Diet and ADHD - an ADHD Diet?

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Treating ADHD with Diet

An Ounce of Ketchup
by Kayla Fay

An ADHD Diet?

This month our newsletter focus is on food and the many ways people combat ADHD/Inattentive through diet and dietary supplements. There are countless ways to approach treating the symptoms of ADHD, but I will only touch on a few. I hope this information helps you as you help your kids to help themselves!

ADHD/ADD Diets. Many families have found that ADHD symptoms can be alleviated or even cured with a change in what the child eats. Some kids have natural biochemical imbalances which respond better to dietary support than to prescription drugs. For these families, it makes sense to explore a dietary solution to some of the symptoms of ADHD. ADD to C3 kids is a unique, common sense ADHD diet. ADD To C3 Kids uses a natural approach to ADHD, and is based on balanced nutrition. Read about it here.

The Feingold Diet is perhaps the granddaddy of the various regimens, and is often touted as an ADHD diet - a way of treating ADHD. The program is based upon the premise that allergies are the basis of many ADHD symptoms. Initially, all foods containing artificial food colors or flavors, and foods containing natural salicylates are eliminated from the diet. After an improvement is observed, the foods with salicylates may be reintroduced one at a time. The easiest way to learn about the diet is to join the Feingold Association. Members have access to an extensive support network, which includes discussion and chat boards, product alerts and research, brand lists, recipes, and menu suggestions.

Why Your Child is Hyperactive, by Dr. Feingold, provides a detailed look at the Feingold program and the diet itself. Why Can't My Child Behave?: Why Can't She Cope? Why Can't He Learn? by Jane Hersey is another way to find out about The Feingold way of life.

Other Allergies. There are many other ideas about how allergies can produce ADHD like behavior. Some believe that children with ADHD are more likely to have allergies, while others hold that allergic reactions mimic the symptoms of ADHD. If your child often has itchy eyes, skin rashes or eczema, nasal congestion, if your child wets the bed or has frequent ear infections, allergies may be an avenue you need to pursue. One of the most popular books on the subject is Is This Your Child?by Doris Rapp. Another book, What's Food Go to Do with It? gives a broad overview of the list of the most suspect foods, which is topped by yeast and milk products. The ADD Nutrition Solution offers substitutes for these and other problem foods, and a way to isolate items that aggravate symptoms.

Nutritional Supplements. The ADD Nutrition Solution also has a 30 day drug free plan which combines an awareness of food allergies with a need for nutritional supplements. It is often recommended that children with ADHD take supplements of the B vitamins, vitamins A and C, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc.

The LCP Solution The next time you want to impress someone, throw out this sentence: "I've been reading up on long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation." LCP is a nutritional supplement; LCP is fat. Sometimes called essential fatty acids (EFAs), LCPs are believed to play a key role in brain regulation and neurotransmitter functions. Recent research has suggested that many people with ADHD and learning differences suffer from a dietary deficiency of fatty acids, especially DHA, the LCP found in fish oil. In her book The LCP Solution, Jacqueline Stordy cites studies where supplementing the diet with LCPs has produced improvement in children's focus, learning, and levels of anxiety. While it's certainly not a cure all for most kids, Omega 3 supplementation has definitely been tested in the trenches of ADHD homes. One popular Omega 3 product is called Efalex, which has a special ADHD formula. Our favorite Omega 3 product is MRM's Neuro-DHA. It's a part of our diet for ADHD.

Eating sensibly. More important to our family that ADHD supplements or diets, is just plain eating sensibly. I use very few pre-packaged foods, but cook with lots of natural ingredients, fresh fruits and vegetables, and small portions of meats. We buy some organic products, and avoid MSG. I don't usually serve bread or desserts with meals. Salad is usually the centerpiece of our meal, because we eat so much of it. (In fact, I measured our salad bowl and discovered it held 2 ½ gallons!) Because I learned to cook while living in Lebanon, our meals have a decided Mediterranean bent. My latest article on the website is When You Can't Have it Your Way, and talks about the evolution of the way our family eats.

Unfortunately, there is no dietary or nutritional cure for ADHD, and no one method will work for everyone. The list of solutions in this newsletter is by no means comprehensive. I'd love for you to share ways you have treated ADHD with diet that have worked for your family. If you have an ADHD diet, let us know!

Learn more about Attention Deficit Disorder in Coping with ADHD, a comprehensive guide that explores ADHD, and gives strategies for living with the disorder, as well as information on the many forms of its treatment. Coping with ADHD is a must read for parents of kids with ADHD!