Prevention is better than cure they say. This is so true as to what to give your kids to eat. Expectant mothers have to watch their health and lifestyle too. The facts are that the worse the diet, the more likely it is that pregnant mothers will have complications at birth such as neural tube defects (NTDs) which lead to brain defects including ADHD. The children themselves, if they are on a diet of red meat, soda pop and processed foods are more at risk in developing learning disorders and ADHD.
We know that a poor diet does not in itself cause ADHD but making good food choices will actually help to lessen symptoms and make ADHD more manageable. It should be just one element in a comprehensive program which will also include physical activities and basic parenting skills.
Look at the statistics
There are all sorts of alarming statistics which are related to ADHD and what we eat and drink. Consider the following:-
- ADHD children and adults are liable to be obese – they are plagued by problems connected with impulsivity and this is a big problem when faced with food choices
- Pregnant mothers who are overweight are much more likely to have children who will go on to develop ADHD or other NTDs . About 66% of expectant mothers in the USA are overweight!
- Obesity itself in both children and adults will have a knock on effect with depression and anxiety gaining ground as co-morbid disorders
- One of the effects of ADHD meds is that there is an increase in anxiety levels among the children, yet nobody talks about this.
It is a matter of life and death
Whether we have ADHD or not, it just makes good sense to make sure that we eating right. We are going to avoid obesity, diabetes and heart disease for a start. Then there are a whole range of diseases which are linked to obesity.
Reading the very sad and tender book called ‘Big Brother’, the author Lionel Shriver describes how she fought alongside her brother to help him get his weight down. There was a tragic sequel as her brother died of an obesity related illness.
Making the right food choices
So, we need to implement a few changes without going to the extremes of having a gluten free or casein free diet although there are some people who actually thrive when they do that. However, these extreme diets are not really necessary in the majority of cases. As I said, let us keep this simple.
- Add in protein in the form of eggs, cheese or meat at breakfast time. The extra protein here helps to avoid sugar crashes later in the day and helps to prevent mood swings,. We know that protein is a key element in keeping the brain transmitters in tip top condition.
I know some ADHD parents and kids have found that their focus level and impulse control are much improved when they remember to have that vital protein at breakfast time. It is well worth the effort.
- Ramp up on fruit and vegetables in whatever form you like. The USDA are recommending that 50% of what is on our plate should be fruit or vegetables. The other two quarters should be some form of protein and carbohydrates. We can use smoothies or put vegetable toppings on pizza and so on.
- Getting kids involved in the shopping and the preparation of vegetables is a great way of making the whole operation much more appetizing for them.
- Go for nuts and fruit as snacks
- Add in fish when you can – that is a whole lot healthier than red meat for example. Great favourites are trout, salmon and mackerel. These contain Omega 3 fatty acids and that helps brain function.
- Use whole grains as much as possible.
- Vegetables can be transformed into smoothies or put into tarts and quiches. You can even try making sweet potatoes into a puree, adding in some orange juice and yogurt and even freezing them so that are like vegetable lollipops.
- Try portion control. The Mayo Clinic recommends keeping in mind visual clues. One fruit serving could be a small apple which is the size of a tennis ball while one vegetable serving could be a pepper which is the same size of a baseball and so on.
Diet can really help with ADHD
Getting your food choices right will be an enormous advantage. It will not cure ADHD but will help to keep it under control. One dietician remarked that when her ADHD daughter has the right mix of proteins and carbohydrates her behavior is much more stable and manageable.
I know another family who, when they relax the above dietary guidelines, their behavior and focus gets out of control. So, the bottom line is – just eat right!
Robert Locke MBE is an award winning author and has written extensively on ADHD and related child health problems. You can visit this page on http://www.natural-adhd-cure.com ADHD natural treatment to find out more.