Good Diet for ADHD or ADD - Tips

Seeking a good diet for ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) or ADD (attention deficit disorder)?

At the time of writing, the exact causes for ADD / ADHD remain unknown, though some experts speculate that a chemical imbalance in the brain caused by either genetic or environmental facts may be responsible.

Some environmental factors that have been surmised include noxious exposures during pregnancy, allergies to food additives, and excess sugar, caffeine or food coloring in the diet. These factors may have various effects in different people, and some theorize that ADD / ADHD children have special sensitivities to these elements.

The Feingold diet, a popular diet proposed in the 1970s, similarly linked diet to behavior. Anecdotally, a good deal of evidence exists that products of a stimulating nature can lead to hyperactivity.

As far as a good diet for ADHD goes, some dietary supplements have been shown to have a positive effect in treating the condition.

Omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to be essential in maintaining proper brain function. It can be surmised, therefore, that a pregnant mother deficient in omega 3 fatty acids can in effect pass this deficiency on to her unborn child. Omega 3 can be added to the diet in supplement form, or through the inclusion of certain fish like salmon, sardines, herring, and tuna (not canned). If the child refuses to eat fish, flaxseed oil, primrose oil or “enriched” products containing these essential amino acids can be stealthily added to the menu.

Making good choices for food, nutrition and a diet for ADHD relief - the implementation of dietary adjustments, supplements, and behavioral therapies - should be first undertaken before resorting to potentially harmful pharmaceutical chemicals that do not deal with the root of the problem, but rather temporarily hide symptoms.

Many experts encourage trying a certified organic diet as a diet for ADHD, as this will eliminate the intake of most synthetic additives, such as food coloring, added sugars, and long-lasting pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides.

Many naturopaths recommend eliminating milk from the diet completely, and instead substituting with rice milk, soy milk, or other no-dairy products. Also, as in any healthy diet, water should be increased to a minimum of 8 glasses per day. Junk foods, too, should be eliminated, as should all processed foods. Likewise, sugary snacks such as candies should be eliminated. Reducing sugar for children can be very hard, but try not to give in to demands for sweets, and instead give them wholesome snacks.

Most naturopaths treating ADD / ADHD recommend cutting sugar content by 90% - this includes refined sugar as well as sugar substitutes like Equal and NutraSweet. As always, be sure to read labels - children’s branded fruit juices masquerade as healthy drinks but often have outrageous sugar content. As part of a good diet for ADHD treatment, processed meat and MSG should be avoided as well.

When eating out with your child, be sure to ask regarding the ingredients in your order. Fried foods should also be cut by 90%. Some children appear to be sensitive to certain colorings like red or yellow in the food, so to be safe, try to eliminate artificially colored items.

This diet for ADHD relief should be followed for a minimum of two weeks. Carefully observe your child during this time, taking notes as to whether any changes in behavior occur. If you simply forgo convenience and fast foods, you will come much closer to the ideal diet described above.

After two weeks, when your child’s system has had an opportunity to stabilize, begin adding foods back in. Again, observe any changes that occur in behavior that seem to be related to certain foods. This will give you an idea of your child’s sensitivity levels and whether some foods should be taken off the menu permanently.

ADD / ADHD children’s brains should have access to certain supplements in order to regularize activity. A high protein and low carbohydrate breakfast will start the day well. Protein shakes may be helpful as well. Mineral supplements too can be beneficial.

As ADD / ADHD receives further attention in medical circles and in society, three quality herbal tonic supplements have come to the market as a natural alternative to Ritalin and similar medications – ATTEND, EXTRESS, and MEMORIN. ATTEND can be taken by any ADD / ADHD diagnosed child, though the other two work on specific characteristics, hyperactivity and poor concentration, respectively.

Of course, a diet for ADHD treatment which is rich in vegetables and fruits will also prove beneficial.

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