ADD/ADHD Nutrition

There has been a lot of questions lately about what we can do to help ADD and ADHD symptoms. There are a lot of nutritional connections with this behavior and many of my clients have seen dramatic improvements! So I asked Crave Health intern Alyssa Rieser to get the latest research together and put it into an easy to use guide for our patients! Both kids and adults can use the following guidelines to try and see if you or your child's behavior gets better.

By Alyssa Rieser

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by a continuous pattern of inattention, distractability, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. The exact cause of ADHD remains unknown, though certain factors such as genetics, food allergies, hyperinsulinemia, artificial food additives, and environmental toxins have been implicated in its development. Dietary approaches aimed at nourishing the brain and nervous system have been used with success to manage symptoms. In general, try to avoid processed and manufactured foods, instead choosing vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Strive to eat a diet that is 80% whole foods-based, using the following guidelines:

• Increase your intake of calcium and magnesium. These two minerals work together to regulate muscle function and produce a calming effect on the nervous system. Food sources include dark leafy greens (kale, collards, swiss chard, spinach); seeds (sesame, pumpkin, sunflower); beans (soybeans, navy beans, black beans); salmon and halibut; yogurt and milk.

• Eat a high-protein/low-carbohydrate diet, especially at breakfast. Proteins supply the body with amino acids needed to prevent hypoglycemia - a condition which has many similar symptoms as ADD/ADHD.

• Increase your intake of essential fatty acids, especially DHA. EFAs are crucial for normal brain development and function and are often deficient in individuals with ADD/ADHD. The best food sources are cold-water fish such as salmon, herring, and tuna.

• Remove refined sugar and simple carbohydrates from your diet.

• Dairy products have been known to worsen behavioral problems in individuals with ADD/ADHDH.

• Eliminate junk food and all foods that contain artificial colors, flavorings, monosodium glutamate (MSG), yeast, or preservatives; and foods that contain salicylates. Foods that contain naturally occurring salicylates include almonds, apples, apricots, all berries, cherries, cucumbers, currants, oranges, peaches, peppers, plums, prunes, and tomatoes.

• Avoid carbonated beverages. These contain a large amount of phosphates, which may be responsible for hyperkinesis (exaggerated muscle activity). Meat and fat are also high in phosphates.

• Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and cigarettes.

• Consider trying an elimination diet. Food allergies (including wheat, soy, corn, dairy, shellfish, nuts from trees such as walnuts, and peanuts) and food additives (such as dyes and preservatives) have been reported to aggravate the symptoms of ADHD.

• Choose outdoor physical activities or activities to expand creativity in favor of watching television or playing video games.

And as far as supplement help goes, a great Gluten Free multivitamin which you can find anywhere would be a fabulous addition. The necessary addition in my mind is the BEST probiotic that was specifically designed for ADD and ADHD, HLC Mindlinx by Pharmax. Its designed to eat accidental gluten and dairy that you may ingest. Many of my clients have seen improvements just by adding the probiotic alone.