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Vitamin Remedies for Children With ADHD

If your child has ADHD, you have probably been given the option to medicate him in order to control his disorder. While medication does help, many parents don't want their child to be on medication. Some parents prefer to control their child's ADHD through natural means. There are several vitamins which will allow a parent to control their child's ADHD, possibly keeping them off medications.

  1. Omega 3

    • Perhaps the most important vitamin a child needs to help with her ADHD is the Omega-3 fatty acid. Omega 3 fatty acid helps maintain brain health, function and development. This fatty acid is considered essential, but cannot be made in the body; therefore your child has to get enough of it in her diet. Children with ADHD often have a deficiency in omega-3 fatty acid when compared to children who are not afflicted with the disorder. Omega-3 fatty acids are often found in flax seeds, walnuts and seafood such as salmon or halibut.

    B Vitamins

    • There are several vitamins in the B grouping, which, when taken together, help control the symptoms of ADHD. These include Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, B6, B12 and Biotin. All these vitamins complement each other, working to promote brain function and help keep energy levels high by assisting with the production of energy from food. Make sure that your child is getting a B-complex vitamin; taking one without the others may lead to a vitamin deficiency. Vitamin B is also found naturally in many foods such as grains, meat, fish, poultry, peanut butter, milk, yogurt and cheese.

    Calcium and Magnesium

    • Calcium and Magnesium are also good for sufferers of ADHD. The benefits of calcium for bone strength are well known, but calcium also helps with muscle strength and growth and with relaxation (which is a huge benefit for people with ADHD). Calcium also aids nerve impulse transmission in the brain, and can actually help sufferers of ADHD stay on task. Calcium is primarily found in milk and other dairy products, but it is also found in salmon, juices, broccoli, and kale. Magnesium assists calcium with its functions. It helps maintain muscle relaxation and regulation of blood pressure. Magnesium is found primarily in leafy, dark green vegetables, such as spinach and broccoli, but it is also found in legumes, cashews, halibut, sunflower seeds and milk.

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