Health and Fitness Oasis

Both children and adults can be affected by ADHD, a chemical imbalance in the brain. There are many treatments that are currently in use for the condition. Another way to manage symptoms involves the diet. Researchers have not found a link between eating sugary snacks and developing ADHD. While this is true, changing what you eat can help to lessen the symptoms your child experiences on a daily basis.

What has been recommended for ADHD sufferers is to try and eat a proper diet. Proper nutrition is nothing new. It involves eating the right mix of proteins, carbohydrates and fats each day so that the body can function with optimal results.

As any mom knows, eating sugary foods will spike the blood sugar and have your child launching themselves off the couch like a rocket ship. After half an hour or so, they will crash and burn on the couch. Eating sugar doesn’t improve attention span. For a child with ADHD, eating sugar can make a bad situation worse. The important thing here is to keep the blood sugar steady throughout the day so that his or her moods will stay level.

Add protein to the diet. Protein is found in lean meats, fish, and dairy and plant sources like beans. Most people don’t have trouble getting their share of protein so you don’t need to eat very much to meet daily requirements. Protein builds muscle and also fuels several reactions in the body.

Eating cold water fish like salmon provides omega-3 fatty acids. These are healthy fats that your body needs to improve brain function and keep nerves well insulated. Other healthy fats (mono and polyunsaturated) can be found in oils like olive and canola.

Include carbohydrates in the form of fruits and vegetables. Eating foods like strawberries, blueberries, broccoli, tomatoes and others increase the antioxidant level in the body. Antioxidants not only prevent premature aging but also improve immune, eye, heart and brain function. Some citrus fruits interfere with prescribed medications so read labels carefully.

Don’t forget the whole grains. Eating whole grains provides fiber which keeps the digestive system working. Your child can avoid constipation and toxin build-up in their intestines by consuming complex carbs instead of eating those made with refined white flour. Also caffeine is a stimulant, and one that children with ADHD don’t need to consume. Too much caffeine can interrupt sleep patterns, leading to increased irritability – something ADHD sufferers don’t need.

Eating a well-balanced diet may help you improve the symptoms of ADHD. Many foods contain nutrients that are instrumental in brain function and can therefore help to manage the disorder.

Click below for your free information – Tips to Cure ADD and ADHD Naturally
www.treatADHDnaturally.com

There are websites that offer information about the latest treatments, groups raising awareness of the disorder and other parent resources.

* www.chadd.org – Children and Adults with ADHD
* www.add.org – Attention Deficit Disorder Association (adult sufferers)
* www.boards.webmd.com – Supportive forums on WebMD
* www.adders.org – ADHD online support group
* www.adhdnews.com – online support group

Don’t feel alone. Help is as close as your computer.’
Books to help you beat ADHD: Amazon Books

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 8th, 2009 at 6:45 pm and is filed under ADHD, Health Tips, support. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.