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The N.D.D. Book: How Nutrition Deficit Disorder Affects Your Child's Learning, Behavior, and Health, and What You Can Do About It--Without Drugs
The Sears Parenting Library's latest addition is an exploration of how nutrition affects the brains and behavior of youngsters. N.D.D., or Nutrition Deficit Disorder, as coined by Dr. Bill Sears, is based on the idea that if "you put junk food into a child's brain, you get back junk behavior and learning."
Dr. Sears will explore the latest scientific research on the effects of nutrition on the brain. He will present case studies of his own patients who were diagnosed as "N.D.D." and showed major improvement in learning and behavior with diet change. Instead of simply medicating his patients, Dr. Sears looked for a better solution -- in fact, with better nutrition, many of his patients were able to greatly reduce or even stop their medication. The book will also provide parents with a prescription, shopping and meal tips, and recipes to make implementing a healthier lifestyle that much easier.
The N.D.D. Book will be a must-have for all parents who want to help their children become healthier, happier, and better prepared to learn.
Dr. Sears will explore the latest scientific research on the effects of nutrition on the brain. He will present case studies of his own patients who were diagnosed as "N.D.D." and showed major improvement in learning and behavior with diet change. Instead of simply medicating his patients, Dr. Sears looked for a better solution -- in fact, with better nutrition, many of his patients were able to greatly reduce or even stop their medication. The book will also provide parents with a prescription, shopping and meal tips, and recipes to make implementing a healthier lifestyle that much easier.
The N.D.D. Book will be a must-have for all parents who want to help their children become healthier, happier, and better prepared to learn.
224 pages, Paperback
Published April 29, 2009
About the author
William Sears
130 books174 followersDr. Sears, or Dr. Bill as his "little patients" call him, is the father of eight children as well as the author of over 30 books on childcare. Dr. Bill is an Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine. Dr. Bill received his pediatric training at Harvard Medical School's Children's Hospital in Boston and The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto -- the largest children’s hospital in the world, where he served as associate ward chief of the newborn nursery and associate professor of pediatrics. Dr. Sears is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and a fellow of the Royal College of Pediatricians (RCP).Dr. Bill is also a medical and parenting consultant for BabyTalk and Parenting magazines and the pediatrician on the website Parenting.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
December 20, 2012
We recently went through ADHD testing with one of our daughters. What a pain that was - financially, time-wise, stress-wise, you name it. Turns out she doesn't officially "have it," but that doesn't help me much in knowing how to light a fire under her.
A friend recommended The N.D.D. Book: How Nutrition Deficit Disorder Affects Your Child's Learning, Behavior, and Health, and What You Can Do About It--Without Drugs, and I'm glad she did. In it, William Sears posits that most kids diagnosed with something these days are suffering NDD (nutritional deficit disorder) instead of or in addition to other maladies.
Dr. Sears advocates eating whole foods. He sees the biggest food enemies for kids as high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, numbers (ie Red #40, etc), monosodium glutamate and aspartame. He's big on eating more omega 3's.
As you might suspect, certain aspects of the book annoyed me (the author recounts a conversation you might have with your child: "Grandpa got cancer because he wasn't making good food choices." He also advocates having your child create foods for himself with strips of pepper, carob, sprinklings of flax seed, etc. and enthuses that "your child will be so excited by the colors that he won't even notice he's eating healthy stuff!" Good luck with that).
But I have to say that reading this book really did motivate me to cook and eat healthier. One complaint is the effort it takes to actually do that - make almost everything yourself, give up almost all boxed foods, pre-sweetened yogurt, etc. I feel like I'm becoming a pioneer! On the plus side, hopefully my family will be healthier for my efforts.
A friend recommended The N.D.D. Book: How Nutrition Deficit Disorder Affects Your Child's Learning, Behavior, and Health, and What You Can Do About It--Without Drugs, and I'm glad she did. In it, William Sears posits that most kids diagnosed with something these days are suffering NDD (nutritional deficit disorder) instead of or in addition to other maladies.
