List of ADHD Diets

If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, you may be able to reduce or eliminate his symptoms using nutrition instead of medication. Several different diets recommended for ADHD might work for you--and they have some similar characteristics--but every child is different, so someone else's success story might not be yours. Trying one diet at a time, sticking to it and monitoring the results lets you know if your child is what he eats.

Organic and Non-Toxic Diet

According to David Perlmutter, M.D., world-renowned neurologist and author of "Raise a Smarter Child by Kindergarten: Build a Better Brain and Increase IQ up to 30 Points," feeding your child an organic diet avoids the "pesticides, additives, and toxins that impair concentration and increase hyperactivity" in some kids. He also recommends that children with ADHD avoid fish with high levels of mercury, such as king mackerel, shark and swordfish, because mercury is a toxin that affects our ability to concentrate.

Gluten-Free Diet

Dr. Perlmutter has also found that gluten sensitivity often goes hand-in-hand with ADHD. "If your child has gastrointestinal complaints or headaches, along with problems with learning or apparent ADHD," you should take your child to her doctor for a gluten sensitivity blood test, he advises in his book. If it comes back positive, avoid all foods that contain wheat, rye or barley and check all labels thoroughly, as gluten often sneaks in as an additive in foods such as processed meats and pre-grated cheese. If possible, only choose packaged foods that are labeled gluten-free.

Feingold Diet

The Feingold Diet was developed in the 1970s by pediatrician and allergist Benjamin Feingold, M.D. He found that many of his hyperactive patients were allergic to artificial colorings, flavorings and preservatives found in packaged foods, as well as the salicylic compounds found in aspirin and some berries. The Feingold Diet eliminates these additives from a child's diet but allows sugar and junk food in moderation. The Feingold Association, which bears the late doctor's name, claims a very high success rate with the diet, based on feedback it has received from members whose children are on it.

Carbohydrate/Protein Balanced Diet

It's a diet based on anecdotal benefits rather than those that have been studied or tested, but according to John M. Dye, N.D., some kids with ADHD respond well to a diet that's high in protein, low in refined carbohydrates and free of sugar. On this diet, you should limit your child's carb intake to complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, oats, brown rice and potatoes. Green vegetables and fresh fruits are also fine, and protein at every meal is encouraged.

Specific Carbohydrate Diet

The Specific Carbohydrate Diet, better known as SCD, was not actually developed to treat ADHD. It's meant to resolve gastrointestinal disorders such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and celiac disease. However, Elaine Gottschall, M.D., author of "Breaking the Vicious Cycle: Intestinal Health Through Diet" and the diet's creator, writes that following the SCD often results in an improvement in "autism spectrum disorders as well as some cases of epilepsy and attention deficit disorder (ADD)." On SCD, your child should avoid all sugars and starches--including all gluten-containing foods, other grains including rice, and starchy vegetables such as corn and potatoes. The only sweetener allowed is honey, and the only carbohydrates allowed are fruits--bananas must be very ripe--and non-starchy vegetables, such as greens. All pure proteins are allowed, such as eggs and non-processed meat, but dairy is limited to aged cheeses and homemade yogurt that have all lactose removed.