ADHD Behavioral Diet

ADHD diagnoses are on the rise in the United States, and the disorder can severely hinder a child's social and educational development. While many medications exist to control ADHD, a special diet also might help.

What is ADHD?

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is among the most commonly-diagnosed behavior disorders in children. It is characterized by impulsiveness, high levels of distractability and over-activity. Many parents of ADHD children describe them as being so active that they seem to be driven by a motor. Children generally outgrow the symptoms of ADHD by the time they reach adulthood.

Standard Treatment

• While there is no cure for ADHD, the symptoms can be controlled, usually with medication. Unfortunately, the side effects of many of the medications typically used to treat ADHD can be disruptive to the child's life. They may cause grogginess, weight loss, insomnia and anxiety.

Treating ADHD with Diet

• Based on the unpleasant side effects of ADHD medications, many parents choose to control their child's ADHD with a carefully selected diet. The ADHD diet was first suggested by Dr. Benjamin Feingold in the mid-1970s as a way to control behavioral disorders.
  The ADHD behavioral diet involves eliminating artificial coloring and flavoring, artificial sweeteners and the preservatives BHA, BHT and TBHQ. In the beginning phase of the diet, aspirin and some salicylate-containing foods are also eliminated. These can eventually be added back into the diet for most people.

Beginning an ADHD Diet

• According to Dr. Feingold, the most important part of the ADHD diet is eliminating the artificial colors and flavors, which he believed play a large part in ADHD behavior. A child on the ADHD behavioral diet should avoid foods, toothpastes and vitamin supplements containing these substances. Be sure to carefully read labels and avoid any products containing colorings like Yellow No. 5, artificial flavors like vanillin or artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose.
  If your child does not respond to the elimination of these substances, you can take the ADHD diet a step farther. Many parents find that eliminating certain natural foods has a great effect on their child's behavior. Although the findings have not been confirmed by scientific studies, your child may have a previously undiagnosed food sensitivity that is affecting his behavior. The following foods are believed to increase the incidence of ADHD behavior in some children:
  Almonds
  Apples
  Tea
  Coffee
  Tomatoes
  Cloves
  Berries
  Peppers
  Many of these foods can later be added back into the diet slowly while the effects are carefully monitored. While this list is not exhaustive, it is a good place to start when considering an elimination-type ADHD diet.
  No matter what approach you take to eliminating certain substances in an ADHD diet, keep a food diary detailing exactly what your child eats and how she behaved that day. This activity will help you make associations between certain foods and certain behaviors.

Warnings

• Before putting your child on any type of diet, consult his physician. It is very important to ensure that your child is still receiving adequate nutrition.
  While you may be tempted to label your child as suffering from ADHD, don't make this assumption based solely on his behavior. Only a qualified mental health professional can provide this diagnosis.