Diet Treatments for ADHD

There are several thoughts on treating ADHD with diet therapy. Some parents have reported success by modifying their child's diet, while others haven't been as fortunate. The medical community is still unsure of whether diet has any relation to ADHD. One proven dietary supplement that can be used in any type of modification is the addition of magnesium, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Although it is important to discuss any changes with your child's pediatrician, studies have shown that adding magnesium to the diet can reduce ADHD symptoms.

High Protein, Complex Carbohydrates

This is a healthy diet. Like other ADHD diet treatments, there is little consensus among the medical community over whether it is effective, according to the Mayo Clinic. The diet is healthy, and whether it improves ADHD symptoms or not, it certainly won't harm the child. It is also relatively easy to modify this diet for the entire family, which simplifies meal preparation. This diet eliminates sugar and artificial sweeteners. High protein sources include fish, beans, lentils and low-fat dairy products. Some examples of complex carbohydrates are legumes, starchy vegetables and whole-grain breads and cereals.

The Feingold Diet

Dr. Ben F. Feingold developed this diet in the 1970s as a treatment for learning disabilities. It is an extremely strict diet (see Resources), and many people will have trouble following it, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. There is little scientific proof that the diet will help treat ADHD, but many parents advocate it. It eliminates artificial colors and preservatives from the child's diet as well as naturally occurring compounds known as salicylates. Salicylates are in many fruits and vegetables.

The Elimination Diet

In this diet, the child keeps a food diet for several weeks (see Resources). The parent and child work together to determine what foods may be causing a problem and begin removing them from the diet one at a time. Alternately, reduce the diet to a few well-tolerated foods. The child then adds one food at a time back into the diet. This is a common way to test for food allergies, and some people have reported success in treating ADHD by eliminating certain foods the child may have been sensitive to.