Diet for ADHD children

Many parents having children with ADHD disorder are always worried about the foods which will help their child’s condition improve. We are just attempting to get a little clear about what we know about ADHD and don’t know about the ADHD diet.

1. Do Supplements Help ADHD Symptoms? Facts vs. Myths

• a. What we generally hear and read

  Children suffering from ADHD have some vitamin deficiency or low minerals in their blood. Hence we tend to supplement the child with the vitamin which is deficient and hope that the ADHD symptoms will reduce.

• b. Fact

  The reality is that there is no scientific study showing that children with ADHD lack vitamins or minerals in their blood. A normal child without ADHD can also suffer from a vitamin or mineral deficiency. On supplementing the required vitamin or mineral, the deficiency can be compensated. If the same deficiency is found in a child ADHD then this child also can be supplemented but this is not state that the child’s ADHD symptoms will reduce or the child’s behaviour will improve.

• c. What you should do?

  Any supplement however natural it may be, it does not mean that it is safe. There may be some supplements which could reduce the efficacy of the prescribed medicine. The best solution to this worry is to consult your treating doctor and allow them to take care of the supplementations which need to be added to your child’s diet.

2. Should You Eliminate Sugar and Gluten for ADHD?

• a. What we generally hear and read

  Most parents with a child suffering from ADHD hear that the child’s hyperactivity increasing whenever they eat sugar or they could become more inattentive when they are fed with foods that contain gluten. The end result to these scary talks is that they eliminate sugar and gluten from their child’s diet without even asking their doctor.

• b. Fact

  There is no supporting evidence which could support that eliminating certain foods from your child’s diet will help to reduce the symptoms of ADHD. Infact, the kids with ADHD have shown to be allergic to certain foods. Whenever they eat these foods they may suffer from symptoms like getting anxious or feeling nauseates or feeling itchy all over the body. This could make them lose focus and it would be more difficult to control the emotional outburst.

• c. What should you do?

  Rather than eliminating sugars directly from your child’s diet, concentrate on foods which your child is allergic to. On identifying the foods which your child is allergic to, eliminate those foods from their diet. 

Too much of anything is not good. So even if your child is eating anything containing sugar, you must know what proportion should be served. Limiting sugar in their diet is not for the purpose of reducing the symptoms of ADHD but for preventing the risk of developing diabetes in their later life. It will also help to maintain your child’s weight.

3. Does an ADHD Diet Work? What Science Says

• a.What we generally hear and read

  A special diet formulated for ADHD child helps to reduce the symptoms of ADHD and also could lead to cure.

• b. Fact

  Again, there is very limited evidence to support that following a specific diet may help to improve the symptoms of ADHD. The reality is that an ADHD child suffering from allergy to certain foods shows marked improvement when the foods which cause allergy are removed from their diet.

• c. What should you do?

  A diet which is good for all kids is the diet which your child with ADHD should be following. A well balanced diet with all the nutrients, vitamins, proteins, omega-3 fatty acids and minerals is the most effective. Avoid processed and refined foods. So feed your child with lots of fruits and vegetables. Learn how to inculcate the vegetables or fruits which they dislike in their food by creating an interesting recipe. Whole grains would help to provide good amount of carbohydrates.

There are more things other than diet which you can try that may help your child improve like exercise and practicing mindfulness.

Foods That May Help ADHD Symptoms

• Protein-rich foods (eggs, lean meat, nuts) – Improve neurotransmitter function.
• Omega-3-rich foods (salmon, chia seeds, walnuts) – Aid brain development.
• Complex carbohydrates (whole grains, vegetables, legumes) – Provide steady energy levels.
• Iron & Zinc sources (spinach, beans, lean red meat) – Help with focus and impulse control.

Foods to Avoid or Limit

• Sugary snacks & sodas – Cause energy crashes.
• Highly processed foods – Contain artificial additives and preservatives.
• Excessive caffeine (colas, energy drinks) – May worsen restlessness.
• Allergy-triggering foods (dairy, gluten, soy, nuts) – If sensitivity exists.

Conclusion

A healthy diet alone won’t "cure" ADHD, but balanced nutrition, exercise, and mindfulness practices can significantly help. Parents should focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods and consult healthcare professionals before making drastic dietary changes.

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