Adhd Diet - Sandy,UT

We tried everything and nothing worked but medication. You need a diagnosis from a child psychologist before you make any decisions about treatment.

As long as you are eating a well-rounded diet, there's no "magic" food to add or avoid. The idea that sugar makes kids with adhd more hyper is a complete myth. And milk is so important for growing kids (limit it to 24 oz a day, just like for any kid).

My family seems to have had some sensitivity to the artificial stuff - especially red dyes and some artificial sweeteners. But a little once in a while isn't necessarily bad.

I will warn you to stay clear of the "salycilate free diet" a lot of people swear by - the one that advises cutting just about every fruit out of the diet. My mom & bro tried it years ago (it's been around almost as long as the idea of ADHD has) and it completely backfired.

The big thing is that you're going to have to work with him differently than a "normal" child - more direct supervision, more time spent helping stay on task with homework, and a whole lot more patience. Meds can help while he is learning to control and channel, but they are not the complete answer either.

If all you have had is some tests at school, he hasn't been diagnosed. You need to meet with a medical specialist, like a child psychiatrist, for a diagnosis. Schools don't diagnose, but can help with plans for succeeding at school.

Unfortunately, there are no herbs, vitamins, diet changes, etc. that will address ADHD. In fact, there are a lot of people out there with scams preying upon parents afraid of the real treatment for this condition. This is a brain disorder and studies have shown alternatives do not treat ADHD. You need to develop a comprehensive plan in conjunction with a specialist for treating ADHD. Honestly, do you really want a minimum wage clerk in a health food store treating a brain disorder or a physician with specialized expertise in brain disorders?

Don't rule out medication based on misinformation or assumptions. It's what has been proven to treat ADHD best, combined with therapies such as behavioral therapy. Again, you need to be discussing this with a skilled medical specialist who can address any fears or concerns you might have about treatment options.

Should you get an ADHD diagnosis, consider joining CHADD and subscribing to ADDitude magazine. Both are great resources for families dealing with ADHD.

For us diets didnt work and from all those I know it has not worked either. There is a handful of kids whos diets do cause behavioral issues but they are the minority for sure.

I am going to get real here for a minute too. Your husband needs to buck up or shut up. I hate seeing kids suffer time and time again because parents can NOT face reality. It really breaks my heart. If your child had a heart condition and needed meds there would be no questions asked (okk a few but if its needed its needed and you do it) ADHD is a real condition no different than any other medical condition. These kids need help. Yes you can try things before medication most do but again from my experience it wont help much. The right medication and the right dose can make all the difference in kids learning how to control their behavior. Their minds off meds cant sit still long enough to absorb and strategies to help them. Once on meds the stuff they can learn and how fast is amazing.

I know I sound like a medication pusher but what I wouldnt give to have my boys back on adhd meds they could function. They both preferred to be on meds because they felt like they didnt get into so much trouble. They actually had a ounce of impulse control. They learned how to stop and think BEFORE they did something. Medication was truly a blessing for them. Sadly they are both (twins) epileptic and the stimulants made things worse for them. I would give my right arm for their seizures to go away so they could take the meds again. They still werent calm on them and they still had issues but they were learning to deal with them and since they have been off its just been a daily struggle for them to get the simplest things. They are also high functioning autistic but controlling the adhd meds made life so much easier.

Hi R., please bring your little guy to a developmental pediatrician before you rule out anything at all. And bring your husband with you. Tell him it's a medical condition, not a 'state of mind'. Would he say no meds for diabetes or cancer? I think not.

Ask your ped for a referral.

Good Luck!

:)

Try more education for your husband. Dr. Mel Levine and Dr. Russel Barkely are great resources, and have many books about the medical nature of this truly medical diagnosis.

See a Developmental Pediatrician, and once you have a full evaluation (you need a private, medical evaluation because schools are no substitue for medical care) your treatement plan is best overseen by a Board Certifiied Child Psychiatrist. They should manage the medical aspects, and help you coordinate the many weekly hours of therapy he should get. If your husband responds to anything, it may be that the therapy is expensive (he needs cognative behavioral therapy, play therapy, social skills classes, speech and langague therapy and occupational therapy) he may need others as well, and some of them may not be necessary, but he will need some combination of them weekly. Medication will help him get more from the therapy, and it will cost you much less money.

The diets and herbal supplements are not going to help you much, but you might see a placebo. Keep in mind that some of the herbal stuff is even dangerous, and is no replacement for standard medical care. You will be spending money on these things, and there is an endless line of people out there who are ready to take your cash. ADHD, like kidney desease, dental issues, and asthma are not DIY projects; you need qualified medical specialists.

If you think your son has an allergy, go to an allergist, other than that, there is zero evidence that ADHD is diet related, and you will not see long term results, and the longer you put off what works, the more difficult his long term prognosis will be. Many untreated people with ADHD self medicate as adults, and you really do not want him to get to that point. Educational outcomes can be equally poor. That kind of education is also something that may sway your husband.

