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ADHD Diet Recommendations

Diet recommendations for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) range from adding specific foods and nutrients to removing particular ingredients. Some foods aggravate ADHD symptoms. Try to add and remove different items to see which diet change works best. Although some argue that the change is minimal, most people agree that diet does indeed alter the behaviors of children with ADHD.

  1. The Facts

    • Parents prefer to try natural methods, such as diet changes, instead of medications to treat their children's ADHD. Many studies, including research published by the Feingold Association of the United States, show that an adjustment in the food consumed by children with ADHD definitely affects the severity and rate of occurrence of the symptoms. Artificial ingredients, caffeine, sugar, salicylates (found in skin treatments and as a food preservative), gluten and casein (dairy protein in milk and cheese) are all linked to adverse impacts on ADHD symptoms.

    Theories/Speculation

    • In an article published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood in 2004, researchers found that parents only perceive the presumed change in the ADHD symptoms. Very few clinical trials did not discover any real change in the children other than what the parents reported. However, it is widely accepted that certain ingredients and elements of food can influence children with ADHD.

    Removals

    • Eliminating certain ingredients from the regular diet is the most widely accepted form of diet change for kids with ADHD. In order to remove components such as gluten and casein, it is necessary to find replacement products that use alternate ingredients, such as potato-starch flour or rice milk. Artificial sweeteners and other chemicals that normally replace sugar are not appropriate for ADHD kids.

    Supplements

    • Adding certain nutrients to the diet of a child with ADHD is another form of meal change that works to alleviate symptoms. Ensure that the diet is well rounded and full of minerals and vitamins by adding supplements. Specially formulated tablets and teas are available specifically for children with ADHD. The ingredients vary according to the type of symptoms that needs addressing; your doctor or dietician may be able to recommend which supplements are best for your child.

    Misconceptions

    • Many people think that caffeine is a negative product for children with ADHD. In a study published in the Journal of Attention Disorders in 2000, doctors found that caffeine may actually help to improve symptoms when it is appropriately administered and controlled. Although caffeine does seem to cause some negative side effects such as crashing, parents and adolescents report that the use of other stimulants is worse.

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