How I'm Helping My Kids' Bipolar Disorder Naturally

"How are you treating their bipolar?" 

It's a question I'm asked quite a bit by parents of kids who have bipolar disorder. The reasons for asking vary. Usually it's one of the following:

• They see my kids doing well and want to know how that's happening.
• They want to choose something less harsh, but have no idea where to begin.
• They use natural remedies or traditional medicine, but never knew it could help this.
• They're just curious, having no idea about natural medicine at all.

I can only begin to answer this question. One post won't do it. A book perhaps, but not one single post.

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First, I want to make it clear I'm not here to advocate or denounce any type of treatment, conventional or otherwise. I also will not discuss whether or not I use conventional treatments.

That's not what this is about.

This about addressing the many symptoms that conventional medicine does not address.

While conventional medicine may offer medications for depression or psychosis (the efficacy of these is up for your personal debate, but not on my blog), it does not offer anything for the many daily symptoms people with bipolar disorder experience.

For instance, conventional medicine offers nothing for the following:

• restoring a feeling of hope
• decreasing the feelings of self-loathing
• help for when the mind is cluttered with racing thoughts
• indecisiveness
• the fear of losing control (of one's mind or behavior)

I could create a lengthy list of things conventional medicine can't treat, but who has that kind of time?

Today, I'm going to talk about how diet can help bipolar disorder.

Balancing the Moods with Foods

Not to worry, this is not some overwhelming elimination diet type of thing. This isn't even about changing the diet. 

OK, for some it may. I mean, if your kids are used to pre-packaged, processed foods, then yes, you should make some changes. Those aren't good for anyone at any time.

Still that's not what we're talking about here. Our family only eats real food, so that wasn't even a concern for us.

Basically, we prevent mood swings with the following daily plan:

• Prime the digestive pump before breakfast
• Prepare the body for the day (and for sleeping at night)
• Feed the brain to prevent mood swings
• Get plenty of fresh air and sunshine
• Get plenty of salt water into the body

So let's talk about these things.

Prime the digestive system before breakfast.

First thing in the morning, we consume something that will increase HCL levels.

This could be lemon water, apple cider vinegar and water, or other foods that increase HCL levels (lemons, limes, apple cider vinegar, along with papaya, pineapple).

The brain needs nutrients just like any other muscle or organ. By consuming these foods first thing in the morning, the digestive system is primed to uptake more nutrients for the rest of the day.

Prepare the body for the day (and for sleeping at night).

We consume vitamin D3 (specifically, cholecalciferol) first thing in the morning. The recommended dosage is 35IU per pound of body weight.

This energizes the body (which is important since bipolar bears tend to hibernate in the day). 

Vitamin D-3 also works inversely with melatonin. That means when the D-3 decreases at night, the melatonin will increase, which will hopefully help them sleep at night.

Feed the brain to prevent mood swings.

This is easy. High-protein foods every 2-3 hours. Period.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Snacks in between. Keeping the protein and sugar levels steady prevents mood swings.

Get plenty of fresh air and sunshine.

Sunshine is key.

Let me repeat that. SUNSHINE IS KEY.

Exposure to sun is how we naturally produce vitamin D-3 (a hormone, not a vitamin). My daughters try to get outside every day, even if it just means sitting outside drawing in the sun for an hour.

They know this will even out those terrible sleep patterns.

Get plenty of salt water into the body.

You've heard that the human body is mostly water, but it isn't. 
It's mostly salt water.

Think about it. Sweat is salty. Blood is salty. Urine is salty.

When your body puts out liquid, it's losing salt. That salt needs to be replaced. The human body needs the elements in salt such as nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus.

But table salt is not the answer. Table salt is highly refined, with most of it's mineral removed. Many times anti-caking additives have been added.

• We cook with it.
• Put it on our foods.
• Take salt baths.
• Use it to exfoliate our skin.
• Take a few grains with every glass of water.

Salt is vital to your health. Pink salt provides 84 minerals, many of which calm the mind, such as calcium, iron, potassium and magnesium, making it slightly lower in sodium than regular table salt, too.

This is just the beginning.

These are a handful of changes we made last year. As a result of these changes, my kids are more calm, less prone to mood swings, and happier.

I will have more to share in the future. In the meantime, I invite you to join my Facebook group, Raising Bipolar, where the focus is learning natural ways to manage bipolar disorder.

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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult with your health care practitioner for help with any illness.