Dr. Sears advocates eating whole foods. He sees the biggest food enemies for kids as high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, numbers (ie Red #40, etc), monosodium glutamate and aspartame. He's big on eating more omega 3's.
As you might suspect, certain aspects of the book annoyed me (the author recounts a conversation you might have with your child: "Grandpa got cancer because he wasn't making good food choices." He also advocates having your child create foods for himself with strips of pepper, carob, sprinklings of flax seed, etc. and enthuses that "your child will be so excited by the colors that he won't even notice he's eating healthy stuff!" Good luck with that).
But I have to say that reading this book really did motivate me to cook and eat healthier. One complaint is the effort it takes to actually do that - make almost everything yourself, give up almost all boxed foods, pre-sweetened yogurt, etc. I feel like I'm becoming a pioneer! On the plus side, hopefully my family will be healthier for my efforts.
July 9, 2017
Great information. Confirms what I thought.
February 25, 2020
A little dated but good basic information about the link between bad food and so called bad behavior and bad health. Most of it should be common sense but I guess it isn't anymore.
July 13, 2009
I have read many of the Sears Family books and love them all. This one is no exception!
Dr. Sears does a FANTASTIC job of simplying the technical aspects of nutrition and conveying how critical proper nutrition is for overall health and well being, and how it important it is to start young! But, it's never too late to change bad habits and repair some of the damage done from poor nutrition!
He even incorporates some information on innovations being made in the area of nutrigenetics and how they can be implemented to help prevent the #1 killers in America--heart disease, diabetes, cancer. For example, all newborns are blood tested for specific conditions when they are born. A new blood test is being developed that will help spot genetic markers for certain diseases (like Type 2 diabetes). Providing parents with information on those genetic markers (or conditions their children are genetically predisposed to acquire) along with a nutrition guide on which foods to avoid (because they may trigger or "turn on" those bad genes) may greatly reduce obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and other conditions we are seeing in children today.
The area of nutrition is supplemented every day with new information learned from so many sources. It's nice to find relevant, timely and very useful information in such an easy-to-read format.
Dr. Sears does a FANTASTIC job of simplying the technical aspects of nutrition and conveying how critical proper nutrition is for overall health and well being, and how it important it is to start young! But, it's never too late to change bad habits and repair some of the damage done from poor nutrition!
He even incorporates some information on innovations being made in the area of nutrigenetics and how they can be implemented to help prevent the #1 killers in America--heart disease, diabetes, cancer. For example, all newborns are blood tested for specific conditions when they are born. A new blood test is being developed that will help spot genetic markers for certain diseases (like Type 2 diabetes). Providing parents with information on those genetic markers (or conditions their children are genetically predisposed to acquire) along with a nutrition guide on which foods to avoid (because they may trigger or "turn on" those bad genes) may greatly reduce obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and other conditions we are seeing in children today.
The area of nutrition is supplemented every day with new information learned from so many sources. It's nice to find relevant, timely and very useful information in such an easy-to-read format.
April 23, 2014
Today's children are plagued with Nutrition Deficit Disorder, an epidemic, according to Dr.Sears...yes the one and the same. Kids dont have ADD or ADHD, they lack proper nutrition. Interesting fact..GERD is one of the most common childhood dignoses, but didnt even exist in typical childhood diseases 20 years ago. Children recieve too much of the wrong fat (omega 6) when tehy need more omega 3. when the 3s and 6s are out of balance, NDD occurs. When there is a deficiency of Omega 3, ADD and behavior problems occur.
Junk sugars stress the brain, make you bisbehave. "quirky" kids....ie the kids who are labeled ADHD, etc are more sugar sensitive than other kids.
Sears says avoid the wrong fat omega 6) the wrong sugars and artificial food additives. these additives effect supersenstive children. Since toxins are stored in the fatty tissue, and the brtain is 60% fat...it stands to reason taht the brain will be most effected by chemical additives.
