
Cow’s milk contains A1 Casein, a protein that can cause a similar reaction like gluten.
Acceptable Milk and Yogurt Substitutes
Organic Almond, Coconut, Hemp, Cashew, Rice, Soy Milk, and Soy Yogurt. Some individuals are sensitive to nuts and soy, so pay close attention to any symptoms when your child is drinking or eating some of these substitutes. Check ingredients because some have artificial ingredients.
Other Foods that can Trigger Negative Symptoms
The following foods have been known to trigger negative reactions in some individuals, so be very observant when your child is eating these foods.
Legumes
Beans and Peanuts.
Shellfish
Lobster, Crab, and Shrimp.
Tree Nuts & Nut Butters
Almond, Walnut, Cashew, Hazelnut, Pecan, Pistachio, Brazil, and Macadamia.
Starchy Foods
Corn, White Rice, White Potatoes, and Corn Starch.
Soy
Soy Milk, Soy Beans, Miso, Soy Sauce, and Soy Nuts.
Citrus Fruits
Oranges, Grapefruit, Tangerines, Lemons, and Limes.
When you reintroduce, eat the whole fruit with its fiber, except for the lemons and limes. No full glasses of fruit juices because they would contain as much sugar as a soft drink. Small amounts of juice to flavor water or foods is fine.
Eggs
Try to buy organic cage free eggs.
Nightshades
Tomato, Peppers, Potatoes, and Eggplant.
Encourage Healthy Foods
- Research healthy new recipes together.
- Create a weekly menu as a family together.
- Have the child help prepare the foods.
- Always have healthy snacks available.
Obviously, do not include foods you know your child has a known allergy or sensitivity to.
It is best to buy as many organic foods as possible because many non-organic foods contain pesticide residue or other additives.
Drink at least 6 – 8 glasses of filtered water per day.
Complex Non-Starchy Vegetables Zucchini, Lettuces, Broccoli, Cucumber, Spinach, Mushrooms, Cabbage, Celery, Artichoke, Brussels Sprout, Carrot, Asparagus, Kale, Collard Greens, Mustard Greens, Bok Choy, Radish, Onions, and Bamboo Shoot. These contain vitamins, proteins, and minerals. They help reduce inflammation and help to increase the production of the neurotransmitter serotonin. These types of vegetables should be at least 70% of lunch and dinner. If it is difficult to get your child to eat vegetables, supplement their diet with healthy organic super green shakes.
Seeds Pumpkin, Sunflower, Flax, and Chia.
Oils Extra Virgin Olive, Avocado oil, and Coconut Oil.
Herbs Most are fine although some people have sensitivities to some. They can help add flavor to healthy foods, so kids may eat some foods they normally don’t care for.
Fish Wild caught – Salmon, Sardines, Walleye, Tilapia, and Haddock. No farm raised fish.
Beef Pasture Raised Organic Beef, and Bison. This can be expensive so do half the portion size as you did in the past. Beef, poultry and pork should be your side dish anyway. Vegetables should be the main entrée.
Poultry Organic Free-Range Chicken, and Turkey.
Pork OrganicPork. This is a little more difficult to find but is Nitrate Free.
Vegetables to Eat in Small Amounts Butternut Squash, Acorn Squash, Spaghetti Squash, Sweet Potato, Pumpkin, and Peas.
Fruits Berries, Apples, Cherries, Papaya, Pears, Coconut, Peach, Mango, Grape, Banana, and Pineapple.
Supplements to Include in the Diet
Multivitamin
There are several children’s vitamins available and most have ingredients you do not want your child to ingest. The gummies usually have too many sweeteners and artificial ingredients. Plus, many don’t have adequate doses for effectiveness. We recommend liquid vitamins, even if your child can swallow capsules, because they are absorbed much better and don’t need binding agents to hold them together.
Children’s Omega 3 Fatty Acid
This is vital for good brain development and function and most children do not get adequate amounts from their diet.
Children Probiotics
This is vital for good digestion, immune system, and brain function.
Real food grows, rots, and dies.
Real food doesn’t need an ingredient label.
Real food doesn’t make claims.
Michael Pollan