At CAYP Psychology, we are passionate about empowering children, adolescents, and young people to thrive. Through diagnostic assessments and therapeutic interventions, we aim to support their mental health and overall development. But we believe an effective way to harness change is by looking beyond our own expertise and collaborating with a team of specialists. That’s why we’ve collaborated with Lucinda Miller, clinical lead of the UK-wide NatureDoc nutrition team, to explore the transformative impact of nutrition on neurodivergent children.
As clinical psychologists, we see every day how diet influences mood, focus, and behaviour, as well as how food can be a real challenge for those young people with sensory sensitivities. However, understanding the complexities of nutrition requires the knowledge of a dedicated expert. When it comes to supporting children with neurodivergent conditions such as autism or ADHD, nutrition can play a transformative role. Lucinda Miller, a naturopath with 30 years of experience and her team, have worked extensively with families to optimise children’s mental and physical health through diet and supplements. In a recent interview with CAYP Psychology, she shared her invaluable insights into how food and nutrients can make a difference for children and their families.
Why Nutrition Matters
“Every meal is an opportunity to nourish your child’s brain and body,” Lucinda explains. “The right nutrients can optimise their neurological system, boost development, and help them become the best versions of themselves.”
The foods we choose directly affect the brain’s building blocks and neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which are vital for mood regulation, focus, and calmness. Nutrient-dense options such as meats, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables are key players in this process, offering essential vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids.
Lucinda underscores the critical role of specific nutrients like iron and zinc. “These two minerals are the most abundant in the central nervous system. They energise the body, feed the sensory system, and fortify immunity,” she says. Similarly, omega-3 fatty acids from oily fish such as salmon, sardines, and mackerel are indispensable. “Omega-3s help develop the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for executive function, focus, and organisation,” Lucinda explains. “They’re like the oil that keeps the brain’s machinery running smoothly.”
Lucinda insightfully shared that, “For instance, low levels of iron and zinc can lead to many symptoms, such as a sore mouth, a lack of hunger, a painful tummy and a poor sense of smell and taste. If your child is deficient in these nutrients, it is likely that their eating experience isn’t very pleasant. This is often one of the reasons why children stick to their ‘safe foods’, which either give them sensory feedback or sit comfortably in the mouth and their tummy. We find child-friendly supplements, often tasteless and hidden in juices, fruit puree, or yoghurt, can really turn these experiences around so that foods start to taste good and feel nice in the mouth, allowing for their tummy to feel comfortable and full afterwards.”
Tackling Myths and Challenges in Nutrition
Parents often face a barrage of conflicting advice about what their children should eat. Lucinda notes that restrictive diets, such as gluten-free or sugar-free regimes, are frequently recommended online but may not be suitable, or necessary, for every child. “Instead of taking foods away, we find clever ways to introduce new ones,” she says.
For many families, selective eating is the most significant hurdle. “Most of the young people we see at NatureDoc are highly selective eaters and may only eat 2-5 foods at the outset. Often, the parents are in despair and have tried every trick in the book to help them expand their diet,” Lucinda explains.
Selective eating is often linked to underlying physical or nutritional issues. Lucinda shares, “Very frequently, when we run stool tests and screen for nutrient deficiencies, we find that reflux, constipation, gut inflammation, and nutrient deficiencies compound the problem These factors make eating an unpleasant experience, prompting children to stick to their ‘safe foods’, ones that provide sensory comfort or are easy on their stomachs.”
By resolving the root causes of selective eating, families can break the cycle of limited diets and help their children explore a wider variety of foods.
Even children who eat a diverse diet may face issues like sleep disturbances, mood swings, or behavioural challenges. Lucinda highlights that chronic inflammation from allergies or infections, or nutrient malabsorption in the gut, can exacerbate these difficulties. Identifying and addressing these underlying factors can lead to significant improvements in well-being.
One of Lucinda’s most memorable cases is Flora, a 13-year-old with Sensory Processing Disorder. “She found school, friendships, and even family time overwhelming,” Lucinda recalls. After introducing supplements such as zinc, vitamin B6, and saffron, Flora’s transformation was remarkable. “Her mother emailed a month later to say there had been a ‘humungous change’, Flora controlled her moods better, laughed more, and even began enjoying school,” Lucinda shares.
3 Top Tips for Parents
- Take one step at a time with diet changes, aiming for a tiny improvement each week.
- Look for easy wins, like creating homemade waffles, muffins, or pizza recipes your child will enjoy.
- Cook together as a family to build lasting memories and foster a positive relationship with food.
Bridging Nutrition and Psychology
At CAYP Psychology, we believe that a holistic approach is key to supporting children’s well-being and development. We offer comprehensive assessments which assess all aspects of a child’s life. When we start our diagnostic assessments, we ensure to understand the young person’s early eating experiences, and any sensory sensitivities they may have. This helps us understand the broader picture of what is going on and tailor interventions to meet the child’s unique needs. Lucinda and her NatureDoc’s team, work complements our efforts by addressing the biological underpinnings of behaviour, learning, and emotional regulation through looking at nutrition and diet.
If you’re concerned about what is going on for your child and are looking for an assessment, or therapeutic support, we can help you with this. Our team at CAYP Psychology provides detailed assessments that will investigate what your child is experiencing and why. With that being said, we believe that by joining forces with nutritionists and other specialists, we can provide the best outcomes for the children and families we work with, by sharing their insightful knowledge and recommendations. For more resources and recipes on nutrition in children and young people visit www.naturedoc.com or contact reception@naturedoc.co.uk for more information on consultations.
Watch this space for more interesting collaborations and insights!
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