M.

R.,

I just answered another post on ADHD and diet. Here is what I wrote:

My friend controlled her sons ADHD with diet for years. He was diagnosed in 2nd grade and is now a sophomore in college. She used a book called, "Is This Your Child?" by Dr. Doris Rapp a pediatric enviornmental allergist. My friend found out her son was allergic/sensitive to dairy, soy, citrus, corn, wheat, legumes, and garlic to name a few. Her son grew up eating mostly meat, potatoes and rice, but was healthy and never had to take meds, and prior to the changes in his diet, he was very much like your son. His eczema also completely disappeaared when his diet was changed. My friend makes EVERYTHING from scratch because she has to read the labels. Read the labels, citric acid or corn syrup solids are in almost everything. You also have to learn the code words for various things, casine = dairy, kombu extract, autolyzed yeast protien = MSG. (Cooking at her house would be a challenge, her husband has high cholesterol, her son's special diet and she is a vegetarian, and she works full time and she has done this for years!) There are options besides medications. My friend also noticed that she has to use Cane Sugar and Cider Vinegar. I don't remember why, but it is probably something to do with either the processing or metabolism. Read up and be informed.

Read up on Wrights Law too. An informed parent is the best advocate. My understanding is that a medical diagnosis automatically qualifies a child for a 504. Best of luck to you.

J.

I had ADD as a child (nowdays they would call it ADHD without hyperactivity) and the ONLY thing that worked for me was behavior therapy, which is much safer than the drugs (my dad was very opposed to them too). It is also much more work for the parents, but I think that is a good thing, I think far too many parents just want to drug their kids instead of chaging the way they do things. Basically, you need to change your son's schedule. He need more exercise, less TV or video games, and when it is homework time he needs a very quiet environment free of distractions like loud siblings, TV, whatever. He also probably needs more sleep, I had the most trouble as a child because my family were all night owls and I could NOT get to sleep when my parents and siblings were all talking and laughing and watching TV etc. You need to chage the way your whole family lives their day to day lives for the best results, which is really hard to doa dn most parents will just give up, but don't! I was able to control my disorder and I earned a 3.8 GPA in college after barely stumbling through my elementary and middle school years. Another idea, get your son out in nature as much as possible, in a queit and secluded way. I used to take hikes or get up really early and go to the park when it was empty and just relax, it is very calming for a child to whom social settings full of people and noise can be extremely jarring to spend time in nature where the sounds are quieter and gentler. Good luck!

True adhd is not due to allergies, chemical poisoning ect and will not be "fixed by diet or going all organic. It is hard when your husband is not on board. Go get an evaluation through your doctor ( our office had a child psychologist ) Have him go to the visits with you. That way he can ask questions too. That really seemed to help my husband get on board with me. Really the best way to help an adhd child is with medicine and behavior therapy. It is scary at first, but it was the best thing I ever did for my daughter. She now comes home happy from school and is getting some confidence. Good luck.

After years (decades actually) of saying that diet, specifically artificial colors don't matter, docs are finally saying there may be a link. There was a study published in the British Medical Journal. The Lancet, which showed that artificial colors and flavors can and does impact a child's behavior and cognitive ability.
Now, having said that, I have a son that was on meds for several years before, as a family, we decided to take him off. As a nurse, I do believe meds and some behavioral therapy has it's place. But I also started to worry about the potential long term health risks of the meds. By the time he was 15 he knew he needed to sit in front of the class etc.
I also agree with the other posters, that if you can afford it and/or your insurance covers it, get an opinion outside of the school. Our doctor at the time said that he values the outside opinions much more, because they are truly more objective.
Good Luck

There is a lot said for milk products and ADHD. We have all been brainwashed into thinking "milk does the body good" but there is only a small group of people who can drink cows milk and not have any effect. There are better ways of getting calcium like green leafy vegies. Let him try a completely milk free diet for a month and see if that helps. He also could be a right brained person. With the right teacher, he really could show his greatness. He should be drinking a lot of water instead of juice of other high sugar foods or drinks.

Two fabulous books to read: Driven to Distraction by Dr. Edward Hallowell (a Harvard-trained psychiatrist who has ADD himself as well as children with ADD) and Raising your Spirited Child (I forget who wrote it). The Spirited Child one isn't about ADD specifically, but has many, many tips on how to get through to a child who is just MORE, especially if you're choosing not to medicate. Also, Omega-3 (fish oil) capsules help -- especially if anxiety is also part of your little one's make-up.

Having 2 with ADD, I can tell you it's a wonderful gift to have such creative, smart kids who look at things differently -- that is, when it's not driving you (and your child) absolutely crazy. Enjoy the ride!

