It is a well known medical fact that our diet affects our bodily functions. This is true for children right through to mature adults. Children have an equally strong need for good diet. Likewise, the wrong diet can cause undesirable reactions.
It is well documented that ADHD is a condition that affects children and adults alike. Whilst attempting to understand the causes of this condition, it has been accepted that diet plays an important part in the treatment of ADHD. Therefore, logically, it is important to design a correct ADHD diet for children.
As with all humans, certain foods, when consumed, cause allergies. An allergy can quite frequently present as a skin rash. Other allergies affect behavior. In the instance of ADHD, studies have shown that certain foods have an adverse reaction on children. This is why specialists concentrate on designing an effective ADHD diet for children.
Types of ADHD Diet for Children:
There are good foods for children with ADHD and there are bad foods. A good ADHD diet for children should include the following:
Essential fatty acids: DHA is an omega 3 fatty acid that helps with brain function. This oil ensures that information is transferred around the brain from synapse to synapse, ensuring better concentration and alertness. This oil can be found in foods like flax seed oil, fish and fish oil and nuts.
Vitamin B: It is essential to have a sufficient intake of vitamin B to keep stress under control. Any good ADHD diet for children will contain B vitamins but will be careful to have less B3 since this can cause flushing of the face and damage to the liver if taken in excess. Foods that contain balanced levels of B Vitamins are milk, eggs, meat, fish, fruit and leafy green vegetables.
Protein: A further component of a sustainable ADHD diet for children would contain sufficient amounts of protein foods. Protein is able to equalise the energy levels in children, therefore, if a child is given regular amounts of protein throughout the day, they will have sustained energy levels.
Calcium and magnesium: A great ADHD diet for children containing milk and vegetables like broccoli and whole grain will have a good calming effect on the nervous system of the child.
Trace minerals: Further to designing the near perfect ADHD diet for children is to include the trace elements such as iron and zinc. These minerals can be obtained from sugar free multi-vitamin supplements.
Foods to avoid in the ADHD diet for children are definitely sugar. This creates a very unstable blood sugar level in the child. All types of sugar are the culprit whether white, brown, or black. This also means restricting a child from consuming any food that is sugar flavoured, including cereals, drinks, bars, yogurt and ice-cream.
Additives should also be avoided in an ADHD diet for children. Think lollies and gum and anything with an artificial colour. These are food dyes, and are the additives to avoid.
Hydrogenated or saturated fats are also the wrong sorts of food to feed children with ADHD. In basic terms, these types of oil clog the brain’s functioning ability. Saturated fats are found in factory produced baked goods that use hydrogenated oils. Fast foods contain larger amounts of this bad oil.
Adults know as well, that caffeine produces an acidic balance in our bodies. It also leeches out minerals from our body. Caffeine comes in many forms such as carbonated drinks chocolate and some desserts. These should be avoided in an ADHD diet for children.
Finally, salt laden snacks as well as sodium laden foods are the last to go from an ADHD diet. Salt, as well as affecting blood pressure, also can interfere with brain patterns. It is always wise to read the labels of packaged foods for their sodium content.
It is always a good idea to seek out a qualified naturopath in your area to assist in designing a complete ADHD diet for children which is going to have beneficial effects in reducing the symptoms of this condition. With persistence, and with the correct diet, a child can feel better equipped and relieve various ADHD symptoms.