Ross Walter Nutritionist and Naturopath health articles and blog

The trouble with ADHD medications

2/9/2024

In the typical medical treatment plan for ADHD is behavioural therapy and/or medications such as Methylphenidate (Ritalin), Dexamphetamine (Adderall) and Lisdexamphetamine (Vyvanse and Elvanse) to be taken forever.

However, medications may only offer symptom relief, but they do not address the root causes of the symptoms. But they also introduce new symptoms as side effects.
Some interesting findings about Methylphenidate/Ritalin, from the manufacturer's own research/information:

The method of action for Ritalin is unknown, according to the manufacturer! (but is assumed to be from an inhibition of dopamine and norepinephrine neurotransmitter reuptake)
“Safety and efficacy have not been established in children younger than 6yo” is a direct quote, yet many young children are prescribed this medication
“There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding”
There are lots of food and medication interactions with Ritalin, including alcohol and tobacco
Ritalin contains lactose, sugars, milk products, talc, iron oxide colours, lactitol, gluten and sulphur dioxide - all ingredients which are known to exacerbate ADHD symptoms
The manufacturer recommends that this medication should be stopped during low-stress times
If symptoms don’t improve over one month, the drug should be stopped according to the manufacturer
The medication is not tested for effects on fertility, however it is not recommended for women of childbearing age, or during pregnancy, or breastfeeding, yet it is still prescribed and taken by many women in this age group
Ritalin can cause nutrient deficiencies of vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and probably more. All of these vitamin deficiencies can cause ADHD or make symptoms worse
Many side effects of taking Ritalin are also contraindications which prevent it from being taken, including high blood pressure, heart and circulation issues, depression, anxiety, psychosis
Other side effects of concern include vision issues, suicidal thoughts and ideation, neuropathy (nerve damage/pain), hallucinations, weight gain, growth retardation in children, increased heat stress risk in athletes, and sudden death
Ritalin contains sucralose, an artificial sweetener, which can make symptoms worse, and is also known to cause cancers.

With these risks and side effects, there MUST be another way to treat ADHD. There is, by finding all the root causes in each person.

There is a high tendency of ADHD to run in families, but this doesn't mean that it's inherited. If people in a family eat the same crappy foods, have the same poor lifestyle, have the same stresses and poor stress responses, and exposed to the same toxins and chemicals, then it can appear to be an inherited condition. Inherited conditions often also need environmental triggers like chronic stress or trauma, nutrient deficiencies, toxins and chemicals, and other factors.

This is what I do for ADHD - thorough investigations to find all the root causes in each person, then develop a personalised treatment plan to fix the root causes. This gives quick symptom relief, as well as long-term resolution too!

There are much better ways to reduce ADHD symptoms and improve quality of life!

Check out and like/follow my new FB page (The ADHD Naturopath) on this topic here - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556575095715

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Zinc deficiency linked to autism

11/11/2018

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Autism is a a very prevalent and complex disorder of which the incidences are growing at a very disturbing rate - in just 9 years the official incidences of diagnosed autism has TRIPLED to one in 36 children, and one in 14 children with developmental delays. This huge increase cannot be explained just because of genetics. The more likely causative factors are environmental - how we interact with our environment, such as from nutrient deficiencies, chemical and toxin and radiation exposure, stress, and lifestyle factors.

In a 2015 study, it found that a high percentage of people with Autism Spectrum Disorders were deficient in zinc, a mineral that is needed for many metabolic and neurological processes, including the development and health of the nervous system and production of hormones and neurotransmitters for good mental health. Hence a deficiency of zinc can cause hormone and neurotransmitter imbalances and dysfunction seen in autism. The study also reported that the zinc deficiency was often accompanied by a copper overload or copper toxicity, which can result in impaired social behaviour, and impaired language and communication issues, common in autism disorders.

Zinc is also needed for good immune system function, for good functioning of the senses, for good digestive system function, and many more uses. Digestive issues are very common in those with autism disorders. And with gut issues being linked to brain conditions, this can explain part of the common digestive issues seen in autism, or in zinc deficiency. Such conditions include chronic constipation or diarrhoea, indigestion, reflux, heartburn, pains, bloating and gas, as well as digestive issues like Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, leaky gut and irritable bowel disease.

