We’ve long suspected that the typical Western diet might be the reason why so many children are diagnosed with ADHD today.  The brain requires a healthy number of nutrients, essential fatty acids, and amino acids to release and regulate neurotransmitters (brain chemicals responsible for mood, attention, concentration, and impulse control).  Although these nutrients can be obtained from a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables, the typical Western diet has little room for such healthy options.  Why? This type of diet prioritizes the convenience of cooking rather than nutritional value. Unfortunately, these fast food meals are high in fat, refined sugar, and sodium, and offer few nutrients in return. Can such a diet be responsible for the increase of ADHD epidemic among children and teens today?

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We have a lot of articles that explore the relationship between nutrient deficiencies and ADHD.  Often, these nutrient deficiencies and the ADHD symptoms they cause are the secondary effects of a larger underlying problem like leaky gut syndrome.   One of the hottest vitamin supplements at the moment is vitamin D, and many say that it can bring benefits to those with ADHD. Although it’s not as widely studied as zinc or magnesium supplementation, the speculative discussion on this nutrient suggest ways where vitamin D can help someone with ADHD.

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