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Foods Recommended for Hyperactive Children

Parents of hyperactive children are often understandably desperate for a treatment to help control the behaviors of their wired youngsters. Although there are a number of medicinal and cognitive therapies for hyperactivity on the market, many individuals have turned to diet treatments, hoping to pinpoint a specific food or additive behind their child's chaotic behavior patterns. However, according to an article titled "Diet and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder" published by Harvard Medical School, "diet alone probably isn't the driving force behind the multiple behavioral and cognitive symptoms that plague children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)."

  1. Diagnosis

    • According to the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center at Penn State, "to be diagnosed with ADHD, children should have at least six attention symptoms or six activity and impulsivity symptoms -- to a degree beyond what would be expected for children their age." Hyperactive children exhibit symptoms including an inability to concentrate, excessive chattiness, general disorganization, impulsive behaviors, destructiveness and frequent tantrums. These behaviors often impact their relationships with family and peers and make it difficult for them to function normally in a home or school environment.

    Causes

    • Although a single cause of ADHD has not yet been identified, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, "health professionals are finding more and more evidence that ADHD/ADD does not stem from a troubled home environment, but from biological causes." The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center identifies the disorder's connection to genetic causes, and the Mayo Clinic states, "ADHD tends to run in families. About one in four children with ADHD have at least one relative with the disorder."

    Diet Myths

    • The Center for Science in the Public Interest recalls how Dr. Benjamin Feingold created a stir in the 1970s by claiming that particular foods exacerbated ADHD. Many parents immediately responded with dietary restrictions for their hyperactive children. However, in an article titled "Deciding on a Treatment for AD/HD," the National Resource Center on AD/HD evaluates the impact of dietary treatments on the disorder. The article states, "dietary treatments eliminate ... one or more foods in someone's diet (for example, sugar, candy and food with red dye). The idea is that being sensitive to certain foods can cause symptoms of AD/HD. Careful research, however, has not supported this treatment." The article goes on to discuss nutritional supplements used to treat ADHD, concluding that "scientists have found no proof of this idea."

    Diet Recommendations

    • Despite the fact that there is little support for specific foods controlling the symptoms of hyperactivity in children, there is plenty of evidence that a balanced diet is critical to achieving a healthy lifestyle. HelpGuide, a nonprofit health organization, points out that, "all children benefit from fresh foods and regular meal times; it's best for all kids to stay away from junk food and soda. These tenets are especially true for children with ADD/ADHD, whose impulsiveness and distractedness can easily lead to missed meals, disordered eating, overeating and obesity."

    Nutritious Foods and Strategies

    • The Harvard Medical School states that children should "eat a diet that emphasizes fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthful unsaturated fats and good sources of protein; go easy on unhealthy saturated and trans fats, rapidly digested carbohydrates and fast food; and balance healthy eating with plenty of physical activity." Parents can promote good nutrition for their hyperactive children by packing balanced lunches, offering fruits and vegetables for snacks and teaching kids how to choose nutritious foods from among restaurant menu items.

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