Nutrition & ADD

Attention Deficit Disorder, or ADD, affects 4 to 6 percent of the U.S. population. While nutritional changes cannot cure ADD or completely eliminate symptoms, some simple changes may improve focus and attention span.

Identification

• Everyone has trouble focusing occasionally, but that doesn't equal Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. A medical diagnosis of these conditions is only considered when symptoms of distractability, impulsivity, and hyperactivity are consistently displayed.

Misconceptions

• ADD isn't caused by too much sugar, poor parenting, or any other external factor. ADD is thought to be caused by biological factors and may have a genetic link.

Considerations

• Though ADD is not caused by sugar, nutritional changes may improve symptoms. The National Institutes of Health concludes that a small number of children with ADHD may be affected by refined sugar or certain food additives.

Nutritional Changes

• In addition to an overall healthful diet, there are several nutritional changes you can make that may improve ADD symptoms: Choose organic foods, include foods rich in omega-3 and/or omega-6 fatty acids (or take a supplement) and take a multivitamin.

Benefits

• The recommended nutritional changes may result in improved concentration and greater impulse control. In a clinical study published in the January 2000 edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, children with ADHD experienced improvements with reading, spelling, and behavior after taking omega-3 and omega-6 supplements.

Theories/Speculation

• While it's rare, it might be worthwhile to test for gluten sensitivity in connection with an ADD diagnosis. According to Dr. David Perlmutter, author of "Raise a Smarter Child by Kindergarten," adopting a gluten-free diet can lead to improvements for people who have both gluten sensitivity and ADD.