Fara Murata, lcsw

10/11/2025

A remarkable study has revealed that lifestyle changes can make a dramatic difference for children with ADHD. Researchers found that nearly 70 percent of kids lost their ADHD symptoms after two major shifts, removing all screens and following a clean diet free of gluten, dairy, soy, corn, and artificial sweeteners.

The absence of screens appeared to reduce overstimulation, improve sleep quality, and allow children to engage more deeply in natural play and real-life social interaction. At the same time, removing inflammatory foods and additives gave the brain and body space to function with more balance and clarity. Parents reported improvements in focus, emotional regulation, and even behavior within weeks.

This doesn’t mean ADHD is “cured,” nor that medication or therapy has no role. Instead, it highlights how environment and diet can play an extraordinary role in brain health. Food sensitivities, artificial chemicals, and constant screen exposure create hidden stressors that may worsen attention difficulties. By eliminating these factors, children’s brains were able to heal and recalibrate, reducing symptoms naturally.

The findings are a powerful reminder that small, consistent changes can create profound results. Instead of focusing only on treatment after problems arise, shaping healthy environments and mindful eating habits could give children a stronger foundation for learning, growth, and mental well-being.

While every child is unique, and not every case will respond the same way, this study opens an important conversation about how simple lifestyle choices can work hand in hand with medical guidance to create lasting improvements in children’s lives.

10/11/2025

Some have told me: “I only buy Halloween Candy once a year, so I don’t care what’s in it.”

Halloween candy isn’t health food, but it still matters what the ingredients are. No one wants to poison the neighborhood children with TBHQ, artificial dyes, and corn syrup.

There are soo many better options out there now, that there’s really no excuse. The only way to get brands like Reese’s to change is to stop buying it.

Check the comments below for my list of delicious Halloween candy alternatives!

Swaps for everything from Snickers, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Nestle Crunch, Starburst, Skittles…

I’ve got you covered!

10/08/2025

A team of Dutch researchers wanted to test if some ADHD symptoms were caused by food. They put children on a strict “few foods diet” of rice, turkey, certain vegetables, pears, and water for five weeks - no processed foods, no additives.

Around half of the children, sometimes more, saw their ADHD symptoms nearly disappear. But when foods like dairy, wheat, corn, or artificial sweeteners were reintroduced, the hyperactivity quickly returned.

These findings, led by researcher Lidy Pelsser and published in The Lancet, showed that about 40–50% of kids with ADHD may have a diet-sensitive form of the condition. For those children, what they eat can be the difference between chaos and calm. It revealed that for many, managing ADHD might begin not with medication, but with what they eat.

Further, studies show that excessive screen time, especially before age 12, overstimulates dopamine pathways - the same ones linked to attention, impulse control, and motivation. Constant exposure to fast-paced digital rewards trains the brain to crave novelty and instant feedback, making slower, real-world focus (like reading or classroom learning) feel unbearable.

Kids who spend more time on screens tend to show higher rates of hyperactivity, poor sleep, irritability, and emotional dysregulation - all of which overlap with ADHD symptoms.

When screens are reduced, just like when certain foods are eliminated, many parents report noticeable improvements. We're talking better mood, deeper sleep, and more consistent focus. Some studies even found that lowering screen use, especially before bed, led to fewer ADHD diagnoses over time.

09/05/2025

PDA is a diagnosis I am seeing more and more in children. It is a difficult thing to treat, but my micro current neurofeedback has done an amazing job of helping decrease the behavioral outbursts and improving daily functioning. Contact me if you want to learn more.

While most children will demonstrate defiant or avoidant behavior to some degree, PDA refers to persistent avoidance that interferes with daily life.

Read More: https://bit.ly/4gQhqe3

06/04/2025

05/28/2025

05/28/2025

05/07/2025

Adrenal exhaustion, also known as adrenal fatigue, is one of the most common yet most overlooked health problems in recent times. Read More: https://www.amenclinics.com/blog/11-signs-of-adrenal-fatigue-stress-related-adrenal-exhaustion/

05/03/2025

05/02/2025

This was life-changing for me! When I stopped focusing on the calories, carbs and fat grams and looked into the ingredients I was eating instead, my body transformed and health completely turned around.

There are plenty of “low carb” and “diet” foods that are loaded with chemicals linked to weight gain, diabetes, and other health issues:

❌POLYSORBATE 80: An emulsifier linked to weight gain, inflammation and digestive problems.

❌ CELLULOSE: This thickener & emulsifier is usually made from wood, because it’s cheap. It may alter gut bacteria, increase the risk of inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic syndrome, significant weight gain, and cancer.

❌ ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS (SUCRALOSE, ASPARTAME): Although artificial sweeteners have no calories, they have been shown to contribute to weight gain by encouraging sugar cravings. Research finds they stimulate your appetite, increase sugar cravings, and promote fat storage and weight gain.

❌CALCIUM PROPIONATE: This preservative disrupts the metabolism and can promote weight gain. Animal studies show that it also leads to high blood sugar and insulin resistance, which increases the risk of type 2 diabetes.

❌SOYBEAN OIL: Very high in omega-6 fatty acids, which increases the risk of obesity, inflammation, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and autoimmune diseases.

Seek out nutrition first…and the rest will follow! It’s remarkable what real food can do.

04/25/2025

BREAKING: The FDA has officially announced they will be banning artificial dyes in the food supply by the end of 2026

Eight artificial dyes will be phased out of US food supply by 2026, Health Secretary RFK Jr. says.

📷 IG@ways2well

04/22/2025

Although medication remains one of the most common treatment options available, an increasingly popular approach to managing anxiety is through the practice of mindfulness. Read More: https://bit.ly/3MqKcp1