While there is more than one cause of ADHD, research shows that dietary adjustments are one of the most effective ways to overcome its symptoms.
Certain foods can optimize brain performance, while others will only aggravate the symptoms and disrupt brain function.
There is a lot to gain by going on an ADHD diet, but many children and adults are hesitant to do so because most of the forbidden foods are the foods they enjoy eating.
If you are not ready to place your whole family on a strict ADHD diet, avoiding some of these offending foods might be able to eliminate some symptoms.
Dairy, especially cow's milk Did you know that many ADHD symptoms are caused by an allergy to milk? Aside from being intolerant to lactose, there is one other substance in milk that the body can be sensitive to.
This substance is called casein, a protein that is difficult to digest.
In its half-digested form, casein can produce opioid peptides, which has morphine-like sedative effects on the brain.
Consider avoiding dairy products and milk for a week and see if there are any improvements.
Wheat, especially cereal Like milk, wheat contains another protein that is difficult to digest.
This protein is called gluten.
Avoiding wheat is more complicated than avoiding dairy, because wheat is a staple food in the Western diet.
Bread, pasta, pizza dough - all of these foods are made of wheat.
A good place to start is by avoiding cereal, especially those that are marketed towards children.
Not only are these cereals filled with sugar, but they also contain little or no nutritional value.
Chips and other junk food If you're going to avoid junk cereal, you might as well start avoiding chips, fast food, and other junk food.
The reason why they're sometimes referred to as "empty calories" is because they provide no nutrients of their own.
What makes it worse is that in order to convert junk food into energy, the digestive system pulls out nutrients from its stores, depleting the body even more of its much-needed vitamins and minerals.
Many cases of ADHD are actually caused by a deficiency in these nutrients, because the brain cannot function without them.
Avoiding junk food is an excellent place to start eating right for ADHD.
Soft drinks and sugary drinks Besides having no nutritional value, soft drinks and sugary drinks contain refined sugar, which can aggravate hyperactivity and inattention.
Refined sugar works fast and gives the body the energy boost it needs, but once it wears off the brain experiences a "crash, which causes lethargy and decreased brain function.
Whatever the cause of ADHD might be in your case, avoiding these foods can do wonders for your recovery.
At the very least, eating right might reduce the severity of your symptoms.
Certain foods can optimize brain performance, while others will only aggravate the symptoms and disrupt brain function.
There is a lot to gain by going on an ADHD diet, but many children and adults are hesitant to do so because most of the forbidden foods are the foods they enjoy eating.
If you are not ready to place your whole family on a strict ADHD diet, avoiding some of these offending foods might be able to eliminate some symptoms.
Dairy, especially cow's milk Did you know that many ADHD symptoms are caused by an allergy to milk? Aside from being intolerant to lactose, there is one other substance in milk that the body can be sensitive to.
This substance is called casein, a protein that is difficult to digest.
In its half-digested form, casein can produce opioid peptides, which has morphine-like sedative effects on the brain.
Consider avoiding dairy products and milk for a week and see if there are any improvements.
Wheat, especially cereal Like milk, wheat contains another protein that is difficult to digest.
This protein is called gluten.
Avoiding wheat is more complicated than avoiding dairy, because wheat is a staple food in the Western diet.
Bread, pasta, pizza dough - all of these foods are made of wheat.
A good place to start is by avoiding cereal, especially those that are marketed towards children.
Not only are these cereals filled with sugar, but they also contain little or no nutritional value.
Chips and other junk food If you're going to avoid junk cereal, you might as well start avoiding chips, fast food, and other junk food.
The reason why they're sometimes referred to as "empty calories" is because they provide no nutrients of their own.
What makes it worse is that in order to convert junk food into energy, the digestive system pulls out nutrients from its stores, depleting the body even more of its much-needed vitamins and minerals.
Many cases of ADHD are actually caused by a deficiency in these nutrients, because the brain cannot function without them.
Avoiding junk food is an excellent place to start eating right for ADHD.
Soft drinks and sugary drinks Besides having no nutritional value, soft drinks and sugary drinks contain refined sugar, which can aggravate hyperactivity and inattention.
Refined sugar works fast and gives the body the energy boost it needs, but once it wears off the brain experiences a "crash, which causes lethargy and decreased brain function.
Whatever the cause of ADHD might be in your case, avoiding these foods can do wonders for your recovery.
At the very least, eating right might reduce the severity of your symptoms.