Noah's Dad

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• Hi Rick, Vitamins and supplements like Omega 3 have helped our 12 year old, as for speech I had music, singing and rhythm from the day Ram came home at 3 weeks! He had speech therapy through the community services in BC till the age of three and did it off and on. No official speech therapy through the school. Also, speech came more when Ram sttod up at 3 and a half and started walking at 4!

• I'm so relieved to read that your lil guy with DS didn't walk until age 4! Our lil guy is 2 and just started hinney scooting. He shows no interest in knee standing, standing or walking. Our PT told us "if Sean isn't moving, he's not speaking." That is so true. Since hinney scooting he's said his first word "baba" & signed at the same time, with intention, "milk." Thank you for your comment.

• I looked up everything that is thought to be good for the brain and put it into our son's diet. I also don't have certain things in his diet or restrict them. I realized we had already been doing that for our daughter long before our son arrived. We have had no problem getting our children to eat health because they have never eaten any other way. It is all they know. We also eat healthy so they learn by example. As far as green tea goes, it is my understanding that it is good for a lot of things. We love it unsweetened of course. And yes, that is the way the kids have it because that is the only way they have ever had it. When I learned that our son had a 50% chance of getting Alzheimer's I realized how serious I needed to take his diet. When we gave him avocado at first he didn't want it but now he eats it with out a bit of fuss. It was the same with sweet potato. Our speech therapist told us to sweeten it and we said "no". We wanted him to get use to the taste and texture. Once he did we haven't had a problem since. I know this is not exactly what your article is about. I am just hearing so many parents talk about how hard it is to get children to eat health or how they have to disguise healthy food. I find that to be sad. If you as a parent make the choice to eat healthy yourself and start you children out right so many health issues can be avoided. So if you have a child with Down Syndrome which means possible thyroid issues, cognitive delays, low muscle tone, 50% chance of Alzheimer's, slow metabolism & the list goes on. Why would you not do everything possible to give them their best chance? That means being very serious about their diet. Our therapist are all convinced the our son is doing so well in big part to what goes in his body & also what doesn't. Physical activity is important too. However, the old saying "you can't out run a bad diet" is true. The fuel is important. My husband is a professional acrobat. We know from experience that diet is really the more important of the two. I do wish people took it more seriously. Okay I done.

• Thanks dear it was very beneficial as my son wid Ds hez 6 n half yrs.... . Do share information as he still don't speak 10 words.... Thanks

• I think we all need supplements. Our food sources and skills are depleted of so many important vitamins and minerals that help all our bodies run optimally. Our children with DS are no different. We know they are at higher risk even for some cancers and a slew if auto immune issues. I want my precious child to have a long, healthy, beautiful life. The medical community knows very little admitl about vitamins and natural things that can help us........ Why? Because there is no money in it, in studying it or promoting it. Medication is where the money is so that's why they learn how to prescribe you things. I agree I don't want any part in medications but vitamin and herbal therapies have always been around long before medicine and have proved nut only their used but there is a tin of info on their various safety record. We are so fortunate to have many doctors that have learned about these natural ways to optimal health to help us navigate and monitor the use of various natural therepies. Down Syndrome or not the benefits can not be ignored.

• My nephew had spina bifida and downs. He was to never walk..He did..He was not to live past 2, then 14...He did. He lived to be 37. Praise God. Shawnie loved Music of any sort. It made him happy . He loved water, hot or cold with Lemon. This is from the olden days. We also used silver water. We ourselves still use. In our forefathers time silver was used as an antibiotic. Other than what Shawny was born with, he was never sick. Praise God. He loved school even though he was never mainstreamed. Having Faith and Love are the best healers there are. I just wanted to share what we used. His Mommy is gone now and his Daddy is in the nursing Home. Shawny loved music so much that he always had his radio with him. He sang before he talked. God Bless your family and both boys.

• I think omega3,6,9 & gluten free food can help in everything , even consantrating and keep them more calm

• Worried about the effect of caffeine on a child. I've been told that it will cause a stunt in growth? Thanks for your posts Daddy!!!

• Our Dan does not do well with caffeine. I swear little horns pop out of his head and we have a heck of a time with him. He almost gets manic on caffeine. The same with sugar though to a much lesser degree.

• If the results from this study are trustworthy, maybe a qualitative study could be developed regarding the perceptions of family members and other supportive individuals on the positive and/or negative changes they observe in the functioning of people with Down syndrome who receive the green tea extract vs. some other treatment.

• nice hearing from all

  I liked the study ,it sounds good, why don't we start all of us and give us 12 months period and se the effect of the trial. I totally agreed with qualitative research where family can comments in the actual improvement not a theatrical only.

  my son is now 2years and 3 months not yet started walking,I saw some news about omega 3 which can improve the memory and cognitive as well.

  I would like to ask you if you face the same difficulty ,I most concern with me now with my son I am not able to change the food to hard one ,like I am not able to give him bread ,neither sold food like meat and chicken ,if I do so he will wither through it by his hands or take it out from him mouth.

  Waiting for your valid response

• My sister sent me this Green Tea article, and I had the same take you did essentially. I am open to research that helps our children get an edge. I am especially open to research published in peer reviewed journals, but as with all health and nutrition articles we can only wait for the meta-studies 10 years from now. You really captured the issue that I was struggling to find words for: I feel really offended when people send me "cures" for Downs. It's complicated territory, thank you for your insights.

• While not directly linked to Downs, there's a growing body of research that's starting to show that there is, in fact, some long term benefit to green tea on cognitive function. There's an interesting article here - http://www.j-alz.com/content/green-tea-extract-and-exercise-hinder-progress-alzheimers-disease-mice which discusses this in more detail.

  I for one have long been a fan of green tea, and while purely subjective I always feel a clarity when drinking it.

  Fingers crossed that more funding will go to green tea research.