The same study found that incidences of autism can increase from pregnant women who are deficient in zinc, and women who are pregnant and breastfeeding need a higher intake of zinc-rich food or supplements, or this can result in deficiencies in the mother and baby to cause neurological and digestive conditions in both.

Zinc isn't the only answer to explaining or treating autism disorders, but it is one of many factors which can greatly help in a holistic treatment plan for sufferers. Zinc deficiency is also an issue in many other mental health issues such as depression and anxiety and others. Zinc deficiency is an issue I see a lot in my clinical practice, mainly from a poor intake of zinc-rich foods, and the increasing popularity of vegetarian and vegan diets which are generally low in zinc. Stress also depletes zinc, so a high-stress environment can lead to a deficiency even if your intake is good.

Your zinc and copper levels can be tested, as can other nutritional minerals and toxic metals, which are also common in autism disorders. If you have other mental health symptoms or digestive symptoms (mentioned above), I can help with nutritional advice and supplementation if needed, to help reduce your symptoms and improve your health! The right form of zinc is crucial, as some are much better than others.

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do you know what is in your sunscreen?

11/11/2017

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Apologies about the longer than usual article this time! But it's important.

Because I have been running a series of “Cancer Prevention” presentations around Brisbane for the past couple of months, as so happens in Facebook, you get adverts targeted to you! I got one from the Cancer Council for their “Cancer prevention for educators” talk in Brisbane, so being very sceptical and curious, I booked in!
I attended their talk recently. The first thing I noticed was a display of various unhealthy drinks at the front, and which they explained later, was to show the amount of sugar in each, as sugar contributes to weight gain they said. They ignored the main issue of sugar, that it directly causes and feeds cancer, or that it causes inflammation, heart disease, diabetes, and many other chronic health issues! None of that was mentioned.
And the ironic thing they missed was regarding the refreshments table at the back of the room – sugar-laden snacks of muffins and cakes… They just don’t get it do they?!
I expected the “same old” information, and yes that’s what I got. They said at the beginning that it would be evidence-based information. I thought otherwise, as you will see when you read some more of this article…
Their “prevention“ advice was pretty light, and a lot was missing. More troubling was that much of their advice was actually going to cause more cancer in many people.
On the topic of sun health, they want everyone to slather on sunscreens every 2 hours, wear sun protective clothing, wear tight-fitting and wrap-around sunglasses when outside ALL the time, and stay out of the sun ALL year around in Qld, because the UV light levels are allegedly too high and dangerous even in Winter!
They obviously didn’t read or know about my last article on the dangers of wearing sunglasses for prolonged periods – research shows that they block up to 98% of sunlight entering your eyes, but you need this to make your sleep hormone (melatonin), your feeling happy hormone (serotonin) which prevents depression and other mental health issues, and your protective skin pigment melanin, which prevents you burning more severely.
I asked the presenter if they were aware of the health implications of wearing sunglasses, which I summarised, and they said they were not!
I asked a question about the issue of getting enough vitamin D, due to the importance of maintaining good levels to improve health and prevent chronic disease. They said everyone should have enough vitamin D from just walking from their house to their car each day… really?! That’s nowhere near enough from the research I’ve read, and I’ve only seen 2 clients with healthy vitamin D levels in the past couple of years.
The topic of eating well came up, and of course they said to follow the government food guidelines, which we all know is a pile of brown smelly stuff, and is the reason why we are seeing so many chronic health conditions these days. They showed an example of a “good” kids lunch box, which was anything but. It also included a small plastic bottle of water. I commented that they should be informing people of the dangers of using plastic bottles, especially for children, and especially in summer – as the hotter the temperature is, the more hormone-disrupting and cancer-causing chemicals will leach from the plastic into the water. A cancer council representative said it was a good point, but they are just focusing on getting kids to just drink more water at the moment. Even if it’s toxic and cancer-causing?
There was a lot more which was not that exciting, and other bits which were shocking, but I will write about those in another article.
Lastly, I spared their embarrassment somewhat when I spoke to the speaker and her boss afterwards, to ask about what testing is done on sunscreens. They said they are tested by the TGA which uses the highest quality testing. Ok, I said, so how do you explain the 4 hormone-disrupting chemicals, 5 cancer-causing chemicals, and many other toxic ingredients in your own brand sunscreens? (See the info in the meme picture)
They looked a little surprised, but said they have faith in the TGA and their scientists who made it. I asked if they can look further into this, because the resources I used to check their ingredients is highly regarded.
I gave them a copy of the meme picture, and 2 pages of recent published research which contradicted their “advice” on sunscreens, skin cancer, sunglasses, and vitamin D.
I hope they look further into this, as they are supposed to provide “evidence-based” information to the public for preventing cancer. But on what I saw and heard in this presentation, they do neither.

