How should I integrate nutrition and supplements into my child’s ADHD treatment plan?
How should you treat your child’s ADHD? In this 8-part guide, find expert answers to the questions that will help you make key decisions about ADHD treatment.
NUTRITION: What should my child eat (and avoid) to improve their ADHD symptoms?
A: There’s no clear scientific evidence that ADHD is caused by diet or nutritional problems. But certain foods may play at least some role in affecting symptoms… | Keep reading on WebMD »
SUPPLEMENTS: Which vitamins and supplements can improve my child’s ADHD symptoms?
A: Several studies have shown a drop in hyperactivity and impulsivity with zinc supplements. The same research, though, reports no change in inattentiveness… | Keep reading on WebMD »
ADDITIVES: Should my child with ADHD avoid food dyes?
A: A study of nearly 300 children by the United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency in 2007 showed that the consumption of foods containing dyes could increase hyperactive behavior… | Keep reading on WebMD »
FISH OIL: Should my child with ADHD take a daily fish oil supplement?
A: Our brains use omega-3s in the hippocampus, the memory center of the brain. If you are low in omega-3 fatty acids, it may be… | Keep reading on WebMD »
OMEGA-3s: Should my child with ADHD eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids?
A: A deficiency of omega-3s is bad news for a child’s or adult’s brain. Our hunter-gatherer ancestors ate a diet with a ratio of about 2 to 1 omega-6s to omega-3s. Today, we eat a diet with the ratio… | Keep reading on ADDitude »
CLEAN EATING: Should I remove all sugar and inorganic foods from my child’s diet?
A: Although not every child with ADHD reacts to sugar in an adverse way, it is best for all parents to limit sugar as much as possible. Soda, if offered at all, should be an occasional treat. Fruit juice should be limited to… | Keep reading on ADDitude »
FIRST-PERSON: “I’ve Become a Food Cop for My Son”
“Our insufferable food rules: no dairy, no gluten, no food dye. None. No trace amounts. No cheating. No “just-one-bite.” We tell the disbelievers that if they’d like to feed it to our kids, they will be parenting the kids for the next two days.” | Keep reading on ADDitude »
RELATED RESOURCES
FREE DOWNLOAD: Alternative ADHD Treatment Guide
Lean about the benefits and risks of alternative treatment options like neurofeedback, nutrition, supplements, and more. | Download now on ADDitude »
FREE DOWNLOAD: ADHD Vitamins and Supplements
This guide outlines ADHD-friendly vitamins and supplements — like iron, zinc, and magnesium — that may help common ADHD symptoms. | Download now on ADDitude »
8-Part Guide to ADHD Treatment in Children, from WebMD x ADDitude:
DECISION 1: How should I approach my child’s ADHD treatment plan?
DECISION 2: Is ADHD medication right for my child?
DECISION 3: How can I address side effects associated with my child’s ADHD medication?
> DECISION 4: How can I integrate nutrition & supplements into my child’s ADHD treatment?
DECISION 5: How can I integrate exercise & mindfulness into my child’s ADHD treatment?
DECISION 6: What therapies should I integrate into my child’s ADHD treatment plan?
DECISION 7: How should I adjust and optimize my child’s ADHD treatment plan over time?
DECISION 8: How can my child’s treatment plan safely address comorbid conditions?
