Attention-deficit disorder, or ADD, can be a challenging and life-changing diagnosis for parents and children alike. Medication and behavior therapy are the most common methods of treatment, but some studies suggest that changes to a child's diet can improve ADD symptoms. Check with your doctor to find the best approach for your family.
Food Additives
According to Michael Jacobson and David Schardt from the Center for Science in the Public Interest, several studies show that artificial food additives and preservatives can result in increased hyperactivity in children with ADD. In the mid-1970s, Dr. Benjamin Feingold first researched this connection, and his approach has since been supported in repeated studies. On the Feingold Diet, which eliminates artificial colorings, flavorings and sweeteners and the preservatives BHA, BHT and TBHQ, 30 percent to 50 percent of children showed decreased hyperactivity. According to Dr. John Huxsahl from the Mayo Clinic, food additives that might increase hyperactive behavior are sodium benzoate, FD&C Yellow No. 6, D&C Yellow No. 10, FD&C Yellow No. 5 and FD&C Red No. 40.
Salicylates
Dr. Feingold also found that natural chemicals called salicylates could trigger ADD in some kids. Many foods contain salicylates, including apples, oranges, berries, cherries, cucumbers, pickles, grapes, raisins, peaches, plums, tea and tomatoes.
Gluten
According to Dr. Ron Hoggan, doctor of education, many children with ADD also suffer from gluten sensitivity or celiac disease, a disorder that causes the immune system to destroy the small intestine when gluten is consumed, resulting in malnutrition. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. People with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease experience abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation or general irritability, which can exacerbate ADD symptoms. Therefore, some parents find it beneficial to eliminate gluten from the diet of children with ADD.
Sugar
Many parents believe that sugar causes hyperactivity in all children, not just those with ADD, but this is not necessarily true. Jacobson and Schardt report that studies indicate that sugars might affect a small number of children, but not nearly as many as previously thought. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, "sugar consumption has not been shown to cause or enhance ADD-related behavior."
Other Foods
In 1985, Joseph Egger, a London physician, studied the effects of diet on children with profound hyperactivity, placing these kids on a severely restricted "few foods diet," which eliminated dyes, milk, chocolate, citrus fruit, wheat, eggs and any foods with tartrazine or benzoic acid. Eighty-two percent appeared to behave better on the modified diet. Jacobson and Schardt report that wheat, eggs, milk, chocolate, corn and soybeans adversely affect the behavior of some kids with ADD.
Suggestions
Rather than attempting to eliminate many foods at once, Jacobson and Schardt recommend cutting out one food at a time for a week and tracking your child's behavior in a journal. If your child seems to improve after eliminating one food, reintroduce it and see what happens. But don't rely on a single incident. You need repeated results to know for sure if a food is triggering your child's ADD. The Food and Drug Administration requires that FD&C No. 5 be clearly labeled on food packaging, but many food additives don't require labeling. Brightly colored processed foods usually contain at least one coloring additive, so try to avoid them. Neither Trader Joe's nor Whole Foods Market carry any foods with these additives. Always consult your doctor before putting your child on a restricted diet. Eliminating some foods can result in a lack of nutrients, so make sure that you include them in other sources.
References
- Center for Science in the Public Interest; Diet, ADHD, and Behavior; Michael jacobson and David Schardt
- MayoClinic.com; ADHD Diet: Do Food Additives Cause Hyperactivity?; Dr. John Huxsahl
- Celiac.com; Memory/Learning: Eating to Learn: How Grains Impact on Our Ability to Focus, Comprehend, Remember, Predict, and Survive; Dr. Ron Hoggan
- American Academy of Pediatrics; Your Child's Diet: A Cause and a Cure of ADHD?; August 2010
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse; Celiac Disease
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