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My son has adhd and I have heard the things he eats could help or make it worse. What foods things can help him and what can hurt?

2007-07-08 08:40:35 · 12 answers · asked by whata waste 7 in Health Mental Health

12 answers

I have ADHD, im 25 now.

Unless he is a person that is sensitive to caffeine, food should not matter, including sugar. Keep in mind sugar is glucose and is found in most foods you eat daily, from your bread, to your cereal to your milk, its unavoidable and does not create 'hyperactivity' but rather is a potent fuel for your cellular body to function, that does NOT translate to impulsive energy per say!

ADHD is a mechanisms of how an ADHD brain works, its different then a 'normal' persons, and this is just the reality, its not dictated or controlled by foods. Drugs is another thing, their are many prescription drugs out their which alter the way an ADHD brain works and artificially 'syncs' it with how normal brain function works, this has mixed results for different people and at different times of their life.

I took several ADHD medications at a young age, but hated it. Now at 25 I still don't love it, but I take it on days with long dedicated working periods of 6 hours straight or more, and it helps me maintain the focus I need at a normal job or during college level 4 hour lecture classes.

The most important thing is being correctly diagnosed with ADHD. The spectrum of behavior for people with ADHD is very very wide, and their is much more acute and also subtle affects of it. Some forms of autism are closely related to the way an ADHD person behaves, and sometimes you can't tell them from anyone else. Being certain of a correct diagnosis, from talking an testing with several properly trained SPECIALIST in ADHD, not just doctors, is vital.

NOTE: Organic or non-organic makes ZERO difference in how an ADHD person will be affected by sugar, it is ALL broken down in the body in exactly the same way. The only note here is 'High fructose corn syrup', is something diabetics should be especially aware of.

2007-07-08 08:48:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Based on what you inform, sure, sounds very similar to ADHD. Caffeine has been identified to calm ADHD. So, it could now not have the identical final result on you as others could feel. "Normal" men and women drink espresso to get a pep of vigor, however it has a opposite final result on a character with ADHD. Might desire to learn a ebook referred to as "Adventures in Fast Forward." It's now not a thick ebook, however could have a few matters in there. There also are such a lot of different best books at the matter. Check the Table of Contents to look what sounds intriguing. The ebook I instructed probably too historical for a sixteen 12 months historical.

2016-09-05 19:30:55 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0 0

According to people who have tested, some foods can cause more problems with ADHD. They are not certain why, but some people believe it has something to do with the condition of the gut. (Look up "leaky gut"). Another theory is a problem with "candida", but both of these things may be one in the same. Most people who are proponents of the food theory may loosly call it, "food allergies". Whatever you call it, many people with ADHD will react to certain foods. The foods may vary with the person, but sugar is one of the biggies. Another food that may cause behavioral problems is anything with peanuts or peanut base foods. Why any foods cause problems is uncertain, but if you look up the leaky gut syndrome, you will find that if the intestines are not functioning properly, some foods are not digested properly, or may even enter the bloodstream only partially digested. The partially digested food "proteins" are believed to be the "culprits" in some ADHD sufferers, as they enter the bloodstream in a state that they were not meant to exhist, causing problems in the brain chemistry. In my personal experience, the foods that caused problems with a family member were: sugar, milk, wheat, tomatoes, orange juice or oranges, and especially peanuts or peanut butter. This is quite a list, and that is where we stopped in our tests. Limiting sugar inhibited the activity to a point. Totally eliminating any peanut product including anything with peanut oils in it seemed to make a large impact on the negative behaviors. Orange juice and tomatoes seemed to cause irritability. I suppose this all could have been our "imaginations", but if you are going to try something, you may look into these for a start. I think your best bet, however, would be to find books that discuss this. I just recently saw one in the health food store. There is one called, "Allergies and the Hyperactive Child", by Dr. Doris Rapp, but it is used and only available on used booksites. Look online with searches and key words, too. This will take some true investigation on your part. If you choose to do a "food elimination diet," you may find some symptoms to temporarily become exagerated as the body reacts to the withdrawel of the foods. You may need to go to an allergist who will do "intradermal food allergy testing", and your ability to read and investigate will be your best way to find out what is going to work or not work for your son. I do believe this makes a difference. Some people may think it is "hogwash". Each to his own opinion.

2007-07-08 17:20:59 · answer #3 · answered by PR 7 · 0 0

Im ADHD myself. Anything with sugar is deffinitally going to trigger it. Something that is important to know is that organic sugar absorbs into the body slower than regular sugar. If you start making things with organic sugar, it will give his body more time to digest it instead of it going right into the bloodstream. Avoid things with high fructose cornsyrup, because this is also a sugar. Sucrose, glycose, sucralose, fructose, these are all sugar.
Your best bet is to try to feed him only natural or organic foods because these mostly contain the organic sugar or naturally have sugar in them. Fruits naturally have sugar in them.
Its a big change, but it really does help. Im in college, and I needed meds all through high school to get me through. Now Ive changed my diet and no longer need the meds!.

2007-07-08 08:48:46 · answer #4 · answered by hev_72388 3 · 1 0

Well, sugar is a key tihng in many foods and cereals that cause cause more intense spells of energy. Vegitibals and things like that are good and naturally have not additives such as sugar. Also Soft drink, contain Caffine witch also acts the same way as sugar.

2007-07-08 08:44:19 · answer #5 · answered by Nate 2 · 0 0

I'm not going to give you a list of al the pros and cons but what I can tell you from experience is that sugar is the biggest culprit. Give him sugar in his tea and on his cereal, but no sweets, fizzy drinks, etc. Caffeine is the other big one, so by no means give him Coke or anything like it. Our son used to go totally ballistic after having Coke. I'm thinking of you. These kids are a handful.

2007-07-08 08:44:24 · answer #6 · answered by CelesteMoone 5 · 0 0

I have never heard this, and as someone with AD/HD, I have never experienced any food affecting me; except for caffeine and high levels of sugar. Check with your doctor or pharmacists if you have concerns.

2007-07-08 09:21:13 · answer #7 · answered by ஜSnazzlefrazzஜ 5 · 0 0

depends on the child...try experimenting with him making food diary and see what makes him hyper (some kids gets hyper on natural orange juice)

2007-07-08 08:42:57 · answer #8 · answered by HopeH 4 · 0 0

Sorry never heard anything like that,im not sure where your getting your information from..

2007-07-08 08:43:41 · answer #9 · answered by ER Doctor 4 · 0 0

i know one that goes bananas when he eats potatoes each on is different i think

2007-07-08 08:43:13 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

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