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152: Zinc for ADHD: The Missing Link with Dana Kay

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

Release Date: 03/27/2025

175: How to Help a Child with ADHD Focus—Without the Daily Battles show art 175: How to Help a Child with ADHD Focus—Without the Daily Battles

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

In this episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay challenges one of the most common myths about ADHD—that kids with ADHD simply can’t focus. As a Board-Certified Health and Nutrition Practitioner, Dana unpacks what focus really is, explaining how skills like impulse control, working memory, and planning all come together to create what we think of as “attention.” She also explores how these skills develop at different ages and why setting realistic expectations is so important. From brain science to real-world parenting strategies, Dana shares the foundational pillars—diet,...

info_outline 174: ADHD, Homework, and Executive Function with Ann Dolin show art 174: ADHD, Homework, and Executive Function with Ann Dolin

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

In this episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay sits down with Ann Dolin, an award-winning educator, author, and expert in ADHD, executive function, and academic coaching. Together, they unpack one of the most common and stressful challenges for families raising kids with ADHD—homework. With over three decades of experience helping children who think and learn differently, Ann shares practical, tested strategies to reduce homework battles, build executive function skills, and bring more calm to busy evenings. Dana Kay, a Board-Certified Health and Nutrition Practitioner and...

info_outline 173: ADHD & Sensory Processing Explained with Michael Soria show art 173: ADHD & Sensory Processing Explained with Michael Soria

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

In this episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay dives into some often overlooked aspects of ADHD—sensory processing challenges. She’s joined by Michael Soria, a global special education consultant and dad of a neurodivergent child, who brings over 35 years of insight and heart to the conversation. If your child melts down in the cereal aisle or fights over wearing socks, it may not be “just ADHD”—it could be their sensory system crying out for help. Dana and Michael explore how sensory overload can mimic or magnify ADHD symptoms, and what parents and educators can do to...

info_outline 172: Is It ADHD or Sleep Apnea? with Kirk Huntsman show art 172: Is It ADHD or Sleep Apnea? with Kirk Huntsman

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

Could your child’s ADHD symptoms actually be caused by something else entirely—like undiagnosed pediatric sleep apnea? In this compelling episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay is joined by Kirk Huntsman, CEO and co-founder of Vivos Therapeutics. Together, they unpack the often-overlooked connection between sleep and behavior, revealing how disrupted sleep patterns—especially obstructive sleep apnea—can mimic or even contribute to ADHD symptoms in children. Dana and Kirk explore the biological and developmental reasons behind sleep-related misdiagnoses, warning signs...

info_outline 171: ADHD Starts in the Gut with Dana Kay show art 171: ADHD Starts in the Gut with Dana Kay

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

In this episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay—Board-Certified Health and Nutrition Practitioner and founder of the ADHD Thrive Institute—dives deep into one of the most misunderstood underlying stressors of ADHD symptoms: gut health. While ADHD is often labeled as a brain-based disorder, this episode reveals how gut imbalances, inflammation, and neurotransmitter disruptions could be fueling your child’s symptoms—like mood swings, focus struggles, and emotional dysregulation. Dana shares the latest science on the gut-brain connection and breaks down practical,...

info_outline 170: The ADHD Meltdowns Finally Stopped - Karla Shares Her Story show art 170: The ADHD Meltdowns Finally Stopped - Karla Shares Her Story

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

In this week’s episode of The Soaring Child, host Dana Kay speaks with Karla, a courageous mother who transformed her family’s life after years of chaos, tantrums, and emotional turmoil. In this episode, Karla shares her raw, emotional journey—from feeling hopeless and questioning her ability as a mother, to finally discovering the underlying stressors that were exacerbating her daughter’s outbursts and meltdowns. Spoiler alert: the answer wasn’t another parenting strategy! Dana Kay, a Board-Certified Holistic Health and Nutrition Practitioner and mom to a child with ADHD, guides...

info_outline 169: Creating Your ADHD Family Playbook with Caz Pringle-Bowden show art 169: Creating Your ADHD Family Playbook with Caz Pringle-Bowden

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

In this episode of The Soaring Child, host Dana Kay welcomes back counselor, neurodiversity educator, and yoga facilitator Caz Pringle-Bowden for a deep dive into a transformative concept for ADHD families — the Family Operational Manual. If parenting your child with ADHD often feels like chaos without a game plan, this episode offers a unique and practical tool that could change the way your household operates. Dana and Caz explore how understanding each family member’s brain wiring can shift a household from reactive to regulated. With real-life examples, creative metaphors, and small,...

