Nutrition Advice-5 Year Old with ADHD

I have used the MannaTech children's vitamins - mannabears and glycobears for my neice with ADHD and seen her attention span increase and she gets in trouble less. It has also be successful for my friends 8yr - his behavior in class changed and the weeks he took them. . it made a big difference.
She called me in a panic because the week he ran out of vitamins. his class scores went down. I love the adult vitamins for me. . make me calmer .. cause I have mild ADHD also. .and spent years learning to overcome it.
Which I have for the most part. . IF you want to try some or talk to my friend who is the expert. . feel free to email me at ____@____.com

You should get your doctor's or a Registered Dietician's advice on the vitamins. Do not add supplements based on the internet.

I can suggest the following as it worked for friends of mine:

Greatly reduce sugar! Especially high fructose corn syrup.
Get that out of the house and don't buy products with it. A RD I know believes high fructose corn syrup is the key cause in the high diagnoses of diabetes and ADHD in kids today.

No blue, red or purple food dyes! If it doesn't grow that color naturally, kids should not be eating the all those green, blue, purple cookies, cereal and crackers. ick!

Hormone free milk, cheese and meat. The hormones added to this nations cows are unregulated and not checked by anyone. Yes, it's more expensive, but just buy less. When we switched from reg. to hormone free milk, we all cut out the milk at lunch and for snacks and substituted water instead at those times. Milk over cereal in the morning and with dinner. That's all kids need.

No soda. Lemonade or OJ for a pick me up. No soda.

Good luck.

My husband and 7 year old son are both ADHD. When my husband was a kid, his mom removed all artificial colors, flavors and preservatives from his diet. It didn't radically change his personality, but it DID take the edge off the hyperactivity, impulsivity and aggressive frustration enough that he was easier to live with. As an adult, he still can't eat that stuff in large quantities without acting really annoying. Our 3 kids have had an all natural diet from day one, because I wasn't willing to take the chance that one of them would have a similar reaction to foods.

Good nutrition is important for everyone. If you also have ADHD (or other medical issues), then good nutrition is essential. Go all natural first: no artificial dyes, no chemical preservatives (like BHT or BHA), no high fructose corn syrup. If you can afford organic, it's the next step. If you can't, look online at lists of which foods have the most pesticides and avoid those. Wash veggies and fruits with a natural vegetable wash, and peel anything you can peel to get the chemicals off. Supplement Omega-3s by adding ground flax seed meal to baked goods and oatmeal, or add flax oil to smoothies. My kids won't take the omega 3 supplement vitamins because of the taste, but periodically I buy another brand just to see if I've finally found one they'll eat.
Lots of exercise is important, because it revs up the front part of your brain where you concentrate.
Non-toxic household cleaners: start with white vinegar and borax and you can pretty much clean anything. There are good guides online. You can save money by making this switch, because vinegar and borax are much cheaper than most cleaners.
The diet changes can really help, but remember that there are no magic bullets. You will have to work hard to find the combination of things that help your child be more successful.

We also do QEEG guided neurotherapy, and my son goes to Shelton School where classes are very small and all the teachers understand how to help manage the ADHD.

Good luck,
S.
SAHM of 3

Hi. My husband truly has ADHD and is off the charts - so we knew that there would be a really good chance that our kids would develop it. We've done a lot of research and we control the amount of medication that my husband has to take by diet and exercise. Being outside and exercising EVERY SINGLE DAY is incredibly important for someone with ADHD.

Some of the new research is showing that with diet changes, some cognitive behavior therapy and the right school environment; children with ADHD can completely outgrow this. Their brains just need a few extra years to develop in those areas.

Both of my children started showing signs of ADHD a few years ago. We started them on the Feingold diet - which has helped tremendously. The Feingold diet is essentially what people have already told you. Cut all the processed food from their diet. Avoid all food dyes and food preservatives. And artificial salicylates. The Feingold diet eliminates all of these and the naturally occurring salicylates. You reintroduce the naturally occurring salicylates one by one to see how the children react.

I also give them a good quality cod liver oil. This gives them the Omega 3s and a little extra Vitamin D in their diet.

Also - did your pediatrician diagnose him or did you take him to a psychiatrist?

Hi Rachel,
Looks like you have received some good nutritional advice. I would just add not to have any junk food like from MacDonalds.
I am a wellness educator and can guide you to some great supplements if you are interested. I agree that you should avoid supplements from the stores. Lots of them have contaminants that can make ADHD worse. Make sure you look at the research on the products you are going to use. If it says something like "studies show..." they don't have any research on their actual product. Look for peer-reviewed published research.
Victoria

Diet DOES make a difference. Read up on "excitotoxins." ALSO, my daughter was also ADHD and we eventually connected with an optometrist who specialized in Vision Therapy. THAT made the biggest difference. She could see just fine, but she had a convergence problem that prevented her from getting meaning from what she was seeing. Her attention span was so bad, she wouldn't watch a commercial on TV. Afterward, she was a normal 1st grader.

