Mental health is closely related to bodily health, which is influenced largely by dietary habits, according to Dr. Elson Haas's book, ''Staying Healthy with Nutrition.'' The food that is consumed is the fuel on which the body runs. Generally, people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, should eat clean whole foods while eliminating as many unnatural additives and allergens as possible from their diets. Haas explains that ADHD is often diagnosed in children who have poor diets and food sensitivities that have been ignored.
Food Allergens
Haas notes that ADHD is commonly associated with children who are allergic to wheat, corn, milk and eggs, and sometimes gluten and gluten-containing grains, such as rye, oats, and barley. Ingesting allergenic foods can produce hyperactive behaviors, cause emotional problems and even affect neurological processes. If the body is consistently exposed to allergenic foods, the digestive system is in a constant state of allergic reaction, which affects normal assimilation of nutrients. These nutrients are needed for every normal bodily process, including brain function and proper digestion.
Sugar and Processed Foods
According to Haas, sugar robs the body of enzymes, vitamins and minerals and increases hyperactivity by preventing blood sugar levels from being stable. When sugar is consumed, it produces a ''sugar rush'' or spike in blood sugar levels, followed by a ''sugar crash'' -- a rapid decrease in blood sugar level. This resulting crash contributes to feelings of restlessness, a lack of concentration and irritability. The Feingold diet is designed to prevent or reduce symptoms of ADHD. Followers of this diet avoid soft drinks, sugars and processed foods. Refined or simple carbohydrates also are prohibited, because they break down into sugars in the digestive system, resulting in the same high and crash as from eating sugar.
Food Additives
Processed foods can increase symptoms of ADHD. Beta-carbolines found in processed foods can lead to conflicting messages in the brain with regard to metabolizing serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. Child psychiatrist Dr. John Huxahl, with the Mayo Clinic, cites food coloring additives that may contribute to ADHD symptoms: sodium benzoate, Yellow Dye No. 6, Yellow Dye No. 10, Yellow Dye No. 5 and Red Dye No.40.
Mercury Toxicity
Mercury warnings for children begin when they are in their mothers' wombs. High levels of mercury in the diet affect normal brain development and function as well as memory, and concentration. Nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury, but as a rule, the bigger the fish the higher the mercury content. Those to avoid include tuna, swordfish and shark.
Hydrogenated Fats
According to Food for the Brain, hydrogenated fats inhibit healthy nerve function. Fats that are hard or thick at room temperature contain saturated and trans fats. These "bad fats" interfere with the naturally fluid state of brain cells and prevent normal brain function. Healthy fats that should be included in the diet are liquid at room temperature and include organic cold-pressed oils from flax or olives, and contain polyunsaturated fats that improve brain function and support nerve cell health.
Caffeine
Caffeine accelerates symptoms of ADHD, because it pulls minerals out of the bones, leaving the body deficient. A deficiency of vitamins and minerals, such as thiamin, niacin, potassium, magnesium and zinc, is associated with poor brain and nerve function. Caffeine can be "hiding" in chocolate, tea, soft drinks and candies.
References
- ''Staying Healthy with Nutrition: The Complete Guide to Diet and Nutritional Medicine''; Dr. Elson M. Haas; 2006
- Food for the Brain: ADHD/Hyperactivity
- Health Castle: The Best Diet for Kids with ADHD
- Methods of Healing: Which Foods Could Cause ADHD
- Mayo Clinic: Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children
- Feingold Diet for ADHD
