ADHD Diet

Welcome, you are in the right place if you are looking for information pertaining to ADHD diet. In implementing a diet plan, the theory is to remove/or add certain things from the ADHD person’s present diet and closely observe the resulting effects. The stuff that were removed (or added) is then gradually “reintroduced” in a systematic manner and the resulting effects observed closely. Over a period of time, you should be able to tell what works and what doesn’t.

One program advocated by certain scientists is to go on a milk-free diet. The theory is that people with ADHD suffers a metabolic disorder making it difficult to break down certain proteins, including casein (Casein is a protein that is found in milk and used independently in many foods as a binding agent.). A study conducted several years ago on a number of children suspected of having ADHD found that they had abnormal levels of peptides in their urine. The accumulation of peptides is an indication that the enzyme needed to fully break down certain proteins is either inhibited or missing. When such a thing happens, it can have an opium-like effect on the brain. In trying out the milk-free diet, you may also want to avoid gluten, which is found in rye, wheat, barley and oats (to a certain extent).

Next up is fish oil, which has been found to be able to transform the behaviour of disruptive teenagers to one of calm, less impulsivity and good concentration. It also improves some motor skills. Why is fish oil effective as part of an ADHD diet? The findings thus far are that fish oil contains omega-3 essential fatty acids which are important for brain development, hormonal balance and the immune system. When electrical signals are sent through the brain, they pass through neuron cells. The walls of neurons are made up of around 20 per cent essential fatty acids, which may help the transfer of electrical signals from cell to cell. The problem with our modern diet is that not only are we not consuming enough of these fatty acids in our food, but our intake of high fat processed food blocks our absorption of the ones we do eat. A study in  England several years ago found that boys responded better than girls in the fish oil experiments. This did not come as a surprise because there exist a theory that boys are more susceptible to fatty acid deficiency.  The recommendation from some scientists is to eat four portions of oily fish such as sardines, anchovies, salmon, mackerel or fresh tuna per week. Omega 3 fatty acids are also found in rapeseed and linseed oils. So, if your ADHD kid don't like fish, switch to cooking with rapeseed or linseed oil. 

Another element being recommended in the diet for kids with ADHD is evening primrose oil. The health benefits of evening primrose oil rest in its components of vital fatty acids, linoleic acid (LA) and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and its subsequent synthesis of potent chemical compounds called prostaglandins. Its positive effects on neurobiological disorders such as ADHD is not a surprise because about 60 per cent of the brain is made up of essential fatty acids as well as the insulating material (myelin sheath) on nerve cells.  Some sensitive individuals may experience nausea, upset stomach and loose bowel movements with evening primrose and these side effects may be minimised by taking it with food; taking the daily amount in divided doses; starting with a low dosage and increasing the dose slowly.

Besides nutritional supplementation, an ADHD diet for children should be free from food containing artificial colouring, flavouring and preservatives because they have been found to cause behavioural problems – including temper tantrums and hyperactivity. Some also suffer runny noses which could affect sleep - creating a vicious cycle of tiredness and bad behaviour. The removal of some natural chemicals such as salicylates which are found in almonds, tomatoes, grapes, berries and other food also play a role in alleviating hyperactivity in ADHD children.

The last word on ADHD diet recipes for the treatment of ADHD is – stay away from excessive consumption of trans-fatty acids (found in processed foods), saturated fats, alcohol,  and high sugar in-take...