ADHD is a condition that causes hyper activity in younger children and adults the same, though it is more common in children. There are medications that can be taken to help deal with ADHD, but there are a lot of recent studies being done that revolve around what a child is eating, and if some changes can help naturally cure the children of their condition.
ADHD diets will differ when you are giving them to children with the condition and when you are giving them to adults. In both cases there is a restriction of junk food and foods that might not necessarily be considered brain food.
The best ADHD diets are restrictive. They have you stay away from fruit juice, junk food, and fish. They have you significantly reduce the amount of sugar and fried food you are allowed to eat. There are several diets that are commonly used to treat ADHD that will be discussed here.
ADHD Diets
- The Feingold Diet
- Gluten Free Diet
- Non-Toxic Diet
- Carbohydrate Balanced Diet
The Feingold diet is largely focused on eating a diet of natural foods. You are not allowed junk food, which is anything processed with harmful additives. Any type of food colors (including those made of “natural ingredients”) or dyes are strictly prohibited, and you stick with foods that are untouched by preservatives or other chemicals.
The Feingold diet revolves around the concept that those who have ADHD are suffering from an allergic reaction the artificial flavorings, and colors in their foods.
Another diet given to help treat ADHD is a gluten-free diet and this is one that focuses on gluten being a leading cause in ADHD. Those who are sensitive to it already have to steer clear of wheat or barley and must examine labels for gluten, but it can be beneficial for those who aren’t sensitive as well.
The Non – Toxic Diet is similar to Feingold in avoiding the additives that are put into processed food, but differ in the fact that this diet also avoids pesticides, and types of toxins that are believed to cause ADHD.
There is also a strict restriction of fish that has lots of mercury. The Carbohydrate Balanced diet is one that limits the intake of complex carbohydrates and encourages lots of fruits and vegetables. The carbohydrates that are limited are such as; oats, whole grains, brown rice, and potatoes. These things are still allowed just in a limited amount.
Each diet for ADHD is decided by running a series of tests on the child or person who has ADHD. For example if the subject is tested and turns out to be sensitive to Gluten, then that will be the obvious diet plan for them. Sometimes the diet plan consists in the beginning of much trial and error. You may try one out for a while and it turns out to be the wrong one. Monitoring changes in behavior after starting the diet is the key to figuring out which ones will work the best.
You should start to notice some changes within a couple of weeks (sometimes even sooner) of starting the diet. Nothing is going to be instant and it may just reduce some ADHD symptoms and not take care of the whole problem, but it is worth it to avoid the medication.
Read more about structuring the best ADHD diet for children here.