According to 2007 information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 50 million children in the United States have received a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, representing 8 percent of children 3 to 17 years of age. No specific pattern of eating causes the lack of attention or impulsivity that characterize this disorder, but there are some specific ways of eating that may help some children minimize their symptoms and increase functionality.
Omega-3
Omega-3 fatty acids are an essential nutrient for the optimal function of nerve cells and the formation of neurotransmitters -- the chemicals that carry messages around the brain, creating thoughts and emotions. They are found in large quantity in walnuts, flax seed, avocado, olive oil, salmon and tuna. Researchers in France and Israel examined what happens when children whose diets are deficient in these foods are given 250 mg supplements of omega-3 each day. Their findings, published in the May 2008 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" demonstrated that adding omega-3 helped children with visual attentiveness, a skill essential for silent sustained reading though. However, it had no effect on the children's impulsivity. The children studied by this research consortium were 8 to 13 years of age and as such,; it is possible that with earlier inclusion of omega-3-rich foods, beginning during fetal life and continuing throughout infancy, toddlerhood and the preschool years, even impulsivity could be averted. A study funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health and reported at the 64th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society in Denver found a positive correlation between eating omega-3 rich foods and lower levels of impulsivity in adults and, in their essay "The Structure of Temperament from Infancy through Adolescence," Drs. Samuel Putham, Lesa Ellis and Mary Rothbart concluded that the personality trait of impulsivity is evidenced in the first two years of life. This makes a prenatal diet rich in omega-3, breastfeeding and feeding toddlers fish and other foods with omega-3, sensible steps parents can take toward the goal of preventing impulsivity in their children.
Meals that Fight Food Allergies and Migraine
Whereas sugar, food coloring, preservatives and artificial favors have been proven not to effect the incidence or severity of ADHD, the Canadian Pediatric Society's Psychological Committee has found that a personal or family history of asthma, food allergies and migraine headaches is correlated with ADHD. Each of these issues may be managed, at least partially, by food choices. This committee lists milk, nuts, fish, wheat and soy as the allergies associated with ADHD symptoms. Parents can eliminate these from family meals, one at a time, for 21 days to determine if a positive change in behavior is noted.
Migraine headaches, which can begin at any age, are often triggered by food reactions to aged cheeses and red wines. The Canadian Committee found that a family history of migraines is correlated with ADHD, so eliminating these, easy-to-avoid foods, from a child's diet is prudent when ADHD symptoms are seen. On the other hand, anti-inflammatory foods such as berries, cherries, salmon, tuna, walnuts and chocolate may decrease the incidence of migraine headaches and therefore, of ADHD.
Correcting Magnesium and Zinc Deficiencies
When a child's diet is deficient in magnesium or zinc, there is a higher chance of ADHD symptoms, according to the Canadian Pediatric Society Committee. Though supplementing these elements beyond the recommended daily allowance is not associated with symptom improvement, it is easy to correct any deficiencies by simply adding foods such as oatmeal, peas, beans, garbanzo beans, spinach, kale and okra, which contain both zinc and magnesium, to daily meals.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: FASTSTATS, ADHD
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Correlation Between Changes in blood Fatty Acid Composition and Visual Sustained aAtention Performance in Children with Inattention: Nachum Vaisman, Ph.D. et al; May 2008
- Canadian Pediatric Society, Psychological Society: The use of alternative therapies in treating children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: 2002, reveised 2009
- "The Structure of Temperment from Infancy through Adolescence: Samuel Putham, Ph.D. et al
