I was checking out a magazine the other day and browsed through an article claiming that you child’s nutrition has a severe link to
ADHD. I kept scanning though and found that the basis of the article had to do with pediatricians suggesting parents take a closer look at their child’s diet, before referring to medication such as Ritalin. ADHD is most often characterized by constant hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and the continuous inability to focus. The treatment most often used for this disorder is prescribed medication. Lately though, some professionals have been suggesting that we sway from traditional treatment, and take more of a look into nutrition before drugging our children up.
True, medication provides a quick result, is easy and vastly preferred by most professionals. But the medication just short term alleviates the problem and does not cure it or do anything to heal it. Like with some other medications, when a patient has been on meds for a period of time, it often develops side effects, in turn causing most people to use more drugs to relieve the side effects caused by the other ones. The nutritional aspect suggested, is approaching food as an aid to helping your child and looking at more than just a necessity but a tool to naturally cure a problem. The nutritional approach takes somewhat longer to provide results than medication would. But more so than using it for a tool to alleviate behavioral problems, think of it as a long-term plan to aid your child in living a healthy lifestyle.
They listed several different diets to research on your own including, The Feingold Method. Most suggestions were geared towards elimination diets, in which parents take away several food categories and reintroduce them to see just how they affect mood and behavior. The nutritional based approach is focused on stabilizing
blood sugar levels and brain fuel. Proteins and whole grain foods are great for feeding the brain. Small, healthy meals broken up throughout the day regulate energy levels and start to convert food into glucose which the brains thrives on to function appropriately.
Some of the foods they listed that you should avoid giving you ADHD child included: Sugar, Additives, Hydrogenated Oils, Caffeine and Salt. Some of the foods suggested to give to your child included: Essential Fatty Acids, Vitamin B Complex,
Protein, Calcium, Magnesium and Trace Minerals They made several good points to pick an approach that is most realistic for your family and lifestyle, and stick to them without creating stress in your environment. Always contact your family physician prior to beginning any kind of regimen; they will be best capable of providing you the type of nutrient cocktail that is best for your child.
