THERE is more to good nutrition for children than just eating your greens, writes CAROLYN MORRIS.

Scientists are finding out more and more about how what we eat affects the delicate chemical balances in our bodies - and one woman seeing direct results of a diet-led approach to numerous childhood problems is running clinics in Moreton-in-Marsh.

Hilary Green runs nutritional therapy sessions from The Natural Therapies Clinic in Grays Lane.

She treats children with dyslexia, hyperactive problems, autism and other learning disabilities, as well as giving advice to adults, and she says many conditions can be improved through good nutrition.

Sometimes basic alterations to children's diets can achieve results and Hilary is keen to spread the word about good eating habits.

She asks all her clients to fill in a questionnaire about their symptoms and eating habits so she can scrutinise their diets for warning signs.

More parents are learning about the effects of sugar on children and Hilary finds it a common foe. "Many hyperactive children are sugar-laden," she says.

She advises anyone whose child has hyperactive disorders to seek nutritional advice, and explore every other avenue, before putting their children on medication, which should be a last resort.

But she also accepts what a minefield a parent must tread to find the right foods. Sugar-free foods contain chemical sweeteners and fat-free foods are often laced with sugar - some fat free yoghurts are 50% sugar - so people thinking they are doing their best are often fooled.

Hilary, who lives near Chipping Norton, studied for three years at the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in London looking at diet down to its basic chemistry and she aims to get the body back into balance.

She began her career as a PE teacher and then, she said: "I got into dyslexic teaching, and realised we weren't winning with these children and there had to be other ways to help them."

So she learnt more about links with diet and disorders of which more is being learned every day. Latest tests are showing autistic youngsters to have particular problems with chemicals naturally found in milk and wheat. Hilary, who mainly treats dyslexics, says she believes many - and there is a 4:1 ratio of dyslexic boys to girls - suffer a lack of essential fatty acids.

The brain itself is very fatty, she says, and hard animal fats can make the membranes less pliable. Nuts and seeds and oily fish contain the best sorts of fats to help our brains work. Boys have larger brains so that could explain why they suffer more.

Boys are also more likely to have a zinc deficiency, which is needed for more than 100 functions in the body.

She can tell parents ways to detect and test for intolerances in foods, can make up individual diets, has ideas for healthy packed lunches, advises on how to check food labels and also how to persuade youngsters to actually eat healthily.

Hilary also runs neuro development therapy and sound therapy sessions to help children and adults improve co-ordination, balance and even fear of heights or tinitus.

She sees people aged four upwards and often works in tandem with their doctors. She can also prepare reports for exam boards for children with learning difficulties.

She thinks problems with diet will continue as more parents work full time and are looking for quick meals. "But lots of vegetables can be quickly cooked in the microwave," she says.

She added: "It's great to get people feeling better and looking better and being responsible for their own health. It's important for people of any age - it's never too late."

l Hilary also does talks and is keen to spread the word in schools. She can be contacted at the Natural Therapies Clinic in Moreton (01608 650077 - www.natural-therapies-clinic.co.uk).