Can Eating Healthy Improve ADHD Symptoms?

4 Comments: Can Eating Healthy Improve ADHD Symptoms?

1. As a functional medicine practitioner and nutritional therapist with ADD and a son with ADHD, I felt this article seems to be attempting to steer people towards medication instead of implementing healthy eating. There is no mention of the research on the gut microbiome, how we can alter it and how this can have profound effects on ADHD behaviours. Nor is there mention of the latest research (2019) on saffron showing it to be more affective than methyphenidate (ensure you see a qualified practitioner regarding dosage and length of application). What about functional testing, fatty acid metabolism, toxic heavy metals etc etc. Whilst these aren’t foods, per say, a nutritional protocol can be implemented to make changes – food CAN and does make a difference.

2. I believe that the article was reporting data and was not saying not to try it, but each person has to decide for themselves what they are and aren’t willing to do. There is a balance each person and family must find. I’ve found we make it a conversation in our family and allow my daughter to make many of her own decisions after we have discussed the issue with pro’s and cons and how she feels and acts when she eats certain foods. She has a corn allergy also. When she was 4 we took her off all corn and her hyperactivity decreased greatly. As she got older and went to school and over to other peoples homes we adopted the stance to let people know she was allergic to corn and its by products but did not ask them to change what they were preparing, My daughter knew what foods made her feel instantly or made her very active (red dye in particularly) and she would decide whether she wanted to eat it or not. She often stayed away from red pop but every once in a while she would have one. She would sometimes ask if they would be having pancakes or waffles so she could bring her pure maple syrup. At Mcdonald’s she would order a hamburger and not eat the bun. We discussed the mediterranean diet, but she is not game to try that yet. I am making it more my diet and thus she gets it more in her diet but if she doesn’t want it she can make herself something else. In the end she will decide what makes her feel good and what doesn’t; I can’t be with her 24/7 and I don’t want to be. But she needs to be educated about ADD and the many different pieces that can impact her and her ADD. It’s more important that she have it in her tool box to try if she wants; then to force her to change her eating habits. Choice is a very powerful tool. What she learns for herself she learns for a lifetime.

   I was surprised that the article did not mention the mediterranean diet and Dr. Amen. He is a child and adult psychologist and nuclear brain imaging specialist. He has done brain imaging of the ADD brain and has shone that changing one’s diet can change the functioning of the brain by increasing the flow of blood to the prefrontal cortex, cerebellum, and basal ganglia.

3. With some evidence to suggest that diet/food dyes MAY contribute to ADHD, I am deeply concerned that drug manufacturers are still using many additional dyes, colorants, artificial flavours, titanium dioxide, and talc in their drug formulations. I don’t worry too much about giving my child the one off med when they have a short illness; but for ADHD, medications are taken daily as are these additional questionable ingredients (and these are just a few). I would like to see some options for medications that take into account these concerns. I have literally examined product monographs for almost every medication and was not able to find one with out artificial flavours, colors/dyes, talc, titanium dioxide. If someone knows of medication options that don’t contain these ingredients, I would be happy to know what they are.

4. I have been an avid reader of yours for as long as I can remember. I always enjoy taking bits of what you share and researching and implementing what works for my family. This time however this article really struck a chord with me and it wasn’t in a good way. Of course implementing lifestyle changes is difficult especially with kids. So we should just give up on these solutions? Nearly every argument you had against these changes was because some parents said it was hard. Also, what about the other factors like the childhood obesity epidemic, chronic disease in adolescents, and mental health crisis in our youth. I feel as though your article did nothing but deter parents from trying to implement healthy changes in our children. Who cares if it is hard? Do it anyway. We owe our children to try and make the best choices. Not to mention nearly all of your references are dated with some being 40 years old. Nutrition and food guidelines have changed significantly. I am disappointed in this article and the way you are steering parents away from making healthy choices for our kids. You can do better than this. It may not completely cure ADHD but even if it helps a little and you get all the other benefits why wouldn’t we at least make an effort for our kids???