Neurotransmitter ratios are essential for speech, and diet can have a direct effect on this delicate balance
Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that communicate information throughout the brain and body. Having balanced neurotransmitters is essential to support speech, mood, energy, sleep, etc. The ones most involved with speech are GABA and glutamate.
GABA is a calming neurotransmitter that calms the brain, impulses, and moods.
Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter that stimulates the brain, creates impulses, and promotes activity.
Too much glutamate causes excitation, which leads to stimulatory behaviour, called stims, and excess nerve firing and damage. Research has shown that not enough GABA and calming neurotransmission can lead to a lack of speech.
Many foods may add excess glutamate to the system. The worst offenders are:
- Dairy - The dairy protein casein can be broken down easily into glutamate, especially when processed
- Gluten - Gluten can also be broken down easily into glutamate
- Soy - especially if processed (this is why we do not recommend soy milk as a dairy alternative)
- MSG - 'mono-sodium glutamate' is one of the most concentrated forms of glutamate (the name gives it away!). Note this toxic additive is often listed as 'natural flavours' or 'yeast extract' on labels.
- Ketchup / Tomato sauces - tomatoes, when cooked and processed for a long time, have high glutamate
- Bone broth - we've often been told to feed our kids bone broth for the gut-healing properties, but if your child needs to reduce glutamate, switch to a lighter meat stock, e.g. one that's not cooked as long and doesn't have as much glutamate in it.
A good rule of thumb is to be wary of any processed foods, especially those with extra flavourings, e.g. 'cheese and onion' crisps. It's also worth saying that glutamate-containing foods can be very addictive so they are also the foods that your child may fight hard to keep eating. We know this can present many challenges but urge you to persevere and work with a trained health professional who can support you with dietary changes.
Some foods will promote GABA production, and so it would be good to increase. They include:
- Green Tea - The amino acid l-theanine in green tea boosts the body's supply of GABA. Not many kids like the taste of green tea, so we have recommended a supplement below
- Sweet Potatoes - they are also high in GABA plus are full of fibre and are better for blood sugar balance than white potatoes
- Broccoli - and other cruciferous veg like cabbage and cauliflower have been shown to boost GABA levels
The bacterias lactobacillus and bifidobacterium produce GABA in the gut, which may directly link to GABA levels in the brain. If removing dairy products reduces levels of glutamate, you may want to supplement with these probiotics. We like Nutri Advanced Ultra Probioplex that you can get from the Natural Dispensary. Just be sure you always start very slowly (you can open capsules and sprinkle a little in food) and work with a health practitioner as sometimes probiotic supplements are not recommended.
Other dietary considerations
What is always safe to recommend is to increase healthy vegetables as these will feed the probiotics and improve gut health which is fundamental for every child - not just ones who need help with speech.
We also recommend you make sure your child's diet has a lot of healthy Omega-3 fat from oily fish like wild salmon or mackerel or that they get it from a good supplement. This will help with overall inflammation levels and build up good fats in the brain.
Omega-6 rich oils like olive oil are also crucial for a healthy diet, noting most Omega-6 oils we get in the modern diet are highly processed vegetable oils that become damaged by heat. Most processed foods are filled with sunflower, soy or rapeseed oils that are inflammatory. We must wean ourselves off the convenience of these foods to keep these toxic ingredients out of our children. I used to rely heavily on frozen oven chips but found that they are all made with sunflower oil. I now chop up my potatoes, coat them with olive oil and a bit of salt and make my own chips. It takes about 10 more minutes to do but has a lifetime of benefits. What is fabulous is that my children prefer it to anything shop-bought.
To read more about the types of tests we do to find out how best to support your child's health and development, along with more information about foods and supplements, please read the article on the blog.
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