The Connection Between Pesticides And ADHD - Is There A Link Or Isn"t There?
When it comes to diet and ADHD there has been much said and written.
There are those that insist that diet plays a huge role in both the incidence of the disorder, as well as in the treatment and management of the symptoms.
On the flip side of the coin, there are those that insist that diet has absolutely no role to play in the cause of the disorder and, at best, can help to alleviate some of the symptoms.
Nevertheless, there are many who have, for a long time, suspected that inefficient amounts of protein in the diet, as well as too many carbohydrates, can aggravate or intensify ADHD symptoms and behaviors, including the characteristic symptoms of inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
However, it would seem that parents need to be even more cautious when it comes to what they feed their ADHD child, because it has been established that there is a possible link between pesticides and adhd that you might not be aware of.
Although you could be forgiven for thinking that a link between the two certainly does not make for very strong evidence, it is important to understand that this connection is actually a rather strong one.
In fact, a study conducted recently in the United States, involving 1,140 kids certainly lends credence to the suspicion that the one definitely impacts the other.
Those kids who ate fruits and veggies with only a trace amount of pesticides were more inclined to exhibit ADHD symptoms.
Those that had higher levels of a common by-product than their peers were twice as likely to receive a positive ADHD diagnosis.
The type of pesticide that has been linked to ADHD symptoms is called organophosphates.
Interestingly, this is not new information by any means.
Organophosphates are known to affect the chemicals in the brain that are associated with ADHD behaviors and symptoms, making the connection between pesticides and adhd all the more likely.
This is very disconcerting for the parent of the ADHD child who has turned to dietary changes in order to help their child better cope with the symptoms of the disorder.
The ADHD diet is popular because it produces results, however, it is alarming to think that many well-meaning parents have actually been giving their child meals that contain pesticides that might well be inducing the symptoms of the disorder! Types of organophosphates have been found in everything from frozen berries to broccoli.
More research needs to be done regarding the connection between ADHD and pesticides, that much is clear.
Although studies have already been done that seem to indicate that there is a very real connection between the two, confirmation is still required.
If you have a child with ADHD, or if you have been diagnosed with the disorder yourself, do not give up on the ADHD.
Rather be sure to choose organic produce as much as possible.
Always wash your fruits and vegetables thoroughly under clean, running water, even if they are the frozen variety.
Pesticides have been found in frozen produce as well as in non-frozen produce, which is why washing all fruits and veggies properly should be a matter of course.
Nutrient rich foods are a great way to combat the symptoms of ADHD as well as the pesticides that might be present in the fruits and veggies that are eaten.
It is important that you keep abreast of the latest developments pertaining to this highly common disorder.
While there is no cure available as yet, (we add optimistically), it is nevertheless possible to manage the symptoms and lead a fulfilling and rewarding life in spite of an ADHD diagnosis.
There are those that insist that diet plays a huge role in both the incidence of the disorder, as well as in the treatment and management of the symptoms.
On the flip side of the coin, there are those that insist that diet has absolutely no role to play in the cause of the disorder and, at best, can help to alleviate some of the symptoms.
Nevertheless, there are many who have, for a long time, suspected that inefficient amounts of protein in the diet, as well as too many carbohydrates, can aggravate or intensify ADHD symptoms and behaviors, including the characteristic symptoms of inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
However, it would seem that parents need to be even more cautious when it comes to what they feed their ADHD child, because it has been established that there is a possible link between pesticides and adhd that you might not be aware of.
Although you could be forgiven for thinking that a link between the two certainly does not make for very strong evidence, it is important to understand that this connection is actually a rather strong one.
In fact, a study conducted recently in the United States, involving 1,140 kids certainly lends credence to the suspicion that the one definitely impacts the other.
Those kids who ate fruits and veggies with only a trace amount of pesticides were more inclined to exhibit ADHD symptoms.
Those that had higher levels of a common by-product than their peers were twice as likely to receive a positive ADHD diagnosis.
The type of pesticide that has been linked to ADHD symptoms is called organophosphates.
Interestingly, this is not new information by any means.
Organophosphates are known to affect the chemicals in the brain that are associated with ADHD behaviors and symptoms, making the connection between pesticides and adhd all the more likely.
This is very disconcerting for the parent of the ADHD child who has turned to dietary changes in order to help their child better cope with the symptoms of the disorder.
The ADHD diet is popular because it produces results, however, it is alarming to think that many well-meaning parents have actually been giving their child meals that contain pesticides that might well be inducing the symptoms of the disorder! Types of organophosphates have been found in everything from frozen berries to broccoli.
More research needs to be done regarding the connection between ADHD and pesticides, that much is clear.
Although studies have already been done that seem to indicate that there is a very real connection between the two, confirmation is still required.
If you have a child with ADHD, or if you have been diagnosed with the disorder yourself, do not give up on the ADHD.
Rather be sure to choose organic produce as much as possible.
Always wash your fruits and vegetables thoroughly under clean, running water, even if they are the frozen variety.
Pesticides have been found in frozen produce as well as in non-frozen produce, which is why washing all fruits and veggies properly should be a matter of course.
Nutrient rich foods are a great way to combat the symptoms of ADHD as well as the pesticides that might be present in the fruits and veggies that are eaten.
It is important that you keep abreast of the latest developments pertaining to this highly common disorder.
While there is no cure available as yet, (we add optimistically), it is nevertheless possible to manage the symptoms and lead a fulfilling and rewarding life in spite of an ADHD diagnosis.