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Nutrition as Attention Deficit
Disorder ADHD Alternative Treatment: Help is as Close as the Kitchen
By: Jeannine Virtue
The quality of food we eat (or lack thereof) has a profound affect on
Attention Deficit Disorder and ADHD. For many people, nutrition alone
can effectively work as an ADHD alternative treatment.
A growing body of research points to nutritional deficiencies -
especially with essential fatty acids and amino acids - as a
contributing factor of Attention Deficit Disorder and learning
deficiencies.
Put down the Ritalin bottle for one minute to consider these Attention
Deficit Disorder ADHD nutrition research findings;
_ A George Washington University School of Medicine study found that
hyperactive children who ate a meal high in protein did equally well,
and sometimes better, in school than non-hyperactive kids.
_ An Oxford University (England) study evaluated the effects of fatty
acid supplementation in average intelligence children with significant
reading and writing disabilities. The ADHD symptoms in children
receiving Essential Fatty Acids significantly improved over the children
in the control group receiving a placebo.
_ Researchers first tied Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD with lower
essential fatty acid in 1981. Studies examining essential fatty acid
blood levels in children with behavioral problems in 1983 confirmed this
Attention Deficit Disorder nutrition connection.
_ Researchers further documented the essential fatty acid deficiency tie
to Attention Deficit Disorder in a 1987 study. Then, a 1995 study
comparing essential fatty acid levels in ADHD boys against a control
group of boys without ADHD found significantly lower levels of Omega-3
fatty acids.
_ In 1996 Purdue University researchers have found that boys with low
blood levels of Omega-3 fatty acids have a greater frequency of
Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD.
Attention Deficit Disorder is the most common behavioral disorder in
children. Not all Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD children are
nutritionally deficient in essential fatty acids, statistics and studies
show that a significant number of ADHD children are.
Physicians predominately use stimulant drugs such as Ritalin for
Attention Deficit Disorder but studies show that Attention Deficit
Disorder ADHD children whose treatment program includes only stimulant
medication remain at a high risk for vandalism, petty crime, frequency
of alcoholic intoxication, and possession of marijuana. Additionally,
ADHD medications do not always work, have a host of harmful side effects
and never treat the cause the Attention Deficit Disorder.
With Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD, nutrition and food is one the
first aspect of treatment to consider, as an ADHD alternative treatment
or used in conjunction with traditional ADHD stimulant drug treatment.
Fatty acids are used to make brain and nerve tissue in the body and are
crucial for proper growth, mental function, the immune system and brain
development. The body cannot produce the two fatty acids families,
Omega-3 and Omega-6, on its own and therefore must receive these key
Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD nutrition ingredients through diet and
supplementation.
Although the typical Western diet is high in the Omega-6 family of fatty
acids (found in corn, sunflower, canola and safflower oil, margarine,
vegetable oil and shortening), most Americans young and old are highly
deficient in Omega-3.
Learning specialists now believe many childhood behavior and learning
problems are associated with Omega-3 deficiencies. This deficiency has a
greater impact on males because their requirements for essential fatty
acids are, in general, much higher. It is no surprise that boys are
diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder at a much higher rate than
girls.
ADHD adults and parents of ADHD children should include food high in
Omega-3 fatty acids daily. That said, many children simply will not eat
the Omega-3 rich salmon, mackerel and sardines.
Enter flax seed and flax oil - “food of the gods” when it comes to
Omega-3 fatty acids.
Flax seed and flax oil are the richest plant source of Omega-3 fatty
acids and offers Attention Deficit Disorder nutrition vital to support
healthy childhood behavioral and IQ development. One to two tablespoons
of flax oil should be part of a every Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD
nutrition food action plan.
In addition to the positive affects on brain functioning, flax oil also
works to prevent heart disease and certain types of cancer. Flax oil
helps soften skin, balance energy, burn fat, stimulate the metabolism,
strengthen the immune system, manage diabetes, help prevent autoimmune
disease and inflammatory disorders. Flax oil also helps alleviate PMS
and some menopause symptoms.
Here are some great ways to sneak flax oil into the daily diet;
_ Mix 1 tablespoon of flax oil in flavored yogurt.
_ 1 tablespoon of flax oil in fruit smoothies is virtually undetectable.
_ Mix 1 tablespoon of flax oil with one tablespoon maple syrup or honey
as a sweetener instead of granulated sugar.
_ Use 1-2 tablespoons of flax oil when making tuna salad or egg salad
while proportionably decreasing the amount of Miracle Whip or mayonnaise
used.
_ Flax Butter: Melt one stick organic butter and mix with 4 ounces flax
oil when cooled to room temperature. Refrigerate until the flax butter
solidifies and use in place of margarine.
_ Omega-3 “Ice Cream”: Mix 2 cups yogurt with 1 tablespoon flax oil and
fresh or frozen fruit. Serve when frozen.
Most studies conducted on the affects of essential fatty acids found
that at least 10 weeks of supplementation is needed to adequately raised
fatty acid levels in brain cells. Follow a diet high in Omega-3 fatty
acids for at least 10 weeks, and preferably 12 weeks, before judging the
effectiveness of nutrition on Attention Deficit Disorder and ADHD
symptoms.
Important points about flax oil:
_ Flax oil is highly perishable and should be kept refrigerated at all
time.
_ Heat destroys the health-giving flax oil properties. Use flax oil only
with cold foods, cold proteins are best.
_ When buying flax oil, use only high quality, cold-pressed flax oil.
The date pressed and a freshness date of four months or less from the
pressed date should be on the label. If not, don’t buy it!
_ Do not use flax seed oil beyond its expiration date since the oil will
turn rancid.
Essential fatty acids are not the only element needed when addressing
Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD nutrition. Amino acids, from which
protein is made, are an integral element since amino acids and essential
fatty acids are both needed to work in the body. Therefore, adding
quality protein is a key in Attention Deficit Disorder nutrition.
Attention Deficit and hyperactive people can greatly reduce the level of
unfocused or misdirected energy simply by starting the day with a
protein based breakfast. A solid protein breakfast can increase
concentration, reduce restlessness and increase mental and physical
calm.
Instead of starting the day with sugared cereals, pancakes covered in
syrup, sweet rolls, doughnuts or danishes, try these brain-boosting
breakfast ideas;
_ Scrambled eggs, toast and fruit.
_ Whole wheat toast with peanut butter.
_ Fruit and yogurt smoothie with flax oil.
_ Protein shake.
_ Bacon and eggs with toast and milk.
_ Egg and sausage patty on English muffin.
_ Yogurt mixed with a tablespoon of flax oil.
Bio:
Jeannine Virtue is a freelance journalist and mother of an
Attention Deficit son. To find more information about Attention Deficit Disorder
and natural alternatives, go to the Attention Deficit Disorder Help Center at
http://www.add-adhd-help-center.com.
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