How to Control ADD With Diet

Restrictive diets are suggested for people with ADD (attention deficit disorder). Though some studies have failed to connect sugar and food additives to behaviors, several studies have reported behavioral improvement in diets that restrict allergens. Food allergens are foods that most Americans are allergic to. Removing these foods from the diet of someone who is diagnosed with ADD may result in behavioral improvements.

Things You'll Need

• Food restriction list

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Instructions

• 1

  Remove food allergens from the diet. There are eight main food allergens: peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, wheat, soy, fish and shell fish. These are the common allergens that most Americans are allergic to. In addition, remove chocolate, artificial colorings, berries, chili powder, apples, cloves, grapes, oranges, peaches, peppers, prunes, plums and tomatoes (see reference 1).

• 2

  Eat foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acid. Omega-3 is important for normal brain function and is found in fish and some vegetable oils. Omega-3 foods may help reduce the symptoms of ADD. Flaxseed oil, salmon and mackerel have a high omega-3 fatty acid content.

• 3

  Test the Feingold diet, which removes chemical compounds out of the diet of ADD patients in stages. The first stage is to eliminate chemical compounds in certain foods; the second stage identifies which salicylates can be tolerated. Salicylates are natural plant toxins common in fruits and berries. The overall diet eliminates additives and chemicals from the diet. According to "Every Diet," "Studies in the early nineties show that around 75% of children improve on a diet that restricts additives." (See Resource 1)