Sound Off!

Diet and ADHD

It was surprising to hear that pharmacies throughout our city ran out of Ritalin last week. Ritalin is a medication commonly prescribed for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), previously known as attention deficit disorder, a neurobehavioral disorder characterized by an inability to focus, control impulses and hyperactivity that often results in functional impairment (problems in school or at work, etc). After the news of the medication shortage we decided it was time to take a look at the prevalence of ADHD and the latest treatment and dietary recommendations.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that more than 4 million children and adolescents have been diagnosed with ADHD and more than half are treated with medication. It is also estimated that 4% of the adult population in the US suffers from the effects of ADHD. More than thirty years ago it was proposed that hyperactivity was affected by artificial food colors, preservatives and sugar. Early research had mixed results that led the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) to largely discount the effect of food ingredients in their ADHD education materials.

More recent studies looking at the effects of diet on ADHD have led to dietary recommendations by such groups as the American Academy of Pediatrics and changes in the education materials published by the NIMH.

Even with the mixed findings from the research done on diet and ADHD many experts suggest the following dietary strategies may play a role in reducing or relieving the effects of ADHD:

Brain food. ADHD/ADD experts suggest that food that's good for the brain may be good for reducing the effects of ADHD. Of course these are the foods commonly associated with a healthy diet – lean proteins (beans, lean meat & poultry, eggs, nuts) at meal & snacks may help improve concentration, complex carbohydrates (whole grains, vegetables & some fruits) eaten in the evening may help improve sleep and Omega-3 fatty acids (nuts, olive oil, canola oil, & fatty fish) play an essential role in brain health Go Organic. Results from one of the largest studies of its kind published this year in the journal, Pediatrics suggests that exposure to organophosphates, pesticides commonly used in commercial farming, may result in a diagnosis of ADHD. Researchers found that children with pesticide byproducts in their urine had double the chance of an ADHD diagnosis. Instead of skipping your fruits and vegetables choose organic or locally grown produce. Avoid foods with artificial food dyes (especially red & yellow). Even though early tests were inconclusive more recent studies strongly suggest a link between food dyes and hyperactivity. In 2008, the National Institute for Mental Health revised its literature on ADHD to include a warning that food dyes "might make hyperactivity worse." Many food manufacturers have replaced artificial dyes with natural colorings and Trader Joe's and Whole Foods grocery stores have elected to not carry any foods that contain artificial dyes. Avoid some food additives. Even though research studies have resulted in varied outcomes many experts agree that eliminating some food additives may reduce the effects of hyperactivity. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests the elimination of the food additives, aspartame, monosodium glutamate (MSG) and nitrates from the diet is a reasonable option for ADHD suffers. Go easy on the sugar. Even though there is no evidence that sugar is a cause of ADHD it has been documented that some children become hyperactive after eating sugary foods. Since sugary foods should only be a small part of a healthy diet there isn't any harm in limiting these foods to see if there is any improvement in symptoms.

In addition to medication and dietary changes, regular exercise, adequate sleep and cognitive therapy have been shown to help lessen the symptoms of ADHD. If you think that you or someone you know is suffering from ADHD it's important to work with a team of Healthcare providers who specialize in the treatment of ADHD.

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Diet and ADHD

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