Nutrition as Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD
Alternative Treatment: Help is as Close as the Kitchen
The quality food we eat (or lack thereof) has a
profound affect on Attention Deficit Disorder and ADHD. For many people with
Attention Deficit Disorder and ADHD, nutrition alone can effectively work as an
ADHD alternative treatment.
A numerous and growing body of research continues
to point to nutrition deficiencies - especially with essential fatty acids and
amino acids - as a cause of a wide variety of Attention Deficit Disorder and
ADHD symptoms and learning deficiencies.
Put down the Ritalin bottle for one minute to
consider these Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD nutrition research findings;
- A George Washington University School of
Medicine study found that hyperactive children who ate a meal high in protein
did equally well, and sometimes better, in school than non-hyperactive kids.
- An Oxford University (England) study evaluated
the effects of fatty acid supplementation in average intelligence children with
significant reading and writing disabilities. The ADHD symptoms in children
receiving Essential Fatty Acids significantly improved over the children in the
control group receiving a placebo.
- Researchers first tied Attention Deficit
Disorder ADHD with lower essential fatty acid in 1981. Studies examining
essential fatty acid blood levels in children with behavioral problems in 1983
confirmed this Attention Deficit Disorder nutrition connection.
- Researchers further documented the essential
fatty acid deficiency tie to Attention Deficit Disorder in a 1987 study. Then, a
1995 study comparing essential fatty acid levels in ADHD boys against a control
group of boys without ADHD found significantly lower levels of Omega-3 fatty
acids.
- In 1996 Purdue University researchers have
found that boys with low blood levels of Omega 3 fatty acids have a greater
frequency of Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD.
Attention Deficit Disorder is the most common
behavioral disorder in children. Not all Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD
children are nutritionally deficient in essential fatty acids, statistics and
studies show that a significant number of ADHD children are.
Physicians predominately use
stimulant drugs such
as Ritalin for Attention Deficit Disorder but studies show that Attention
Deficit Disorder ADHD children whose treatment program includes only stimulant
medication remain at a high risk for vandalism, petty crime, frequency of
alcoholic intoxication, and possession of marijuana. Additionally, ADHD
medications do not always work, have a host of harmful side effects and never
treat the cause the Attention Deficit Disorder.
With Attention Deficit Disorder, nutrition
and food is one the first aspect of treatment to consider, as an ADHD
alternative treatment or used in conjunction with traditional ADHD stimulant
drug treatment.
Fatty acids are used to make brain and nerve
tissue in the body and are crucial for proper growth, mental function, the
immune system and brain development. The body cannot produce the two fatty acids
families, Omega 3 and Omega 6, on its own and therefore must receive these key
Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD nutrition ingredients through diet and
supplementation.
Although the typical Western diet is high in the
Omega-6 family of fatty acids (found in corn, sunflower, canola and safflower
oil, margarine, vegetable oil and shortening), most Americans young and old are
highly deficient in Omega 3.
Learning specialists now believe many childhood
behavior and learning problems are associated with Omega-3 deficiencies. This
deficiency has a greater impact on males because their requirements for
essential fatty acids are, in general, much higher. It is no surprise that boys
are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder at a much higher rate than girls.
ADHD adults and parents of ADHD children should
include food high in Omega 3 fatty acids daily. That said, many children simply
will not eat the Omega 3 rich salmon, mackerel and sardines.
Enter flax seed and flax oil - "food of the gods"
when it comes to Omega 3 fatty acids.
Flax seed and flax oil are the richest plant
source of Omega 3 fatty acids and offers Attention Deficit Disorder nutrition
vital to support healthy childhood behavioral and IQ development. One to two
tablespoons of flax oil should be part of a every Attention Deficit Disorder
ADHD nutrition food action plan.
In addition to the positive affects on brain
functioning, flax oil also works to prevent heart disease and certain types of
cancer. Flax oil helps soften skin, balance energy, burn fat, stimulate the
metabolism, strengthen the immune system, manage diabetes, help prevent
autoimmune disease and inflammatory disorders. Flax oil also helps alleviate PMS
and some menopause symptoms.
Here are some great ways to sneak flax oil
into the daily diet;
- Mix 1 tablespoon of flax oil in flavored
yogurt.
- 1 tablespoon of flax oil in fruit smoothies is
virtually undetectable.
- Mix 1 tablespoon of flax oil with one
tablespoon maple syrup or honey as a sweetener instead of granulated sugar.
- Use 1-2 tablespoons of flax oil when making
tuna salad or egg salad while proportionally decreasing the amount of Miracle
Whip or mayonnaise used.
- Flax Butter: Melt one stick organic butter and
mix with 4 ounces flax oil when cooled to room temperature. Refrigerate until
the flax butter solidifies and use in place of margarine.
- Omega-3 "Ice Cream": Mix 2 cups yogurt with 1
tablespoon flax oil and fresh or frozen fruit. Serve when frozen.
Most studies conducted on the affects of
essential fatty acids found that at least 10 weeks of supplementation is needed
to adequately raised fatty acid levels in brain cells. Follow a diet high in
Omega 3 fatty acids for at least 10 weeks, and preferably 12 weeks, before
judging the effectiveness of nutrition on Attention Deficit Disorder and ADHD
symptoms.
The
Attend
supplement for Attention Deficit Disorder nutrition supplies the body with all
essential amino acids and fatty acids needed for optimal brain functioning,
along with a wide array of
ingredients
specifically targeted to neurological functioning.
Important points about flax oil:
- Flax oil is highly perishable and should be
kept refrigerated at all time.
- Heat destroys the health-giving flax oil
properties. Use flax oil only with cold foods, cold proteins are best.
- When buying flax oil, use only high quality,
cold-pressed flax oil. The date pressed and a freshness date of four months or
less from the pressed date should be on the label. If not, don’t buy it!
- Do not use flax seed oil beyond its expiration
date since the oil will turn rancid.
- Barleans and the Canadian-based Sila Nutrition
flax oil are both excellent, high-quality brands of flax oil.
Essential fatty acids are not the only element
needed when addressing Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD nutrition. Amino acids,
from which protein is made, are an integral element since amino acids and
essential fatty acids are both needed to work in the body. Therefore, adding
quality protein is a key in
Attention Deficit Disorder nutrition.
Attention Deficit and hyperactive people can
greatly reduce the level of unfocused or misdirected energy simply by starting
the day with a protein based breakfast. A solid protein breakfast can increase
concentration, reduce restlessness and increase mental and physical calm.
Instead of starting the day with sugared
cereals, pancakes covered in syrup, sweet rolls, doughnuts or danishes, try
these brain-boosting breakfast ideas;
- Scrambled eggs, toast and fruit.
- Whole wheat toast with peanut butter.
- Fruit and yogurt smoothie with flax oil.
- Protein shake.
- Bacon and eggs with toast and milk.
- Egg and sausage patty on English muffin.
- Yogurt mixed with a tablespoon of flax oil.
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