ADHD and Nutrition, How Important is It?

ADHD and nutrition are undoubtedly linked. The rise in ADHD, to a stage whereby today 5% of children are diagnosed as having ADHD and this doesn't include all the children who are presenting ADHD symptoms, is at the highest level ever. It coincides with the levels of nutritional value dropping in our food. For many years now, it has been understood that a healthy mind and a healthy body require a healthy diet but sadly, government guidelines do not go far enough.

Recommendations of 5 servings of fruit and vegetables a day do little to address the nutritional needs of children. Most food has been picked before it has ripened, grown in mineral deficient soil, sprayed over and over again with chemical cocktails, pumped full with preservatives and stored in cold storage for 6 months, all before it reaches the supermarket shelf. This will achieve very little in providing an essential nutritional programme for the children today who represent the future of our planet.

Many parents feel that the situation is going to be resolved, if they go out and buy a vitamin supplement. However the market is fraught with pitfalls and many of the cheaper range products available are made synthetically and have an equal abundance of chemical colourings, sweeteners and additives and will do very little to address the imbalance, often making the situation worse.

As a Holistic therapist, educationalist and educational advisor, I completed a research programme 10 years ago with astonishing evidence of how effective good nutrition can be for most behavioural disorders like ADHD. The basic programme used in this research was high quality nutritional supplements. This means that they were food based, organic, additive free, and had a minimum content of the active ingredients in every bottle.

It consisted of a vitamin and mineral supplement to address dietary deficiency through poor food processing. A vegetable based protein supplement for concentration and healthy development, Flax seed Oil with essential fatty acids to help the brain and nervous system. As well as anti oxidants to combat all the accumulated toxic additives over the years. In 3 months we were able to see a measurable turn round in behaviours in 86% of cases.

This is a very powerful piece of research to support the effect of good nutrition on ADHD.

ADHD and Nutrition, How Important is It?

ADHD and nutrition are undoubtedly linked. The rise in ADHD, to a stage whereby today 5% of children are diagnosed as having ADHD and this doesn't include all the children who are presenting ADHD symptoms, is at the highest level ever. It coincides with the levels of nutritional value dropping in our food. For many years now, it has been understood that a healthy mind and a healthy body require a healthy diet but sadly, government guidelines do not go far enough.

Recommendations of 5 servings of fruit and vegetables a day do little to address the nutritional needs of children. Most food has been picked before it has ripened, grown in mineral deficient soil, sprayed over and over again with chemical cocktails, pumped full with preservatives and stored in cold storage for 6 months, all before it reaches the supermarket shelf. This will achieve very little in providing an essential nutritional programme for the children today who represent the future of our planet.

Many parents feel that the situation is going to be resolved, if they go out and buy a vitamin supplement. However the market is fraught with pitfalls and many of the cheaper range products available are made synthetically and have an equal abundance of chemical colourings, sweeteners and additives and will do very little to address the imbalance, often making the situation worse.

As a Holistic therapist, educationalist and educational advisor, I completed a research programme 10 years ago with astonishing evidence of how effective good nutrition can be for most behavioural disorders like ADHD. The basic programme used in this research was high quality nutritional supplements. This means that they were food based, organic, additive free, and had a minimum content of the active ingredients in every bottle.

It consisted of a vitamin and mineral supplement to address dietary deficiency through poor food processing. A vegetable based protein supplement for concentration and healthy development, Flax seed Oil with essential fatty acids to help the brain and nervous system. As well as anti oxidants to combat all the accumulated toxic additives over the years. In 3 months we were able to see a measurable turn round in behaviours in 86% of cases.

This is a very powerful piece of research to support the effect of good nutrition on ADHD.

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Remedy ADHD - ADHD Nutrition & Nutritional Deficiencies

There are a number of researchers today that have identified ADHD nutrition and nutritional deficiencies in children. By correcting these deficiencies there has sometimes been an almost immediate improvement in mental function.

Some important minerals that are lacking are iron, copper, calcium, magnesium and zinc. The last three are called "sedative minerals" and if your child has a high salt intake these mineral levels will be dramatically reduced leading to hyperactive symptoms.

Calcium and magnesium can also be reduced when too much phosphorous is present, and these are mainly found in soda pops and red meat. Zinc is another mineral that is often depleted which plays an important role in preventing the nervous system from over reacting to stress. Most refined foods today are low in zinc and as stress depletes the zinc stores, this deficiency is very common in the Western world.

Lacking in iron can cause a decreased attention span, decreased persistence and involuntary activity. By adding an iron supplement the ability to concentrate increases and decreases fatigue and mood swings.

Some nutritional deficiencies can be due to an inability to properly digest food than a lack of certain nutrients in the diet. By eating raw foods the body's natural enzymes has no problems digesting where cooked foods in contrast do not contain any active enzymes because heat destroys them. Best answer - eat more raw food!

Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are another important component for children suffering from ADHD as these essential fatty acids promote brain health and help with learning problems. These are found in fish, particularly fatty fish such as tuna, salmon and vegetable oils like flaxseed oil. The two essential fatty acids are Omega-3 (alpha-linolenic acid) and the Omega-6 fatty acid (linoleic acid). These fatty acids are not made by the body and need to be either eaten or obtained via supplementation.

By incorporating a healthy nutritional diet and including more fruits and vegetables, the majority of ADHD children will find that their overall health improves, their energy levels become more stable, they focus better and are less inclined to throw tantrums, meaning a happier home environment and less stressful and over anxious parents.