There was a post last week about some parents that give their yr old DHA Junior by Nordic Naturals. I just wonder if they give it to thier boys in the morning before school or at night. Does anyone know which would be better? It was to help them concentrate better.
Thanks

Rachel,

The posts that you have already gotten have some absolutely great advice. The best thing to do is start with each change slowly as to not add too much stress to the budget (love the borax and vinegar post!) and too much stress to his change in diet.
As a chiropractor, I have seen many children in my practice with ADD/ADHD and have had success in helping them achieve balance. I use a combination of specific supplements, cold laser therapy (Erchonia cold laser with the neurological settings and detox for heavy metals settings), brain balancing exercises to be done at home and the most important, upper cervical specific chiropractic adjustments. These adjustments are very gentle, and do not involve and twisting or torquing of the neck or body. I will refer you to a couple of websites/studies that involve my this technique so you can research yourself.
Medication isn't the only thing that can stimulate the dopamine in the brain. Long term outcomes with medication is now showing that many children after long-term use of ADD/ADHD meds are being diagnosed later in life with serotinin deficiency which is a depression and bi-polar diagnosis. This is due to the constant dopamine influx which causes an imbalance in the area. I've seen it over and over.
Just the home exercises I give increase the dopamine in the brain, naturally. It's science and how the brain functions. I hope to be able to help you. If you have any further questions or would like a complimentary consultation in my office, please call me at ###-###-#### or email me at ____@____.com are is the research and technique information:
www.upcspine.com
http://icpa4kids.org/finder.html?q=ADD/ADHD

God Bless,

Dr. Jenn

I would read the articles in ADDitude magazine for a realistic look at diet change in children with ADHD. Diet change can help, but since it doesn't target the dopamine deficiencies in the brain (the source of ADHD) it's not a cure-all. We have found medication to make a tremendous, life-changing difference because it targets the dopamine levels.

Sugar has nothing to do with ADHD. You don't want to give your kids too much, obviously, but ADHD is a condition involving the brain and too much sugar doesn't cause the hyperactivity.

Again, I would check out the magazine I mentioned (www.additudemag.com) or resources through CHADD for neutral, realistic medical advice on diet with children with ADHD.

Good luck!

There's a great doctor in Dallas who can help you: Dr. Maryann Block. She wrtote a book called "No More Ritalin."

A diet rich in fresh, raw fruits and vegetables has been shown to help with ADD/ADHD. Eating whole foods is much more effective than any vitamin. If your son is a bit picky in that department, as so many are, there is an awesome product on the market that puts 15 of them plus 2 whole grains into a delicious gummy treat. I love it so much, and it made such a difference for my family, that I went into business for myself to make this product available to other moms.

Here's the website to learn more: www.GoodHealthMadeSimple.com

Enter the code MAMA10 on the 1st line of the address field for any products ordered this month and you will receive a 10% rebate from me. You can earn even more if you decide to to into business yourself. Do you know 5-10 other moms whose kids don't eat enough fruits and veggies?

I think you are very wise to approach your son's challenge holisitically, rather than depending on drugs. Good luck to you and let me know if I can help you find other resources as well. Nutrition is my passion and I love sharing what I know with other moms. If you would like to receive my FREE monthly nutrition newsletter, you can sign up here: www.tinyurl.com/gummiegazette

Blessings to you and your family,

M.

I just sent this info to another mom requesting info about natural solutions for ADD/ADHD...I hope this will be helpful to you R..

I will tell you my children do not suffer with ADD/ADHD but I know several children that do. The info I will share with you comes from a couple of sources: my experience working for a wellness company, feedback from a few friends who have children afflicted with ADD/ADHD, and just a general pursuit of knowledge for anything safe or natural other than the "norm" (modern medicine).

As for the dietary modifications, clinical studies have shown there is a link to dietary factors especially with simple sugar cravings and intolerance to sugar. Several studies show a link to essential fatty acid deficiencies within the brain (i.e. Omega 3's). Reducing fried foods, cooked and rancid oils (french fries, potato chips, etc.) sugar (especially artificial sweeteners like Sweet N Low or Splenda) and food colorings have been shown to reduce reactions and behavioral changes. Also avoid carbonated drinks. The phosphate additives may be the cause of hyperkinesias, or exaggerated muscle activity. The phosphorous in sodas may also leech calcium and magnesium from the body creating a deficiency, which can create hyperactivity and in severe cases, seizures. Meat and fat are also high in phosphorous.

