Could milk be causing child’s behav. prob | ADHD Information

Hello all! It's been a LONG time since I've been on the board.  It's such a great place!

Does anyone here have any experience with Milk contributing to behavior problems.

My son has had an OUTSTANDING school year so far!! His behavior is really seems to be coming around.  I believe his is maturing (he's 10) and that has something to do with it too.  He had all B's this sem. and wants all A's for next sem. so he can earn 50 bucks for a guitar hero!

BUT, I have noticed that he is generally more friendly not so whiney, crabby or nasty or emotional.  He seems pretty focused and determined.

What's different, he doesn't drink MILK!  WE WERE HUGE HUGE HUGE cereal w/2% milk drinkers.  HUGE.  He now eats a bagel with cream cheese for breakfast every morning or maybe some oatmeal. BUT NO MILK. 

COULD THIS BE IT??? Something as simple as this?

I kind of put it to the test a bit, I let him eat cereal with milk for a few days/week or so.  I notice a negative behavior difference and then put him back on the bagels.

The kicker for me was, I mentioned this to my husband, that I noticed a difference.  WHEN MY SON wasn't around.  Then, several days later, I came out of the blue and asked my son, you know how you have been eating bagels in the AM, and not eating cereal with milk, how have you been feeling, it seems as if things are going good for you... and you know a couple weeks ago when you were having cereral for b-fast with milk.  Did you feel different, did anything seem better or worse or different. and guess what HE SAID YES.. he said it feels bad when he has milk... he can't focus really good and is crabby and he just doesn't feel right.

I challenge you to try something... do you have a gut feeling on something??? just try it and see.  You never know.

 

My son acts like a little addict when we give him milk.  He used to drink up to six cups a day- and I had let him because the doctor said it was better then juice and he downright refused to drink water.  I noticed a dramatic improvement in behavior after cutting out milk and most other dairy.  It was tough to do though because he really craved it for several weeks, and still will if he gets it somewhere else.

We use soymilk now, for cereal and everything else- the rest of us in the house are lactose intolerant so that's not really a big deal.  But if your son really loves cereal, like mine does, then you might see if he'd use that. 

I know what you mean.

Maybe if he really wants cereal (which he could really care less, I think) I will see if he wants to try soy.

He had to drink lactose free milk as an infant.  Hum... makes me think...

It seems that the Cream Cheese would/could cause the same reastion because of the Casein. That is usually the culprit in milk. I would try Rice milk before soy, it simply tastes better. We are gluten free, casein free, and I DO see a huge difference not only in my kids behaviors, but the overall health in general. No more colds, sinus problems, and no more ASTHMA since I took 10yo DD off dairy. I'm wondering why cream cheese wouldn't cause the same reaction....

Just curious as to which chemical in the milk would be causing the behavior problems.

THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR GOOD POINTS!

Hi

We have been dairy free for 7 years but added gluten to the banned list about 4 months agao. Together with a specific supplement fo zinc etc determined through blood, urine and hair annalysis we have had a different kid.  I I'll expain the had in a moment.

When I took him off milk when he was 7 he woke up.  It was amazing.  He would lust for milk and because he didn't like to chew and was always tired, I thought milk would give him energy for school.  Then this year we took him off gluten and wow the difference has been once again amazing.  He is more alert and less anxious.

Now let me explain the had...  In the last month, he has developed a spasm in his left arm that occurs every few seconds.  No one knows what is going on - his chiropractor said it was bizzare!!  So after abit of a search, I have taken him off his supplements - the culprit we think may be vitamin b6.  Being off the supplements has really changed him.  His anxiety has returned and his thinking is not as clear.

Hope this answers some questions!!!!

A few things popped into my mind here when I read this.

Milk [and some meats] are often produced from animals that are given steroids and antibiotics to increase production. Is it possible that some people are highly sensitive to those and that it can cause such reactions more often than has been researched?

I agree with the rice milk--it DOES taste better

HappyRock:
The left arm spasm--I get extreme leg and foot spasms if I eat bananas--it's not the B complexes that do it to me--it's the high level of potassium. I don't know why. Maybe that's the same for  your son? Does he have low blood pressure?




Try using soy milk instead.  Friends of ours cut milk out and used substitute and their son is doing so much better.

Good point about the casien in cream cheese- it might not be enough to have much of an effect though.   

Just a note about soy v. rice milk- my kids get constipated at the drop of a hat, hense soy rather than rice.  You can even get the Silk brand soymilk with extra fiber.  Just something to think about for those kids that are sensitive that way.