Uses the terms fake foods, grow foods. red/yellow/green light foods
DHA supplement, children over 4 and adults should get 600mg per day. choose a supplement that is DHA only or one that is DHA/EPA with ration 2:1. suggests "Brainy Kidz"
Junk sugars stress the brain, make you bisbehave. "quirky" kids....ie the kids who are labeled ADHD, etc are more sugar sensitive than other kids.
Sears says avoid the wrong fat omega 6) the wrong sugars and artificial food additives. these additives effect supersenstive children. Since toxins are stored in the fatty tissue, and the brtain is 60% fat...it stands to reason taht the brain will be most effected by chemical additives.
Uses the terms fake foods, grow foods. red/yellow/green light foods
DHA supplement, children over 4 and adults should get 600mg per day. choose a supplement that is DHA only or one that is DHA/EPA with ration 2:1. suggests "Brainy Kidz"
July 27, 2011
My new favorite! Written by everyone's favorite doctor--Dr. Sears. I know that his book The Fussy Baby Book was the reason that I survived the first three months of my son's life. His view of attachment parenting felt right with me and I know that my son's first few months were much better because of it. But now he has written an even better book--one that every parent should read. Basically the premise is simple, true, and easy--EAT REAL FOOD AND YOUR CHILD WILL BENEFIT! And if your child has any kind of disorder, you should be especially careful with what kind of food your child eats. Dr. Sears details what you shouldn't eat--high fructose corn syrup, white sugar, white flour--how specifically it can harm your child, gives tips on how to eliminate it from your child's diet, and what you can feed your child instead. Read this book! And then start feeding your child real food--you will forever be happy that you do!
November 3, 2013
Sears presents a quick, basic argument for why children need healthy "grow foods" to build strong bodies and minds. He advocates for eating real foods and presents tips for getting kids to buy into a real food program. He connects fake foods (processed foods) with the current epidemic of D-related diseases (depression, ADD, ADHD, OCD, etc.) and gives evidence of the positive changes real foods can make for these kids.
My only real criticism of the book is that he pushes soy-based foods as healthy foods and subtly suggests that saturated fat is bad, two staments I would disagree with. Over 80% of American soy is genetically modified (so we don't know its side effects) and even organic soy has been shown to act as estrogen in our bodies (particularly bad for boys).
Despite this, any parent who gets off of processed foods and eats a real foods diet (soy or no soy) is doing amazing good for their child and should be commended.
My only real criticism of the book is that he pushes soy-based foods as healthy foods and subtly suggests that saturated fat is bad, two staments I would disagree with. Over 80% of American soy is genetically modified (so we don't know its side effects) and even organic soy has been shown to act as estrogen in our bodies (particularly bad for boys).
Despite this, any parent who gets off of processed foods and eats a real foods diet (soy or no soy) is doing amazing good for their child and should be commended.
March 24, 2014
Oh Dr. Sears - it seems you do truly live in a bubble. A naive, rose-colored bubble. I'm not sure if I'm not as big of a fan of you and your philosophy now that I'm not a Green First-time parent, or maybe your later books are just more preachy and filled with hokey sayings, but I'm just not buying it as much lately.
I *do* think that a healthy diet free ofMsg, artificial flavors and colors, and low in sugar is definitely important, but the way you present this info makes you sound like "oh you stupid parent" and discounts the fact that these "D" disorders such as ADD, ADHD, ODD etc. do truly exist. And as much as I wish that switching out our society's Froot Loops for a nice big bowl of steel cut oats with a side of salmon and spinach would eliminate these disorders, it's insulting to assume that it's the case with every child.
I *do* think that a healthy diet free ofMsg, artificial flavors and colors, and low in sugar is definitely important, but the way you present this info makes you sound like "oh you stupid parent" and discounts the fact that these "D" disorders such as ADD, ADHD, ODD etc. do truly exist. And as much as I wish that switching out our society's Froot Loops for a nice big bowl of steel cut oats with a side of salmon and spinach would eliminate these disorders, it's insulting to assume that it's the case with every child.
