ADHD & Diet in Children

Children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder are often prescribed medication to help reduce the symptoms related to ADHD. Although medication is prescribed, a healthy diet is also implemented to help improve brain function, blood-sugar levels and positively influence a child's mood and behavior.

Facts

• Most children diagnosed with ADHD are sensitive to diet and nutrition. They often experience a deficiency of essential fatty acids that are important for proper brain and nerve function. Some children with ADHD break down carbohydrate and fat differently from other children with ADHD. Children also respond differently to food additives. For instance, some children with ADHD will display symptoms of hyperactivity after eating foods with additives, artificial coloring and preservatives; while other children with ADHD eat the same food additives, artificial coloring and preservatives and show no signs of hyperactivity.

Diet

• The most effective diet for children with ADHD involves rich omega-3, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. It's likely your child isn't going to like the nutritious dietary changes you're implementing for them. Instead, teach your child about nutrition and how to make healthy food choices. Making the change as a family can also help in the transition. Because children with ADHD usually have extremely low levels of essential fatty acids the family can begin using "good fats" into the diet. Good fats you can use include extra virgin olive oil, fish oil, canola oil and flax oil.

Essential Fatty Acids

• Since breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it's a great meal to begin practicing healthy eating. Replace the sugary cereals, sweet rolls and syrup-soaked pancakes with a protein shake with 1 tbsp. of flax oil; yogurt mixed with 1 tbsp. of flax oil, fruit (or bacon), scrambled eggs and toast; or an egg-sausage patty on an English muffin. Yogurt, protein shakes and fruit smoothies also make great snacks. Just add 1 tbsp. of flax oil to any of these. Other omega-3 foods to work into your child's diet include fish, beans, walnuts, eggs, chicken, broccoli and flax seeds. If your child refuses to eat many of these, see if your child will eat "enriched" products such as milk or bread mixed with flax oil.

Minerals

• If children with ADHD have low levels of essential fatty acids, it's likely they experience deficiencies in other areas of nutrition. For example, zinc and magnesium are also usually low in children with ADHD. Foods rich with zinc are spinach, broccoli, peas, pumpkin seeds, milk, yogurt and oatmeal. Good sources of magnesium include spinach, sunflower seeds, kale, whole-wheat bread and whole grain cereal.

Vitamins

• The complex B vitamins are the most essential for children with ADHD because of the nature of the symptoms and the function of B vitamins. B vitamins support the metabolic process of fat, carbohydrate and protein. The vitamins also support proper function of the nervous system. Foods rich with B vitamins include tuna, turkey, lentils, bananas, potatoes, salmon and oats.