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stress, and nutrient deficiencies cause depression & anxiety

24/7/2017

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There have been a few times this year, and more in the past, when famous people have ended their lives by suicide, and another one I read about this week (Linkin Park lead singer Chester Bennington) prompted me to write this article. It’s sad when people resort to this, or see this as the only option for chronic depression.

There are always some causes of mental health issues like depression, anxiety and others. Actual stresses, or perceived (or believed) stresses can be a major cause. But something as simple as a deficiency in one or more nutrients can cause depression, anxiety or other mental health disorders. If the deficiency is not addressed, then chronic mental health issues can result. Specific nutrients are needed to make your brain cells, nerves, hormones, and neurotransmitters, all of which are required for good nervous system health, and therefore good mental health!

Stress, traumas and emotional issues can deplete the body of certain nutrients, causing a deficiency. Stress also affects digestive system function, and reduces the absorption of nutrients, again causing a deficiency, and more mental health issues in a vicious cycle. There are many other factors which can lead to mental health conditions, and usually someone will be affected by more than one of these factors.

In the treatment of any health condition, Naturopathy and Nutritional Medicine seeks to find the causes of the issues and then treats the causes. Nutrient deficiencies can be determined using various tests. Using nutritional changes, supplements or herbal medicines, nutrient deficiencies can quickly be reversed, and thus, restoring the body's ability to make new cells, hormones and neurotransmitters for good mental health and good overall health!

Unfortunately medications such as anti-depressants only focus on the symptoms, which will never improve the condition, and often makes it worse with their side effects. Antidepressant medications don't address the underlying nutrient deficiencies or help you to deal with the stressors which can cause mental health conditions.

If you, or someone you know has depression, anxiety or other mental health issue, please suggest that they talk to a counsellor from Mission Australia, Headspace, or the Black Dog Institute as quickly as possible. Please also let them know that there are other treatments available, and which focus on the root cause, for a much safer and longer-lasting treatment! I'd love to be able to help, as I have with others in the past!

If you are currently experiencing depression, anxiety or other mental health issues, please contact me for a personalised consultation to see what may be causing your symptoms.

A consultation will include a FREE health assessment, analysis of your diet, mineral deficiency test, metabolic rate test, recommended pathology tests and analysis of the results, and a personalised treatment plan!

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nutriENT deficiencies are A MAJOr cause of mental ILLNESS

15/10/2016

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It is Mental Health Awareness week! This means it is time to think about your mental health and that of your family and friends. Mental health conditions are not to be ashamed of, and a lot of the time it’s not your fault. But there are some simple causes and simple treatments which address these conditions.

