ADD ADHD and Diet
In looking for the causes of
Attention Deficit Disorder ADD ADHD, diet takes a forefront.
The brain is a hungry organ that cannot
function at optimal levels without the proper fuels. To keep the brain
functioning at top performance, ADHD diets packed with brain boosting
essential fatty acids and amino acids is a must.
Not surprisingly, the majority of parents who call the
Attention Deficit Disorder Help Center say their Attention Deficit or
hyperactive child is a finicky eater.
Numerous studies on diet’s role in the
causes of Attention Deficit Disorder ADD ADHD
show benefits from either adding foods or eliminating items from the diet.
Incorporating
ADHD recipes
packed with brain foods for this neurological disorder can naturally
alleviate many symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder ADD ADHD.
ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS:
Numerous studies show
that children with the symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder ADD ADHD have
lower levels of essential fatty acids. Studies also show that lower levels
of essential fatty acids can result in problems with learning, behavior,
temper, sleep, and immune function.
Your brain is about 60 percent fat, with Omega-3 essential fatty
acids the most abundant fat in your brain. This essential fatty is
extremely important for communication and transmission between brain
cells.
Because the body does not make essential
fatty acids, they are only available through our diets or through
supplementation.
The best source of Omega-3 fatty acids is cold water fish like
salmon, herring, tuna, cod, flounder, trout and shrimp. Other sources of
essential fatty acids (Omega-3 and Omega-6) are nuts, soybean, walnut
oil, olive oil and flaxseed oil.
AMINO ACIDS: Amino acids, the building
blocks of protein in the body, literally feed the brain. Amino acids promote
the production of various neurotransmitters and enzymes critically needed in
the brain for communication between brain cells, smooth and balanced
cognition and fluid transition from thought to disciplined action.
Foods high in complete protein are excellent sources of amino acids.
Good sources of complete proteins include meat, fish, eggs, dairy
products and soy. Yogurt is the only animal-derived complete protein
that dieticians recommend for frequent use in the diet.
For vegetarians, brown rice served with beans, seeds, nuts or wheat
make a complete protein. All soy products also make a complete protein.
In addition to essential fatty acids and
amino acids, ADHD recipes to combat the causes of
Attention Deficit Disorder should also include ample amounts of zinc,
Phosphatidyl Serine (PS), a natural extract of lecithin,
and "B" vitamins.
"B" VITAMINS: B vitamins help form
neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers of the nervous system. Pyridoxal
phosphate, a B-6 member, is pivotal in the synthesis of the
neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA).
- A Saint Joseph Hospital (Pennsylvania)
study found low serotonin levels as possible causes of ADD ADHD in
hyperactive children. The researchers observed a significant increase in
serotonin when introducing a B-6 supplement.
ZINC: A number of studies point to an
association between zinc deficiency and the symptoms of Attention Deficit
Disorder ADD ADHD.
- A 1996 study, published in the Journal of
Child Psychology and Psychiatry, revealed a significant correlation
between zinc and fatty acids, in that both were decreased in children
displaying the symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder ADD ADHD.
- In looking for dietary causes of ADD
ADHD, an Ohio State University found a relationship between zinc
deficiency and response to stimulant medicine (such as Ritalin) among
people with the symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder ADD ADHD.
PHOSPHATIDYL SERINE (PS): PS, a
neural-membrane supportive, is a natural extract of lecithin and often used
as a supplement for the symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder ADD ADHD.
Many clinical trials of memory loss, mood,
cognitive performance and learning ability show that PS can optimize
cognition.
- In a study of twenty-seven children with
the symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder, ADD ADHD all but two children
showed improvement in learning capacity and behavior when given 200-300 mg
of PS daily for four months.
To get a healthy sampling of nutrition to fuel the
body and brain, your child should eat plenty of green, leafy vegetables,
fish at least twice a week, nuts and fresh fruits.
Mothers of finicky eaters especially know this diet
structure can be near impossible to reach. That is why supplementing the
diet with brain feeding nutrients is so important for children.
Attend, with its 70 ingredients specifically targeted to feeding the
brain, is by far the most complete supplement proven to restore
and balance brain functioning.
The Attend formula contains every
nutritional element known to help with Attention Deficit Disorder.
And unlike prescription medicines, the
blend of Attend
ingredients is all-natural, highly effective and completely safe.
Food allergies and sensitivities can
also mimic the symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder ADD ADHD.
The top food culprits producing causes of ADD ADHD
symptoms are: sugar, chocolate, eggs, milk, wheat,
colors/additives/flavors, and corn.
Eliminate these items from the diet (it
won’t be easy given today’s eating standards) for two weeks. After that
time, introduce one item back into the diet every couple days.
If you notice a return of symptoms of
Attention Deficit Disorder with an item added back in, you might have found
the causes of the ADD ADHD symptoms. You will want to keep those foods to a minimum in the diet.
By eliminating the top food allergy culprits
from the diet and then slowly introducing them back in, you can determine if
diet produces causes of ADD ADHD symptoms.
Even if certain foods do not seem to produce
causes of ADD ADHD symptoms, do consider keeping your child on a nutritionally sound diet that
includes a high-quality nutritional supplement like Attend. A sound diet will help in
many areas of the child’s life.
- A study conducted on 220 preschool
children demonstrated that children who lack optimal amounts of essential
nutrients experience reduced attention span and intellectual ability.
- The same researchers conducted a study,
which showed that students' ability to think was reduced when kept on a
nutritionally poor diet.
- Another study reported sugar (one of the
diet elements in the elimination diet) as a possible instigator of
aggressive behavior, causes of ADD ADHD hyperactivity, and attention
problems exhibited by children with symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder
ADD ADHD.
The recipes selected for the
ADHD Recipes
section are simply and generally kid friendly – ADHD recipes that all
but the finicky eaters should enjoy.
We
encourage you to try some of these ADHD recipes and submit some of
your own to help add to other readers’ ADHD recipes.