info_outline 168: Lunchbox Solutions for ADHD Kids with Andrea Daigle show art 168: Lunchbox Solutions for ADHD Kids with Andrea Daigle

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

In this episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay welcomes back Andrea Daigle, a seasoned ADHD coach at the ADHD Thrive Institute. Together, they delve into the challenges parents face when sending their children with ADHD back to school, especially concerning dietary needs and peer interactions. They discuss strategies to empower children to understand and advocate for their unique dietary requirements, ensuring they feel confident and included during school meals. Dana Kay, a board-certified holistic health and nutrition practitioner, is dedicated to helping families navigate the...

info_outline 167: Happiness Tools for ADHD Families with Matt O’Neill show art 167: Happiness Tools for ADHD Families with Matt O’Neill

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

In this episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay sits down with happiness expert Matt O’Neill to explore one of the most transformative—but often overlooked—tools in parenting: cultivating happiness from the inside out. As a father of four, author, and the creator of The Good Mood Revolution podcast, Matt shares actionable insights into how happiness isn't just a fleeting feeling, but a skill that can be built—even in the chaos of daily life with ADHD. From managing meltdowns to reframing negative emotions like fear, overwhelm, and guilt, Matt offers science-backed...

info_outline 166: What’s Really Driving ADHD? with Dana Kay show art 166: What’s Really Driving ADHD? with Dana Kay

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

Welcome to the debut episode of Crack The Code, a private podcast for parents navigating the often overwhelming world of ADHD. Host Dana Kay, Board-Certified Health and Nutrition Practitioner and founder of the ADHD Thrive Institute, shares her raw, personal journey of raising a child with ADHD, and what she discovered after traditional approaches fell short. This isn’t another list of parenting hacks or behavior charts. It’s a compassionate, science-backed look into what’s really going on inside your child’s body. In this powerful first episode, Dana introduces a groundbreaking new...

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Did you know that 95% of children with ADHD may be missing one critical nutrient that affects mood, sleep, sensory processing, and picky eating? In this episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay, ADHD health practitioner and founder of the ADHD Thrive Institute, takes a deep dive into zinc deficiency—a common but often overlooked factor in ADHD symptoms. She explains how low zinc disrupts dopamine, worsens hyperactivity, and even creates a vicious cycle of picky eating by altering taste perception.

Dana also breaks down simple ways to check for zinc deficiency, including an easy at-home taste test, and shares the best food sources and supplements to restore zinc balance. Plus, she explains the zinc-copper connection, why high copper levels can lead to more meltdowns, and how to test your child’s zinc levels accurately. If you want to help your child thrive naturally, this episode is packed with actionable insights and science-backed strategies to get started!

Links Mentioned in the Show:

Supplementation Series Episodes:

Zinc Assay Test for Zinc Deficiency – A simple at-home test to check for zinc levels - https://amzn.to/3QEyKoq

Zinc Deficiency Chart:

 

Key Takeaways:
[0:52] How Zinc Deficiency Affects Mood, Sleep, & Sensory Processing
[4:09] The Zinc-Copper Seesaw: Why It Matters
[6:04] Signs Your Child May Be Zinc Deficient
[9:16] The At-Home Zinc Assay Taste Test
[9:59] Best Natural Sources of Zinc
[10:49] Recommended Zinc Supplements & Dosage Guidelines
[12:39] How to Test Zinc Levels Accurately
[12:45] Next Steps for Parents

Memorable Moments:

"If your child has ADHD, there is a 95% chance they’re missing this critical nutrient—and it could be making symptoms worse."

"Zinc affects mood swings, picky eating, sleep, and sensory processing, yet most parents have no idea their child is deficient."

"When zinc is low, copper levels rise, burning through dopamine and leading to more hyperactivity, mood swings, and meltdowns."

"Low zinc levels are linked to ADHD symptoms, impulsivity, and even sensory issues like difficulty processing sounds and textures."

"If your child gets sick more often than others, has white spots on their nails, or struggles with taste sensitivity, zinc deficiency could be the cause."

"The Zinc Assay Taste Test is a quick way to check for zinc deficiency—if it tastes like water, your child likely needs more zinc!"

"Zinc plays a crucial role in dopamine production, brain function, and emotional regulation—yet most doctors won’t even test for it properly."

"Testing zinc plasma, not zinc serum, is the most accurate way to check for a true zinc deficiency."

"My favorite zinc supplement is Pure Encapsulations Zinc Liquid—gentle, well-absorbed, and easy to adjust."

"I challenge parents to try the at-home zinc test and DM me their results—let’s see just how many kids are actually zinc deficient!"

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