Can the Right Diet Improve ADHD?
August 1st 2011 00:02
Learn what the research says about foods that may improve –- or aggravate -– symptoms of ADHD.
Have you ever wondered whether certain foods might actually cause ADHD symptoms? If so, you're not alone. In fact, scientists also are curious about this and have done years of research on the topic. Yet despite a growing body of research, it's still not crystal clear what role diet plays in childhood ADHD. And it's even less clear what impact diet has on adult ADHD, since most research to date has been done in children.
Still, if you're curious about whether eliminating certain foods from the diet or adding others might help you manage some of your symptoms -- like hyperactivity, sleep disturbances, difficulty focusing, or irritability -- read on. We've outlined the dietary modifications that are being actively researched, as well as some early study results.
Foods You May Want to Nix
Artificial coloring, flavorings, and preservatives: In the early 1970s, a researcher by the name of Benjamin F. Feingold asserted that foods containing artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives may exacerbate hyperactivity and other behavioral symptoms of ADHD. But his claims were based on just a handful of small observational studies, so they were not fully substantiated. Studies done since Feingold's time have produced conflicting results. But still, a handful have found that the elimination of certain additives and colorings helped minimize hyperactivity in a certain percentage of kids with ADHD. While other studies have shown that having certain artificial preservatives (sodium benzoate, BHA, and BHT), artificial flavors (vanilla), and artificial sweeteners (aspartame and saccharin) in the diet made symptoms worse.
Salicylate-containing foods: Feingold also claimed that foods rich in salicylates -- such as almonds, grapes, tomatoes, and cucumbers -- might exacerbate hyperactivity in children with and without ADHD. Once again, subsequent study findings conflicted with Feingold's research. But some experts do think that when children with ADHD have sensitivities or allergies to salicylate-rich foods, it might be helpful to eliminate them. Allergy testing could help pinpoint who is sensitive to salicylates.
The "few foods" diet: Another type of elimination diet that has been the subject of great controversy is the "few foods" diet. It eliminates non-salicylate-containing foods (as well as foods with artificial additives). That means no eggs, milk, chocolate, soy, corn, wheat, or legumes. While some studies have shown an improvement of ADHD symptoms with the elimination of these foods, the improvement occurred predominantly in kids with sensitivities or allergies to those items.
Sugar: Contrary to popular belief, a host of studies have pretty much debunked the myth that sugar causes or aggravates hyperactivity or other symptoms of ADHD. But that doesn't mean that limiting candy, soft drinks, cookies, and other sugary treats from the diet is a bad thing. Eating too much of the sweet stuff can cause blood sugar to spike, then crash, making it harder to concentrate and focus. And we all know that excess sugar in the diet is a quick way to pack in calories and pack on pounds.
The Western diet: Recent findings from a large 14-year study suggest that a "Western" diet may be associated with a higher risk of developing ADHD compared with a "healthy" diet. The difference? A Western diet -- popular in the United States and other Western cultures -- is high in refined grains, soda, and saturated fat-containing foods like red meat, dairy, and fried foods. But the healthy diet? It's packed with all of those good things we already know are a boon to health -- things like fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein choices, such as fish or beans.
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