October 29, 2009
I love finding new ways to keep my family healthy and this book had some great facts and insight. I like how Dr. Sears gives ways to show your children the importance and reasons why to put good food into their bodies. If for no other reason I loved this book for the School-aid smoothie recipe. The whole family LOVED it, even with spinach, tofu and flaxseed in it. I make it several mornings a week.
December 30, 2011
A very readable guide to eating 'real' foods and the importance of such a diet for children. Most of the information I already knew, but it's nice to have reinforcement. Plus, I found some of his strategies for speaking with children about these concepts to be helpful with my son. I told him about Grow foods, and he used that info at the grocery store. Mostly, I read this book to learn about Omega 3 Supplements, but I found a lot of other useful information.
February 4, 2010
Really good information, but presented in a crazy gimmick-y way. Kids aren't stupid, they don't need special names for food or to call a broccoli a 'tree' to eat it. Dr Sears is awesome, but the names he was giving things in this book made me roll my eyes constantly. (like iBods, quirky, red-light foods, 'grow' foods)
February 14, 2014
I couldn't get into this. Dr Sears felt condescending from the get go, assuming all behavior problems stem from "mcdonalds and sugar cereal" parents. Skimmed the rest and chose not to read it. For all his big talk, I felt like the book was basic nutrition. Eat fresh, from scratch and avoid sugar.
January 10, 2011
The information in this book is so good and so valuable, but I really dis-liked the way it was presented. I think the book probably turns off more people than it converts, which is sad considering the wealth of information inside.
January 7, 2012
This is a way better read than his family nutrition book. It makes it absolutely clear why we need to feed our kids and ourselves "grow" foods. He explains everything in a way that children can easily understand.
January 5, 2012
I flipped through this book in an effort to find resources for parents who struggle with feeding picky eaters, or parents who refuse to see how important nutrition is for kids who are struggling with behavior. This book was well-written and informative without being preachy!
June 12, 2009
The best food related book I have ever read! I recommend this to everyone young and old. I think this will be included in any baby shower gift I give. Truly eye opening!
August 31, 2009
I am really enjoying this book and think it will help the children now a days with all the junk thats out there. Its very interesting and I like it alot.
Read
October 6, 2009my 1st thought was "Huh? never heard of that one." but Dr. Sears wrote it, and it is about "fake food", and the bad things it can cause...hmmmm....interesting.
January 5, 2010
Great information!!
January 28, 2010
Easy to read and understand. Dr. Sears' explains what the standard American diet is doing to kids' brains and bodies. I do hope this reaches the mainstream and helps many families!
February 17, 2010
Awesome book, has motivated me to try and eat healthier and feed my children more fruits and veggies, in a creative way.
March 4, 2010
This book is amazing! Yes alot of common sense however it is told in everyday life way not medical term way. I think this book should be a recommended book to read by your pediatrician.
March 17, 2010
This was a good read for someone with kids, to see how and why kids are affected by what they eat. It was an eye opener for our family and we have totally changed our food buying habits.
April 29, 2010
I don't agree with giving children soy
June 19, 2010
The thing about the Sears books on nutrition is that I really rather they just revise earlier additions with the new information rather than write a whole new book.
July 5, 2010
LOVED this book! It's changing the way my children eat. I knew a lot of the information before I read it, but it made it more real to me. Every bite my kids eat is affecting their bodies.
January 24, 2011
This had a good explanation of how Omega -3's work in the body and why they are beneficial. Other than that, it was nothing new, and a little extreme for me.
May 11, 2011
Loved Dr. Sears practical approach. His list of the dirtiest dozen ingredients to rid your kitchen of are a great guideline.
September 9, 2011
Great information. Book every American parent should read. An abundance of information, take your time.
September 4, 2013
This book should be handed to each parent, nurse, doctor & teacher as compulsory reading. It makes so much uncomplicated sense.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews