How many kids diagnosed with ADHD are really suffering from the disorder? Last week, we talked about how ADHD might be a sleep disorder in disguise. Today, there is more research that suggests a link between hyperactive children and an artificial food coloring called red dye 40.
If you’re looking for natural ways to control your child’s hyperactivity, try avoiding these artificial additives. It’s relatively easy to do so – simply look at the ingredients and see if there are chemical compounds or colors with a number next to them. Additionally, you can also consult this list of artificial ingredients, which have been found to trigger ADHD symptoms in animal and human studies.
For many children, the symptoms of ADHD are the result of a deficiency in key nutrients like iron. Iron is well known for its role in red blood cell formation, but this mineral does much more than that. For instance, it is essential to the creation of the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine – the brain chemicals deficient in children with ADHD. Iron also regulates dopamine’s activity and makes sure there is never too much or too little of this neurotransmitter. Studies have shown that iron deficiencies play a key role on the onset of ADHD. While it makes sense to provide iron supplements as a natural ADHD treatment, too much iron can be toxic to a child’s body. Instead, include these eight iron-rich foods in your child’s diet.
There are a lot of reasons to put your child on an organic ADHD diet. The nervous system of children is not strong enough to withstand the damage of pesticide residue in conventionally farmed foods. According to the Environmental Working Group, avoiding the most contaminated foods is enough to protect your child from the effects of pesticide. Organic food also has more nutrients than their traditionally farmed counterparts. However, it can be impractical to buy all organic all the time. Here are some foods that are least likely to have pesticide content after being washed.
Current studies show that children with ADHD are at risk for obesity in adulthood. For the longest time, researchers have been treating this subject like a chicken-or-egg question, but only recently was it revealed that the ADHD symptoms impulsivity and hyperactivity increase the obesity risk, and not the diagnosis itself. The more impulsive or hyperactive the child is, the greater the risk. The good news is that obesity can be prevented through a health-centered approach that deals with the whole child – physically, socially, and mentally. Through eating in normal and healthy ways, living an active lifestyle, and creating an accepting environment where children see their own worth, children with ADHD need not struggle with obesity later in life.
Healthy breakfasts are a critical component of any ADHD diet, especially for school-age kids with a busy day ahead of them. Eating breakfast allows your child to replenish the energy stores depleted during sleep and start the day with a full tank of fuel. Letting your child go to school on an empty stomach will only aggravate his or her ADHD symptoms. As his or her body draws fuel from its own energy reserves, the stress hormones that harness this energy can leave your child feeling lethargic, irritable, and unable to focus or behave. Of course, not all breakfasts are good for ADHD kids. Read on to find out the best types of breakfasts that fuel the ADHD brain.
Most ADHD diets involve avoiding processed food because of the artificial additives they contain and their lack of nutritional value. When doing the groceries, don’t be fooled by packaged foods that are “fortified” or “enriched with nutrients. Not only are these so-called “enriched” foods just as depleted as regular processed food; they have a negative health impact on people who eat them on a regular basis.
We are surrounded by toxins every day. No matter how hard you try to protect your child, he or she will invariably encounter toxins in the air, in the additives and preservatives in foods you eat, and other carcinogens lurking in the environment. Exposure to these toxins is one of the leading causes of childhood ADHD, but a detoxification system and a good ADHD diet can help fight the symptoms.
The human body is not entirely defenseless against these substances – our skin makes a good first line of defense. However, many toxins still pass through this barrier and enter the bloodstream, usually when absorbed from personal care products. Most of the time, the immune system can get rid of these foreign particles naturally, through the excretory system. However, a recent study shows that children with ADHD sometimes have a problem with detoxification and need special help. Though there are treatments that can improve detoxification, another way to go about it is by incorporating certain herbs and foods into your child’s diet.
Below are five detoxifying foods that might help.
If your child is on the gluten-free casein-free (GFCF) ADHD diet, you’re probably racking your brain thinking of ways to cook without wheat or dairy. The good news is that supermarkets and grocery stores now stock up on ready-made GFCF mixes or prepared foods. There’s also a new trend towards GFCF bakeries for parents who’d like to give their ADHD child a sweet treat every once in a while. The downside to these new products is that they often cost quite a bit of money and go beyond many families’ allocated budget for groceries. If you’d rather prepare GFCF foods yourself, here are some tips that will make cooking for your family a whole lot easier.
Did you know that stress and ADHD are closely linked together? There’s evidence which suggests that stressful situations can aggravate ADHD symptoms, especially impulsivity and attention. The converse is also sometimes true – ADHD symptoms make a child or adult more likely to be stressed out by things like long waiting time, sudden changes in plans, or new environments. There are many ways to cope with stress and life’s other pressures, but one way you can go about it is by eating foods that fight stress.
Food can be an important part of stress management in many ways. A warm bowl of oatmeal, for instance, can increase the levels of a neurotransmitter called serotonin, which regulates mood and calms you down. There are also foods that lower the levels of stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol, which are responsible for the negative effects of stress on the body. Finally, nutritious foods can reduce the overall impact of stress on the body by lowering blood pressure and boosting your immune system. This list of stress-busting foods will show you how.