| A growing number of parents are turning to diet | | | | oranges, peaches and tomatoes. |
| to help ease the symptoms of their child's ADHD. | | | | Sugar and caffeine-free diet - refined sugar is |
| More often, ADHD-related diets are used as a | | | | thought to increase hyperactivity in children while |
| way to either minimize dependence on | | | | caffeine is a stimulant. By avoiding these foods, |
| medications or as the first step to manage ADHD | | | | ADHD symptoms are not aggravated. |
| symptoms before turning to drugs. But how | | | | When are nutritional supplements indicated? |
| effective are ADHD diets recommended by many | | | | Nutritional supplementation completely opposes |
| experts in the field? | | | | certain ADHD diets recommended by some |
| ADHD is a common disorder in children and is | | | | experts. Unlike the elimination diet, nutritional |
| often diagnosed in nearly 5% of children in the | | | | supplementation pre-supposes that the body is |
| United States. Once diagnosed, children are often | | | | missing necessary nutrients, preventing it from |
| prescribed medications as treatment, leading to a | | | | functioning properly. As such, these missing |
| triple increase in the use of ADHD drugs. While | | | | nutrients are replaced by taking nutritional |
| drugs have shown a lot of promise in helping treat | | | | supplements. |
| the symptoms of ADHD, more and more parents | | | | An important thing to note for parents who plan |
| are turning to diet as a way to minimize | | | | on using mega-vitamins for children with ADHD is |
| symptoms, manage the disorder and hopefully, | | | | that nutritional and dietary supplements are not |
| avoid medication altogether. | | | | regulated by the FDA, so many of the ingredients |
| What's wrong with medication? | | | | contained in these supplements may not have |
| Medication will always be at the forefront of | | | | passed strict testing. It's best to have the child |
| ADHD management, not only because it's the | | | | examined by a doctor in order to determine |
| preferred treatment by most doctors and | | | | whether he truly is deficient before using dietary |
| parents, but also because it offers fast results | | | | supplements. |
| and can actually show improvement in behavior. | | | | Can ADHD diets really improve a child's behavior? |
| However, many parents are turning to ADHD | | | | It is evident that changes in the diet alone are not |
| diets because it seems to show long term results. | | | | helpful for each child who has ADHD. However, |
| A dietary supplementation plan, for example, has | | | | there are certain children who benefit from special |
| shown behavior improvement after just one or | | | | diets. Most recently, research has shown that a |
| two weeks, offering hope that changes can be | | | | small percentage children who used an |
| encouraged if used regularly. | | | | additive-free diet exhibited minimal or no ADHD |
| Recommended diet for ADHD | | | | symptoms. Nutritional supplementation has also |
| The main goal of an ADHD diet that is often | | | | shown to be a practical approach for children who |
| recommended by professionals and other diet | | | | have exhibited certain deficiencies in nutrients, |
| experts is to manage the levels of blood sugar in | | | | although this is a natural reaction in such a case. |
| the body and ensure that the brain receives the | | | | A caveat: when using recommended ADHD diets, |
| right type of nutrition at the most opportune | | | | make sure that whatever changes are |
| times. Healthy meals not only help regulate the | | | | implemented remain realistic not just for the |
| child's energy level, it also helps feed his brain to | | | | person with ADHD but also for the rest of the |
| help it optimize its functions. | | | | family. By attempting to follow some strict ADHD |
| North-american's diets are way too rich in sugar | | | | diet recommended by a professional, for |
| and fat. Everyone, regardless if they have ADD | | | | example, you could be creating more unnecessary |
| should cut down on fatty foods and carbs and | | | | stress. Be careful also that a young child does not |
| incorporate generous amounts of fruits and | | | | miss out on very important nutrients by following |
| vegetables as part of their daily regimen. | | | | a recommended AHDH diet. The last thing you |
| There are different kinds of ADHD diets, although | | | | want to do is to cause a health problem. |
| the most common include: | | | | Furthermore, don't try to be too regimented all |
| The elimination diet - certain food categories are | | | | the time. It's okay to ease up once in a while, |
| eliminated from the diet and are re-introduced one | | | | especially if it can be good for the child. Letting |
| by one. A child's behavior is then observed to see | | | | him have his cake on his birthday or some other |
| if it is affected by the food. | | | | special occasion, for example, might do well for his |
| The Feingold method - first developed in the | | | | symptoms than restricting his enjoyment. |
| 1970s by Dr. Benjamin Feingold, this diet | | | | Lastly and most importantly, always consult your |
| recommends that all food additives such as | | | | doctor before giving any medication whatsoever. |
| artificial flavorings and color, along with | | | | All medications have side effects and only your |
| preservatives and certain salicylate-containing | | | | physician is qualified to prescribe medicines and |
| fruits and vegetables, are removed. Some of | | | | treatments and to recommend dietary changes. |
| these include apples, plums, raspberries, grapes, | | | | |