Why?
- The development of ADHD is affected by genetic and environmental factors, one of which has been proven to be a child’s diet.
- Some foods have been proven to actually cause an increase in symptoms while better diets have been shown to increase progress.
- It has been shown in some studies that ADHD symptoms decreased as much as 78 percent while on a restricted diet.
How?
- It is no surprise that parents have a difficult time transitioning their children into a new diet, but studies show that after 10-12 consistent times of introducing a new food to a child, it sticks.
- With that being said, consistency is very important. Make sure you stick with your new diet.
- Plan, Plan, Plan! Take some time to plan out which foods you will add and which foods you will cut out. You want to make sure that your plan is something that you and your family will be able to continue for a long period of time.
- It is OK to start small. Slowly introducing new foods and slowly cutting out old foods can make the transition go a lot smoother.
- A useful tip to follow after you have made your diet plan is to rid your cabinets and fridge of anything that would interfere with your child’s diet. Yes, that means having the WHOLE family follow the diet plan makes it a lot easier on you and your child.
- A good rule of thumb is to stay on the outside aisles of the grocery store. That is where most of the good, nutritious food is.
What?
The Good | The Bad | The Ugly |
Whole Foods | Corn Syrup | Packaged Foods |
All natural chewable vitamins without artificial flavors or dyes | Corn Sugar | Fast Food |
Fatty Acid DHA that is found in fish | Luncheon Meats | Processed Food |
Rice | Artificial Sweeteners | Artificial Colors/Dyes |
Meats | Preservatives | Artificial Flavorings |
Vegetables |
| Sodas |
Pears |
| Sugar/Sweets |
Water |
|
|
Want More?
Your Child’s Diet: A Cause and a Cure of ADHD?
Healthy Child Non-Profit
www.healthychild.org
A Parent’s Guide to Diet, ADHD & Behavior
Center for Science in the Public Interest
www.cspinet.org/new/adhd_bklt.pdf
Diet and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Harvard Health Publications
www.health.harvard.edu
Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
www.chadd.org
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