As a Nutritionist and Naturopath, can anything be done for mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, stress, and neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis and others? Yes, there is a lot that I can do to help!
It used to be said that mental health conditions like depression were caused by an imbalance of hormones or chemicals in the brain. That is only partly true. But recent research shows that there are other things that cause these imbalances of hormones. Attempting to fix the imbalances with medications (ie, antidepressants and others) is futile and dangerous, because they do not actually address the root causes.
Your hormones are made from ingredients in your body. You make them every day from what you take in – from your FOOD! You know that some foods make you feel great with lots of energy, while other foods can make you feel sluggish, and giving you pains and digestive upsets. This is because your food becomes you, in the form of new cells and hormones every day! You can only have the best of mental and physical health when you provide your body with the right foods that YOUR body needs, as what might be right for someone else may not be right for you.
Research shows that various vitamin and mineral deficiencies can lead to mental health conditions. It can be as simple as that! But what may be lacking needs further investigation to find the right treatment for you. Taking an antidepressant is NOT going to address these deficiencies, but they attempt to make you feel better (that’s if they work for you at all), and all the while your body is getting sicker because it’s deficient in certain nutrients. And then there’s the side effects of the medications such as digestive conditions, weight gain, worsening depression and suicidal thoughts, and more. Does a doctor even look into the possibility of a nutritional deficiency causing depression, anxiety or any other "mental illness"? No, they don't! They aren't trained in nutrition or the effects it has on the body.
Your food intake isn’t the only cause for mental health conditions, as stress, digestive conditions, infections, medications and lifestyle factors can all play a part too. Hence to truly treat and resolve mental health conditions, you need to have a completely holistic treatment plan – which is what I do!
I also have a 1-hour mental health seminar that I have developed for corporations and community groups, to inform and empower people to better understand mental health conditions and how to improve your health holistically. Please let me know if you would like me to present this at your location.
If you or anyone you know has a mental health issue, I would be love to be able to help you! Please like and share this, so I may be able to help others with their mental health too!

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mental health improved by nutrition & lifestyle changes!

21/11/2015

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I have just finished putting together a new seminar on "Nutrition and lifestyle improvements for mental health", about some very simple steps to preventing and reversing/treating mental health conditions using good nutrition and some lifestyle improvements! I look forward to presenting this seminar at a mental health community group next week!

In the 1960s it was thought mental illness was due to an imbalance of chemicals, neurotransmitters or hormones in the brain. More recent research suggests that this is not entirely true! What is known is the simple deficiencies in many vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, from a poor diet, actually cause or exacerbate hormone imbalances. Together with poor digestion, low absorption and many other lifestyle and environmental factors, this can result in many mental health conditions.

The following are just some of the nutritional deficiencies and their associated mental health symptoms:

Vitamin B1 - Apathy, memory problems, confusion, irritability
Vitamin B3 - Apathy, fatigue, poor memory, dementia
Vitamin B5 - Apathy, fatigue, neurological disturbances, insomnia, depression, irritability
Vitamin B6 - Depression, confusion, abnormal brain wave patterns, convulsions
Vitamin B7 - Depression, lethargy, hallucinations
Vitamin B12 - Fatigue, impaired memory, low intelligence, nerve damage
Vitamin C - Hysteria, depression
Vitamin D - Low mood, Winter blues (Seasonal Affective Disorder), depression
And there's more too!

Does a doctor even look into the possibility of a nutritional deficiency causing depression, anxiety or any other "mental illness"? No, they don't! They aren't trained in nutrition or the effects it has on the body. They just prescribe a medication that does not address the cause of the problem, and this leads to deficiencies becoming more chronic and serious, more side effects, and needing more medication... and on it goes...

I'm not suggesting that popping a multivitamin will fix depression! Any treatment, especially with mental health, needs a holistic (whole body) approach - that also takes into account someone's emotional health, physical health, environmental health, lifestyle and other aspects. But mental health conditions CAN be successfully treated with very simple nutritional improvements, supplements if needed and some lifestyle changes, as well as other treatments in my holistic 6-point plan!

My new 1-hour "Nutrition and lifestyle improvements for mental health" seminar is now available for your corporate, team or community group! I have several other seminars available on other health and nutrition topics, and I would love to be able to share this information to more people!

Alternatively, if you know anyone with a mental health issue, I would be grateful if you were to like and share this, so I may be able to help others too!

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The trouble with ADHD medications

Zinc deficiency linked to autism

do you know what is in your sunscreen?

stress, and nutrient deficiencies cause depression & anxiety

nutriENT deficiencies are A MAJOr cause of mental ILLNESS

mental health improved by nutrition & lifestyle changes!

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