Sugar does not result in hyperactivity in children with ADHD. Caffeine will actually CALM a child with ADHD down, so that is not the issue either. Instead of focusing on eating or meds as your only two options, you might consider meeting with a psychologist who specializes in ADHD and they can recommend some well proven behavioral techniques that can help you child learn to calm himself and a few other things including biofeedback (which has shown itself to be VERY effective, or slow exercises that focus on mind and body connection like karate, gymnastics or yoga). Good luck!

A friend of mine swears by the gluten-free approach. She saw huge results. Unfortunately you will have to do the research on how to go about a gluten-free life since I do not know how to even begin, but it seems by observing my friends kids that it is well worth it.

Good luck!

I've read in several different books that food allergens can play a major role in the cause and effect of ADD/ADHD. Dairy and refined/processed foods are often targeted as culprits. There are SO MANY alternative resources out there! I know of several alternative products like Himalaya brand MindCare Jr. or Dr. Christopher's MindTrac. Something I am researching right now is the Doterra line of supplements which are showing great potential.. along with the essential oils Vetiver, Frankincense, and several other oils I am still researching. The thing I've found is that each child/case is often unique in their response to the various treatments out there; which increases my reasoning toward the broad-based alternative approach. I value the biochemical individuality of each person.

Updated

p.s. Essential Fatty Acids. Severely deficient in the modern food supply, imperative for basic cell function. Look it up!

Sounds like some here are pretty rabid for meds. I won't deny that in some cases medicine is the best alternative, but there is certainly no harm in trying other options first. You can always go to meds later if the other coping mechanisms are not cutting it.

If you read up on the subject, you will find, as some have mentioned, that there are many behavioral strategies and teaching strategies that may help your child to calm himself and learn to cope. I haven't researched gluten free diets for ADHD, but it sounds like many are recommending that as well. I think you may as well try both those alternatives and see whether his behavior improves. If it doesn't, you may have to get your husband to consider medication. Your husband should be there at the doctor's with you so he can ask any questions or express any concerns he may have. Sometimes the mom has to put her foot down for the good of the kids.

I have a friend who's 8 year old son was recently diagnosed and for a while now she has had him on a gluten free diet and sees a difference so it might be worth trying although every kid is different but you might see some changes. Also the book that was referred to in a previous response is called "Raising Your Spirited Child" by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka. I am currently reading it as my son who is 4 1/2 is extremely MORE as the books says in terms of more intense, energetic, sensitive, etc. and I would not be surprised if he were diagnosed with ADD or ADHD down the road so trying to work with him now and this book has been very helpful so I would highly recommend it.

As a former SPED Teacher, I have an issue with putting kids on meds, unless it is the very last resort.
Some foods help children (an adults) maintain focus and attention better, specicially whole grain, multi grain breads/crackers, waffles, pancakes and cereals, possibly even some glutten free products as well. Blueberries also help.
I wouldn't worry about Milk, as it is good for his body and bone development.

Also, and I know that this sounds a bit strange, try giving him a 1/2 cup of black or with milk coffee in the morning and see if it starts to help, if so, offer him another 1/2 cup at lunch time. The caffiene has the same effect as some of the ADHD pills, whereas the stimulant helps slow him down, hence enabling him to maintain focus and attention. It is worth a try!

Hi--
Yes, there are all kinds of things you can do. Food allergies definitely can cause ADHD symptoms--absolutely no doubt about it. Dairy and gluten are the typical culprits, but to round out the top seven allergens you have those two plus soy, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, and shell fish. Also, sensitivity to preservatives and dyes can cause ADHD symptoms--sugar does not cause these symptoms. It is the chemicals in the candy other than sugar that cause the behavior. Things like red dye #5, msg, sodium benzoate, etc. It is also difficult to test these sensitivities if you use a western medicine doctor. Alternative practitioners such as a chiropractor, acupuncturist, or doctor of naturopathy will better be able to help you in this realm.
As for herbal things that can help, it does depend on what is causing the symptoms. If it is allergies than a natural anti-histamine will help. You can give him high-dose vitamin C, quercetin (a bioflavonoid found in onions), nettles, bromelain, NAC (N-acetyl systene). To calm down his adrenal glands (allergies cause too much adrenaline to be produced) you can give him skullcap, chamomile, holy basil, catnip, fennel, phosphatidyl serine (PS) valerian (which will help him sleep, but might be too much during the day). You can also try Bach Flower Remedies--particularly rescue remedy.
ADHD symptoms can also be caused by a sensitivity to environmental chemicals---like cleaning supplies, lotions, shampoos, etc. Switching everything to totally natural products (in our house if we can't eat it we don't put it on our skin) could also help your son. You can do a lot with baking soda, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, etc to clean your house (and it's cheaper!!). Dr. Bronner's is a good all natural soap. For lotion we use straight coconut oil or anything by miessence or badger or bumble and bee is a safe bet.
There are also some other things you can try--like ionic foot baths and NET (neuro-emotional technique).
Hope those ideas help you. I'm happy to answer any questions you might have.
J.