Integrated Learning Strategies (ILS) is a learning and academic center. As a reminder, ILS is not a health care provider and none of our materials or services provide a diagnosis or treatment of a specific condition or learning challenge you may see in your child or student. If you seek a diagnosis or treatment for your child or student, please contact a trained professional who can provide an evaluation of the child.

First and foremost, what is an enzyme and why do we care? As we know, better nutrition and healthy eating is important for all children. The numbers in child obesity and learning disabilities are rising and can affect how a child learns and develops. Enzymes are found in the body and in foods that are essential for growing children and adults. We cannot live without enzymes. They help with digestion, increase energy, and slow down the aging process (bring on the broccoli ladies)!

Before you hit the snooze button, let’s talk about why enzymes are so important for children and why we need to add more fruits and vegetables with enzymes to their diet.

Allergies and Learning Disabilities

Foods that have good enzymes like papaya, local honey, and pineapple, can prevent development issues and allergies in children. Learning disabilities are often seen in children with nutrient deficiencies, another great reason to integrate healthy foods in your child’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In addition, raw foods like broccoli, carrots, snap peas, sprouts, and garlic can be especially important for children struggling with asthma, autism, Sensory Processing Disorders and ADHD. These types of foods provide the right nutrition that is essential for a student’s performance of the body and mind.

Foods that include enzymes are closely related to our mental and physical state. Children who experience hyperactivity, and lack of concentration and focus tend to be depleted of vitamins, minerals, and enzymes needed for calming these symptoms.

Boosts Energy

The more enzymes children gain from eating, the more energy they will have at school, on the playground, and when taking exams. Foods that are high in fiber and protein like avocado, almonds, raw nuts, olives, and mushrooms help students concentrate and listen better to the teacher. It also helps them burn their energy more productively that fuels the brain and regenerates memory.

Eating Clean

When possible, try to buy organic fruits and vegetables for you children at the store. I know these types of foods tend to be more expensive, but some genetically modified seeds may not contain the enzymes kids’ need. They may also be sprayed with toxic week killers and pesticides that prevent digestion and could lead to possible learning and development problems.

Juice it Up

Juicing is a great way to get your kids excited about eating healthier. Juicing fruits and vegetables provide the much-needed vitamins, minerals, and enzymes needed and are delicious for kids. If you tend to have a picky eater, try making a smoothie with a combination of fruits and vegetables. You can also use juices for a great snack before or after dinner to ward off those sugar cravings. Remember, fruit juices are cleansers and vegetable juices are builders of the body.

Foods to Avoid

Unfortunately, foods that are some of the easiest to make contain high amounts of refined sugar that can hinder your child’s learning capabilities. Foods like white bread, breakfast cereals, pasta, and pizza do not contain proper enzymes and nutrients for the brain. In fact, if you ever wonder why your child has lack of energy, gets hungry before lunch, is irritable, or has a difficulty with digestion, it could be due to some of these foods. Processed foods like TV dinners are especially hard for young minds and are even known to make children and adults gain weight instead of lose weight.

Integrated Learning Strategies is a Utah-based center dedicated to helping mainstream children and children with learning challenges achieve academic success. Our services provide kids with non-traditional tutoring programs within the Davis County, Kaysville, Layton, Syracuse, Farmington, and Centerville areas. Areas to find Integrated Learning Strategies include: Reading tutors in Kaysville, Math tutors in Kaysville, Common Core Tutors in Kaysville, Tutors in Utah, Utah Tutoring Programs