Learn what an ADHD diet is and whether it can help children.
What Is an ADHD Diet for Kids?
There is no scientifically specific ADHD diet.
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Instead, there are several ways to approach changing a child’s diet to better manage theirADHD symptoms.
The following are three general focuses, all of which can be used separately or in combination.
Elimination
An elimination diet is used to discern if a person has food sensitivities.
It involves cutting out most foods for a short period and then reintroducing them one by one.
Supplementation
It can be hard to get kids to eat highly nutritious food.
But it’s important to speak with their pediatrician first.
Most children get all the nutrients they need from their dieteven if they’re picky eaters.This can makedietary supplementsunnecessary.
Foods can also affect their behaviors through its impact on the gut-brain axis.
Other studies support using an elimination diet to reduce ADHD symptoms in children.
For this reason, it’s best to seek grass-fed, pasture-raised, organic products.
Plant-based proteins are another option.
While all carbohydrates help promote the release of serotonin, complex carbs are the best choice.
They are full of fiber because they are left in their natural (or close to natural) state.
That makes avoiding or at least limiting these foods helpful formanaging ADHD.
Instead, they create a spike and crash effectalso having this effect on blood sugar.
Caffeine
Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, many sodas, and energy drinks.
Yet, it may not have the desired effect.
For children, consuming too much caffeine can not only be dangerous but even potentially toxic.
Blue is another artificial food color (ACF) that can have adverse effects on ADHD symptoms in children.
Avoid any foods with additives and choose whole foods that have minimal ingredients, whenever possible.
This means choosing foods that have mostly (if not all) recognizable foods listed as the ingredients.
Examples include sodium benzoate and red dye #40.
Carrots dipped in hummus is another option that provides veggies and protein.
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