Nutrition Interventions for Sensory Processing

In typically developing children, a healthy diet provides nourishment for the nervous system and it fosters healthy nerve cells that relay accurate sensory information [2]. The same is true for children with SPD, but because children with sensory issues struggle on a daily basis to re-integrate or reorganize their nervous system, extra care must be taken to ensure that they consistently consume an optimal sensory diet through nutrition intervention. In some cases, children who have sensory issues are not given an actual SPD diagnosis, but they can still greatly benefit from nutrition intervention [3].

Children with sensory issues typically have higher nutritional needs because they often experience oral defensiveness as well as abnormal sensitivity to textures, taste, and smells that limit their food intake (e.g., picky eating) [4]. Fortunately, there are certain types of foods that help improve sensory and mental function. For example, ample amounts of fruits and vegetables provide healthy carbohydrates that are a steady source of energy and this targets attention issues and brain fog that some children with SPD struggle with [4].

Probiotics have also been shown to boost mental function by improving digestive health. There is a vast network of nerves in the intestinal tract that influence various processes in the brain [2, 5]. Therefore, the ability of probiotics to enhance intestinal nerve health is especially beneficial for children with sensory problems [2].

Increasing dietary sources of B vitamins, vitamin E, and omega-3 fatty acids can also enhance the health of nerve cells throughout the body, including the brain [4]. Magnesium in particular, plays a role in the transfer of electrical signals between the brain and the body; therefore, dietary supplementation with this mineral is particularly important [6, 7].

In conclusion, nutrition intervention for children with SPD or undiagnosed sensory issues involves providing them with a diet that supports nervous system function as this is the key to helping children process sensory input in an optimal manner.

My Spectrum Heroes™ is a line of dietary supplements designed to support a growing child’s brain health by feeding the developing nervous system. By addressing potential dietary deficits linked to suboptimal brain function,

Resources For Parents 

Kid Sense Therapy  Self Regulation - Kid Sense Child Development

Irvin Therapy Services   Developmental Understanding

Pediatric Development Centre   Arousal and Self Regulation | Pediatric Development Center

Griffin Occupational Therapy   Arousal, Attention and Sensory Processing What’s the Links? - GriffinOT

Neurodivergent Insights   The Power of Sensory Regulation

Irvine Therapy Serives   Developmental Understanding

Occupational Therapy Helping Children  Effective Home Strategies to Manage Arousal Levels in Children 

DISCLAIMER: I have learned a lot over the years but I am still learning. Always do your own research and exercise sound judgment. I am not an occupational therapist or a physician. I am an adult who has sensory processing disorder, a sensory parent and a Grandma. The information on this website is not medical advice and does not replace the information that your child's therapists or medical professionals give you. These are just ideas that I have learned myself over the years of being a parent and an adult living with SPD. If you are concerned for your child, please always seek medical attention through a family doctor, pediatrician or therapist. This website is for awareness purposes only. Each child is different and what works for one child may not for another because all children have different sensory needs. Please always consult with a medical professional. Click on links throughout each page for more resources and information. Click here for more resources https://sensoryprocessingdisorderparentsupport.com/sensoryprocessingdisorderresources

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