As for personal environment modifications, this list could go on and on. Clinical studies have also shown a link to environmental factors. Household cleaners and personal care products are a huge source of dangerous chemicals and toxins and synthetics are also something to consider. Getting these items out of the house is essential since they release toxins and chemical vapors into the air even while sitting under a sink...this is called out-gassing. While one person may not appear to be particularly sensitive to the chemicals, another person can have a completely different and bad reaction to them. Replacing them with truly natural, chemical and toxin free products is the key.

I haven't heard of the Focus Factor vitamins you mentioned, however, you are on the right track by providing him with a GOOD multi vitamin. I stress the word good because the major-named vitamins available at every store are unfortunately not much but junk. Often times they are only 20% soluble in our bodies so money spent on these literally goes down the toilet. The vitamins we use in my house are up to 85% soluble and have a patented complex to guarantee their absorbability. They are awesome.

We also have a grape seed extract supplement which will reduce free radical activity and help reduce sensitivities to allergies. It has been observed that people taking our grape seed extract on a regular basis noticed an improvement in concentration, mental focus, sleep and moods and showed just as much improvement as those who were on stimulant drugs.

I know this was a lot of information so I hope I didn't overload you! If you are interested, I would be more than happy to share the names of these products and where we get them...I didn't want to seem like I was pushing them on you. I hope this helps...I think it's awesome you are looking for alternative ways to be pro-active about your son. I really wish more parents were pro-active with themselves and their children rather than reactive with what I call the "microwave fix"...prescribing prescription drugs to cover up the issue because they don't have the patience or want to invest the time in solving it. Feel free to contact me anytime at ____@____.com luck! :)

Changing diet is not usually cheep but I try my best to take out red, blue and yellow food colorings. Watch the lables and if he gets sugar make sure its balanced well with protines. I also put my son on fish oil supplements they have made a big difference as long as he gets them everyday. I have had to adjust his dose just like you would if it was actual script meds..

Good luck and God bless!!!!!!!!!!!!1

I just checked out "The Unhealthy Truth: how our food is making us sick and what we can do about it" by Robyn O'Brien. I requested it from the Dallas Public Library a while ago, but just got it, so it seems to be popular at the moment.

My daughter does not have ADHD, but she has food allergies, asthma, juvenile arthritis and possibly inflammatory bowel disease (she's in the midst of testing for that). My daughter has a pretty healthy diet for a child her age (loves fruits, vegetables; hates fries, ketchup, fast food)., but she still gets some processed foods so I want to modify her diet to see if it makes any difference to her health.

Here's the book description from Amazon.com
Robyn O’Brien is not the most likely candidate for an antiestablishment crusade. A Houston native from a conservative family, this MBA and married mother of four was not someone who gave much thought to misguided government agencies and chemicals in our food--until the day her youngest daughter had a violent allergic reaction to eggs, and everything changed. The Unhealthy Truth is both the story of how one brave woman chose to take on the system and a call to action that shows how each of us can do our part and keep our own families safe.

O’Brien turns to accredited research conducted in Europe that confirms the toxicity of America’s food supply, and traces the relationship between Big Food and Big Money that has ensured that the United States is one of the only developed countries in the world to allow hidden toxins in our food--toxins that can be blamed for the alarming recent increases in allergies, ADHD, cancer, and asthma among our children. Featuring recipes and an action plan for weaning your family off dangerous chemicals one step at a time, The Unhealthy Truth is a must-read for every parent--and for every concerned citizen--in America today.

My friend kids were diagonised with ADHD/ADD and Autism with a great nutritional supplements both kids are doing well. I can have her share and answer any question you may have. Let me know if interested and best way to contact you.

A.

Hi Rachel,

I want to add to Susan's good advice. Avoid ALL processed foods. Anything that has more than a few ingredients listed or has things that you can't identify has been processed. That includes ALL fast food and most restaurant foods. These synthetic chemicals contraindicate and will cause behavioral changes just like having your child on the wrong meds. I also put my daughter on Omega 3s and an absorbable multivitamin. There is only one on the market that is guaranteed and I use it.

I also did a total detox of my house; that helped me the most. My Lydia was my cleaning buddy and even though I diluted down the Windex, etc for her to use, I was still exposing her to neuro-toxins that no one should have to deal with. Chlorine bleach, Lysol, Pledge, and their generic counterparts all mess with the neurological system by being absorbed through the air, the skin and even being ingested if you use a dishwasher and a chlorine based dishwasher detergent. I threw everything away and started over. Not only did the doctor remover her ADHD diagnosis but she has become quite a student and a poised young lady.

Detoxing has actually saved me money because I found better products at a cheaper price. It is also a simple process and will help everyone else in the house as well. Nobody in our home gets sick anymore.

God bless,

M.