Dietary Factors in ADHD

Many parents of children with ADHD wonder if there is anything they can do, in terms of their child’s diet and nutrition, to allay symptoms of ADHD. Although changes in diet are generally not, in themselves, sufficient for treating ADHD, researchers have identified several valid dietary changes that may be helpful for reducing hyperactivity and lack of concentration in Boston children who have ADHD. This includes avoiding artificial food dyes; supplementing zinc and magnesium intake; and adding Omega-3 supplementation, which may help boost attention and focus.

Artificial Dyes and ADHD

As early as the 1970s, a link between artificial dyes and preservatives and ADHD had been proposed. In later research in the late 2000s, research found evidence that in children with ADHD, certain food additives can exacerbate inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Although the evidence is inconclusive, it is perhaps wise to avoid artificial dyes in food for ADHD children in Boston. Although foregoing artificial dyes and preservatives will not cure ADHD, it may be a helpful adjunct in reducing symptoms.

Zinc and Magnesium for ADHD

In some studies, the populations studied were found to be mildly deficient in zinc or magnesium. Zinc is a micronutrient that plays a variety of roles in the human body, notably in the formation of many important enzymes, and in DNA and RNA processes. In the human brain, zinc can modulate brain excitability, playing a role in learning and associated neuron processes. Magnesium is another essential micronutrient; in the brain, it is a key component of some neurotransmitters. As with zinc, a few isolated studies have found mildly low magnesium levels in people with ADHD.

B Vitamins and ADHD

B vitamins are another supplement that may be somewhat helpful for people in Boston who have ADHD. B-complex vitamins are important in nervous system processes. Vitamin B6 is important for synthesizing neurotransmitters; in ADHD, as in many other psychological disorders, abnormalities in neurotransmission and neurotransmitter availability are an important physiological correlate. Although the evidence is largely anecdotal, B vitamins may be somewhat helpful for concentration and energy level regulation in people with ADHD in Boston.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids and ADHD

Omega-3 fatty acids are widely available in capsules of fish oil, which is a substance rich in this class of lipids. Some research has indicated lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids in people with ADHD, as well as some improvement of symptoms when omega-3 supplements are added to the diet. One omega-3 fatty acid, DHA, is a major component of neuronal plasma membranes, and serious DHA deficiency is associated with cognitive decline.

Sugar and ADHD in Boston: Popular Misconceptions

It would seem that limiting sugar for ADHD children in Boston would make sense. However, scientific research has found that much of the supposed relationship between sugar and hyperactivity is largely imagined. In one study, parents who were told (falsely) that their children had consumed a large amount of refined sugar, reported increased hyperactivity, inattention, and resistance to parental demands; those who were told their children had not ingested sucrose did not report these effects. This strongly suggests that the idea that sugar (sucrose) makes children “hyper” is largely unfounded. Although excessive amounts of refined sucrose are not particularly healthy, and should be kept within reasonable limits, sugar does not actually exacerbate the symptoms of ADHD.

Five Foods That Secretly Contain Caffeine

If you are the parent of a child with attention deficit disorder (ADD) in Foxboro, especially the hyperactive subtype of ADD, you’re probably careful not to give your child foods or drinks that contain caffeine. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant, and can sometimes exacerbate hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention in children with predominantly hyperactive ADHD. If you’re familiar with ADD and ADHD medications, this may surprise you. After all, the medicines that treat ADD and ADHD are also stimulants; however, unlike the methylphenidates and amphetamines used in ADHD drugs, caffeine doesn’t target the parts of the brain to have the same counterintuitive effect on hyperactive ADD symptoms.

Of course, you know that coffee, tea, and cola contain a significant amount of caffeine—often in combination with high levels of sugar that further contribute to your child “bouncing off the walls.” However, there are other products on the shelves of Foxboro grocery stores that secretly contain caffeine, although you might not realize that they do. These five foods actually contain caffeine, so you may want to choose other options for your ADD child to keep their energy levels in check. 

#1: Non-Cola Soft Drinks 

Most people in Foxboro are aware that colas like Coca-Cola and Pepsi contain a sizeable amount of caffeine. Not every soft drink contains caffeine; many lemon-lime sodas like Sprite and 7-up, as well as some grape and orange sodas, are caffeine-free. However, many other non-cola soft drinks do contain some amount of caffeine. You may want to avoid these or choose a caffeine-free version or alternative. Some of these sodas include:

·         Sunkist: 41 mg/12 oz

·         Dr. Pepper: 41 mg/12 oz

·         Barq’s Root Beer: 22.5 mg/12 oz

·         Mountain Dew: 54 mg/12 oz

·         Mello Yellow: 52.5 mg/12 oz.

Most soft drinks list the caffeine content on the can or bottle, so it always helps to check before letting your child drink it.  

#2: Chocolate 

Caffeine occurs naturally in cocoa beans, so most chocolate products contain some caffeine. The caffeine content varies from product to product, ranging from 9 or 10 mg in many products to as much as 31 mg in a bar of Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate. Dark chocolates tend to have more caffeine than milk chocolate. Most chocolate purchased in Foxboro doesn’t contain quite enough caffeine to present a real problem for children with ADHD, but you may still want to limit chocolate because of the high sugar content. 

#3: Chocolate or Coffee-Flavored Ice Cream 

Many ice creams that have chocolate, as well as those that are coffee-flavored, actually do contain some amount of caffeine.

#4: Pain Relievers 

You may be surprised that some over-the-counter pain relievers in Foxboro have caffeine in them, especially pain medicines designed for headache and migraine relief. You may associate caffeine with causing headaches rather than curing them, but caffeine can actually help increase the effectiveness of the active ingredients (usually an NSAID) for treating headaches, as well as helping the body absorb the medicine faster. Some over-the-counter pain medicines that have caffeine include:

·         Excedrin Migraine Relief: 61 mg

·         Aspirin-Free Excedrin: 65 mg

·         Bayer Select Maximum Strength Headache Relief: 65.4 mg

·         Goody’s Extra Strength Tablets: 16.25 mg

·         Goody’s Headache Powder: 32.5 mg

·         Midol Menstrual Maximum Strength Caplets: 60 mg 

#5: Energy Mints and Energy Gum 

This one is probably obvious, but watch out for products with “energy” in their name if you’re trying to avoid things that contain caffeine. There are several kinds of mints, gum, and even chocolate candies that have added caffeine. They can be potent, with some containing as much as 50 mg of caffeine in a single breath mint.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE FOR ADD IN FOXBORO