Dietary Changes to Help With ADHD

The numbers are alarming.  Ten percent of US children have been diagnosed with ADHD — an increase of almost 25 percent in four years.

Unfortunately, the medicine prescribed to treat ADHD can come with a downside. It can cause dietary problems and increase the rate of cigarette smoking in the child taking it.

Some doctors have taken a different approach to fixing the problem, and have studied how dietary changes that can help ease symptoms of ADHD.

Here are some of the findings:

·         About 70 percent of children who crave sweets have much more control over their behavior when their food is low in added sugar.

·         Many kids with ADHD have food allergies that contribute to the symptoms. The foods to which children with ADHD most commonly had allergic reactions were cow's milk (which included milk, cheese, yogurt and ice cream), corn (an additive in many prepared foods), wheat, soy, eggs, gluten, casein, and food colorings.

·         Hyperactive children often benefit greatly from the right supplements. High quality fish oil supplements high in DHA can be a tremendous benefit (and they don’t have to taste bad), magnesium and calcium are essential minerals many people might be deficient in.  For more information on how supplements can help, contact us at the pharmacy.

So before you get a prescription for medicine, ask your doctor or contact us for a consult to see about making nutritional changes in your child's diet.