| For parents of ADHD children finding the right balance | | | | the types of symptoms that appear in ADHD. These |
| between therapy, both prescription and non | | | | symptoms include: inattention, initial hyperactive |
| prescription medications, and diet can be a challenging | | | | behavior usually lasting about 45 minutes, extreme |
| task. But one thing is for sure poor nutrition and/or | | | | mental and physical tiredness after the initial rush, and |
| eating habits can make a manageable condition into | | | | scattered thinking. |
| one that becomes unmanageable. | | | | Omega 3 and omega 6 essential fatty acids: A lot of |
| Diets for children with ADHD should be based in a | | | | new information has come to light in recent years |
| what one would consider a healthy diet, void of snack | | | | about the connection between omega 3 oils and brain |
| foods and simple sugars. Diets for children with ADHD | | | | function. Research is showing that a proper level of |
| should also include plenty of water and perhaps | | | | fatty acid can help with the symptoms of a variety of |
| supplementation with a essential fatty acids. Let's | | | | neurological and mental conditions, including ADHD. |
| briefly explore these three basic cornerstones of diets | | | | Both omega 3 and omega 6 are essential to good |
| for children with ADHD. | | | | health but can't be manufactured by the body and thus |
| Water: In some ways water the oil that makes our | | | | must be supplied through diet or supplementation. |
| engines run. About two thirds of a child's body is made | | | | Foods high in essential fatty acids are pine nuts, |
| up of water and is used for such basic functions as | | | | pistachios, walnuts, brazil nuts, grains, sunflower seeds, |
| metabolizing food and eliminating waste. Both are | | | | pumpkin seeds, flax oil, salmon, hoki, sardines, tuna, |
| important for the ADHD child to function well. | | | | avocados, kale, collard greens, canola oil, fish oil, and |
| Simple carbohydrates spell T-R-O-U-B-L-E - Simple | | | | wheat germ oil. Ironically, the simple carbohydrates |
| carbohydrates include corn, rice, white flour, potatoes, | | | | discussed above will negate any positive benefits |
| certain cereals, and pasta. Junk snack foods, which | | | | derived from omega 3 and/or omega 6 essential fatty |
| many use a quick energy fix these days, fall under this | | | | acids. |
| umbrella as well. It is this quick burst and the following | | | | In summary, a general rule of thumb for diets for |
| low that creates problems for the ADHD child. The | | | | children with ADHD would be to drink plenty of water, |
| physiological sequence goes something like this; the | | | | reduce or eliminate fast metabolizing sugars, and |
| rapid metabolization of carbohydrates triggers an | | | | increase the intake of essential fatty acids through |
| overproduction of insulin, which then produces exactly | | | | either diet for supplementation. |