Diet For ADHD – How To Improve Behavior Through Foods

Our world is full of distractions. Even the simplest of tasks can be difficult for some of us to stay present and follow one activity through to the end, especially for children.

The constant external stimuli that accompany this electronically driven world certainly contribute to the short attention spans these days, but is there a connection to what we are feeding our children and the pandemic of attention deficit disorders?

When a client asks me about ADD or ADHD, one of my first questions is regarding the child’s diet. Very often mothers of children with this type of disorder are so focused on behavior that the nutritional choices they are making for their families may be overlooked. It seems quite logical that what we feed our children will influence their well-being, and a change in diet may be a factor that benefits the whole family.

There are a few considerations that you must make to determine the nutritional needs of your ADHD child. It is important to look at the daily menus and make sure that basic requirements are being met, followed by the inclusion of specialized vitamins and minerals that are specific for attention deficit disorders, and in extreme cases it is recommended to eliminate certain foods that can trigger symptoms.

Eliminate Food Additives

Developing healthy eating habits for your family takes effort and commitment to stay on track. Most convenience foods are full of harmful ingredients, so it’s important to read labels and try to prepare meals and snacks from scratch so you can control the ingredients.

No artificial flavors or dyes – these contain chemicals that can trigger ADHD symptoms

No soda or carbonated beverages – even diet sodas contribute to hyper-activity especially those with phosphorus

No sugar – the effects of sugar can be even worse for sensitive children than for adults

No wheat – intolerances to gluten can cause uncomfortable reactions and aggravate behavior

No MSG – food preservatives and additives have been known to have negative side effects; be wary of processed meats and restaurant food

It may be difficult to keep your child from feeling left out when all their friends are eating junk food, so help your child be mindful of how they behave when they stray from their diet, and to make good choices.

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