In our family, we are no strangers to behavior challenges. I know how difficult it is to live all the time with episodes that can be unpredictable and stressful. Sometimes it can be a mild incident easily dealt with, and sometimes it can be a real nightmare.

We’ve had our share of behavior issues, and I’ve found that it sometimes helps to give my son certain foods, some of which you may already have in your own kitchen. A mineral or vitamin deficiency may make some kids feel ill or agitated, and cause them to act out. Giving them something that provides that missing nutrient could help to calm them down.

Oftentimes for my son, the effect is immediate.

So here’s my list of foods and supplements I wouldn’t want to be without because I never know when I will need them for one of my son’s behavior incidents.

SEAWEED

Sometimes it helps to give my son a little seaweed when he is having an agitated attack. When it does work, I conclude that a mineral deficiency must have been aggravating his symptoms.

Seaweed has all the minerals because it was taken out of the ocean. When possible, I try to use only raw, organic seaweed. Roasted seaweed has much of the nutrients cooked out of it. And nonorganic versions may have toxins that can cause other health problems.

There are a variety of seaweed options to choose from, but these are the ones we use.

1. Dulse

This is our go-to seaweed when my son is having an agitated attack. Sometimes these attacks can be severe.

I often find that giving him a little bit of dulse will calm him down immediately. It’s quite amazing how quickly this works. I usually give him a small amount (roughly 2-3 teaspoons just to give you an idea), but if he asks for more, I give him as much as he wants. There’s no need to measure it—just pour a little in a cup and serve.

This doesn’t always work, but when it does, it seems clear to me that providing him with minerals is what his body needs at the time.

I recommend the cut dulse or dulse flakes (granules). I don’t use the powder because it’s too easy to accidentally inhale it while attempting to swallow it.

Dulse is available on Amazon, but I often get it from Leaves & Roots, a local herb store where I live. Leaves & Roots also has an online store which you can visit at the link at the end of this message.

2. Kelp

I give my son one capsule (I use Nature’s Way brand) each morning after breakfast, just to make sure he isn’t getting too low in minerals. It goes without saying that this could help to prevent behavior incidents.

You can buy kelp capsules at your local health food store or from Amazon.

3. Nori

This type of seaweed usually comes in sheets, ranging from small snack sizes to large paper-sized sheets.

My son loves this stuff, and almost always asks me to buy the snack version when we’re at the store. He calls it “salt nori” because this type comes coated with oil and salt.

The larger sheets often come with no oil or salt. This is the kind of seaweed used for sushi.

I don’t recommend feeding your child actual sushi because, according to Hilary Hurd, Professor of Parasitology Emeritus at Keele University, UK, raw meat or fish can lead to parasitic infections.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy nori wraps. We do often enjoy nori wraps filled with a mixture of sushi rice, a little dulse, and thinly sliced cucumbers. Its delicious, the kids love it, and it’s a fun way to get more minerals into their diet.

Nori is available at most health or natural food stores as well as on Amazon.

ORANGE JUICE

If dulse doesn’t work, I find that a glass of orange juice will sometimes calm him down.

Keep in mind that I am talking about unpasteurized orange juice. Pasteurized orange juice has been heated to temperatures that destroy many of the nutrients.

PURIFIED WATER

Sometimes I find that giving him a tall (8-16 oz.) glass of water will help to calm him down.

Almost always when my son is acting out, it’s because he’s not feeling well. And sometimes it’s because he is dehydrated.

You may be able to avoid some behavior incidents by keeping your child hydrated as much as possible.

Other beverages aren’t the same and don’t give the same benefits as pure water.

It helps to get your child used to drinking water if s/he doesn’t like it or is used to flavored beverages. You can start by requiring that s/he drink a very small amount of water and gradually increase that amount until s/he is able to drink 1-2 cups at a time.

It’s also important to make sure you are giving her purified water. Not only does it taste a lot better, it ensures that you are giving her good water without toxins that could cause other health problems. Not to mention that the impurities themselves can cause behavior problems as well.

OTHER CAUSES

In this message I’ve outlined a few foods that could give your child relief from his symptoms.

But it’s no substitute for seeing a qualified medical professional who can help you get to the root of what could be causing the problem. S/he can perform tests to find out exactly which vitamins or minerals your child might be deficient in.

Also consider that his behavior issues could be a symptom of a much bigger health problem that, if left untreated, could become worse or even life threatening.

You may recall the true story I mentioned a number of weeks ago about “Kaley”, a child with autism who was screaming all the time. After a lot of visits to various medical professionals, Mom discovered that she was suffering from a duodenal ulcer.

Left untreated, the problem could have become quite severe with terrible consequences. But fortunately, Mom was able to get her treated and help her recover completely.

So if your child has a lot of behavior issues, I highly recommend that you see her doctor as soon as possible.

In the meantime, I hope that these ideas will help your family in those moments when you need it the most.

Warm Regards,

Kay Donato

Discover Autism Help, LLC