I know some kids who are on a really healthy diet at school and they were monitored for a while. Guess what ? There were far fewer cases of behaviour disorders, ADHD and childhood obesity at that school. I am not saying that a diet for ADHD kids exists but that the food we eat also feed our brains so it is bound to affect our behaviour and ADHD is no exception.
Here are some foods for ADHD kids. They will not cure them but they will keep them from going berserk and help their parents remain sane ! They will also prevent childhood obesity.
1. Avoid coke zero and fizzy pop like the plague. The kids I mentioned above had water bottles in their drinks dispenser at school. Fizzy water is better than coke zero which has got a whole lot of chemicals, additives and preservatives in it. The only healthy ingredient in that drink is water !
2. Protein is way better than carbs and sugar for breakfast. So a boiled, poached or fried egg is better than cereals and milk any day. About 30% of American kids are lactose intolerant (can’t take milk or milk products like cheese) so cereals at breakfast is hardly the best way to start their day.
3. No need to go overboard on the vitamins jamboree. They say that too many vitamins could lead to a premature death as they interfere too much with the body’s own defence and immune mechanisms. If your kid is eating ‘veggies and fruit (5 a day) then there is no need to worry about this. That really is the best diet for ADHD kids !
4. Omega 3 (the fatty oils supplements) are useful – unless you are giving your kids lots of fish. That is hardly advisable given all the scares about mercury poisoning.
5. Discover your health food shop and experiment with some of the things there. Nuts are a great standby – especially for hungry moments so always have some handy. Favourites are almonds, cashew and peanuts. Even peanut butter on a piece of toast is better than an ice cream or lollipop.
6. Some kids do not get enough iron – unless you have them on spinach and chicken /meat every day ! They say that you can tell if somebody is iron deficient if they have very pale gums and skin or the inner eyelid is a very pale pink. Vitamin B complex pills are the answer here.
7. If your kids are short on protein, find a good protein powder and add it to their smoothies or shakes. The blender here is a great ally – also for making delicious smoothies with the five a day fruit and veg.
Now that ADHD is increasing all the time ( especially on the East Coast), parents are concerned that ADHD medication with psychostimulant drugs can be harmful. The side effects of these drugs -Adderall, Concerta, Dexedrine, Dextrostat, Focalin, and Metadate – can be severe although in many cases they seem to work and help the child with ADHD. But why risk it ? Diet for ADHD kids may help but the real issue is finding the right treatment for YOUR child. You can find a safer natural treatment in the link below. Why not join the thousands of wiser parents who want to give their kids a better chance.
Robert William Locke
http://www.articlesbase.com/adhd-articles/adhd-diet-for-kids-fact-or-fantasy–730763.html