For sufferers of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, the condition can be a frustrating and challenging disorder. Sixty-five percent of children with ADHD have behavioral disorders, while 25 percent have learning difficulties. Consequently, those affected and their custodians often look to diet to explain and treat the condition, as currently, no exact cause is known for ADHD. Sugar, food coloring, gluten and fat-deficiency are often pointed to as reasons for ADHD, but study in the area has yet to confirm those suspicions.
Prenatal Nutrition
Poor nutrition in pregnancy could contribute to a child developing ADHD. However, other harmful substances are more likely to impact on the child's health. These substances include alcohol, drugs and nicotine.
Nutrition in ADHD Sufferers
Several substances without nutritive value are suspected by parents to cause or worsen ADHD symptoms. Sugar and the sugar substitute aspartame are held in high suspicion by many adult sufferers and parents and guardians of child sufferers of ADHD. However, while popular, the suspicions seem to be unfounded. In fact, the suspected link may just be imagined by parents. A group of children with ADHD were given aspartame, but the parents of the children were told that only half the children had been given the sweetener. The parents who were told that their children had been given aspartame reported that the children were more hyperactive.
Additives, artificial colors and flavors are also suspected by some to cause or worsen ADHD. There may be some credence to these claims. Removing these substances from an ADHD sufferer's diet could be between one third to one half as effective as using Ritalin.
Nutritious Food Dangers
Eating well, while always useful, could actually have an impact on ADHD sufferers. Fruits and vegetables covered in pesticides could increase a child's chance of developing ADHD. High levels of organophosphate pesticides, which are usually found on celery and berries and other fruit and vegetables, when found in high levels in the urine were found more in children with developmental disorders. However, don't swear off produce just yet -- proper washing of fruit and veg and buying organic produce can help you to avoid consuming pesticides.
Related Disorders
Gluten, found in wheat, is anecdotally considered to be another substance that stimulates ADHD symptoms. This may be because gluten intolerances and ADHD are often confused. Because of the digestive problems that gluten can cause in those allergic to it, which can cause mood swings and irritability, sufferers often think that they have cured ADHD by eliminating gluten from their diet. If this happens, it is probable that the sufferer was misdiagnosed with ADHD, when really he had a gluten intolerance. If you have been diagnosed with ADHD, speak to you doctor about being tested for celiac disease.
