It always amazes me how quickly a normal person can become an “amateur expert” when life demands it. Before my son, Shea was diagnosed with Apraxia at 2 years old, I would never have thought that I would acquire a wide array of knowledge about brain development but life is funny that way.
Apraxia is a disconnect in the language center of the brain or as I like to explain it: a sever speech delay or disorder. Language, motor planning, verbal recall, mouth control and articulation are all tough challenges for my boy. We work on it all the time. It is a daily part of our life.
Like many parents who discover something amiss with their child, strong feelings of powerlessness drive them into research mode. Scouring the Internet to educate myself on what I could do to help was one of the only concrete things I felt I could do during a very scary time. Reaching out and finding other parents with similar experiences was remarkably helpful, reinforcing and comforting.
As I searched, I was amazed and intrigued as I kept finding references to Omega fats for promoting brain development and healthy brain function. Again and again, I found references in forums and chat rooms and advise columns.
Remember how they used to call fish “the brain food”? Well they were right! Many clinical studies as well as extensive anecdotal evidence strongly suggest that the naturally occurring fats found in fish and other foods (Omega fats) are indeed brain food and can provide much needed help for kids with autism, preemies and, of course, kids with speech delays and other developmental issues. This sort of “brain food” is key for kids who need help to “re-wire” their brains or develop alternative pathways of brain function.
When I talked with my naturopathic doctor about it, she agreed and highly encouraged me to try it for Shea but cautioned me to buy a reputable brand of fish oil. She gave me stern warnings to avoid cheaper, off-brand fish oils, which may be contaminated with mercury.
She directed me to Nordic Naturals as a quality company and we tried the children’s gel caps but it was all for naught. Shea is such a picky eater that he would not take the caps and if I tried breaking them open and slipping them into a beverage he would dug his heels in and refuse. I feared a stalemate.
Because of how important early intervention is for this sort of disorder, desperation began to set in to find an alternate way to get him the Omega fats. Back to the Internet and voila! Hemp Milk!
Over a period of weeks, my son tried all brands and flavors on the market and settled on the incredibly yummy Tempt Chocolate as his personal favorite. It couldn’t be simpler. We warm it up and serve it as cocoa every morning for breakfast. He loves it and so do I!
Nutritionally, Hemp Milk packs a serious wallop. Just one 8 oz. serving contains 800 mg of Omega 3 and 2,600 mg of Omega 6. It is also an excellent source of calcium, Vit D, B 12 and Magnesium. Plus with 4 times the protein per serving as Rice Milk, it is an excellent protein source as well as milk alternative.
There is no question about taste. It is delicious. Available in 3 flavors: Vanilla, Chocolate and Original; sweetened and unsweetened. It is thicker than your typical soy or rice milk and has a very smooth creamy texture and is not too sweet. It works as an excellent milk substitute in baking and has become a must have in our house. We now buy it buy the case to make sure we have it on hand at all times.
Happily all those good fats have really helped my son. At 6, he is learning to read and is at grade level academically as his language progress improves daily.
Parents have a huge impact on their child’s health as their #1 advocates. Love and caring can quite quickly turn a typical person into an enthusiastic amateur expert! And, if it happens to you, please share your story. There are people out there who will really appreciate it.