Ever since a few decades ago, researches have suspected that nutrition has a lot to do with ADD/ADHD. Now that this fact has been accepted, medical professionals, nutritionist as well as individuals diagnosed with ADD are still misinterpreting this connection.
The Studies
There have been more than a thousand studies carried to find the link between nutrition and most have been carried out by prestigious learning institutions and medical facilities. Findings of these studies have been published. Here are a few of them:
Study conducted by Jennifer Dani, Courtney Burrill, and Barbara Demmig-Adams, titled "The remarkable role of nutrition in learning and behavior" has found that:
"The result of this analysis is that nutrition has potent effects on brain function. It is concluded that protein, iron, iodine, and the consumption of breakfast all impact on a child's learning capability and behaviour. Moreover, recent research has identified additional, potent roles of micronutrients, such as essential fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins, in the prevention of learning and behavioural disorders. Among the latter, this review focuses particularly on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder."
Mental Health: Not All in the Mind-Really a Matter of Cellular Biochemistry, by Chris D. Meletis and Jason Barker.
A study done by D.W. Schab. Schab and his colleagues have concluded that children's behavior improved when AFC's was no longer in their diet. This study entitled Artificial Food Coloring Promotes Hyperactivity' was published in The Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics.
A study by C M Carter, M Urbanowicz, R Hemsley, L Mantilla, S Strobel, P J Graham, and E Taylor called Effects of a few food diet in attention deficit disorder' found that a child's diet are important factors that can lead to behavior disorders. In this study, 76% of children had improved conditions after undergoing elimination diet.
More studies have further justified the huge role foods and additives play in forming attention deficit hyperactive disorder in children. M. Boris and F.S. Mandel, in their study found that "a beneficial effect of eliminating reactive foods and artificial colors in children with ADHD. Dietary factors may play a significant role in the etiology of the majority of children with ADHD."
The Results
Although the above studies are a mere fraction of the available documented research into nutrition and ADD/ADHD, each has found a connection between such nutritional factors as food additives, fatty acids, vitamin and mineral deficiencies and ADD/ADHD. Each study has studied subjects as they participate in elimination diets, nutritional supplementation, and behavioral observations and self-reporting. The studies were conducted using a variety of subjects. Although, because of funding requirements, the majority studies were conducted using young children (young children are the most sought-after focus of ADD/ADHD studies since the majority of new ADD/ADHD diagnoses are children), many studies were conducted using adolescents and adults.
Institutions that have contributed to this body of knowledge are Harvard University, Cornell University, Cornell Medical Center, Oxford University, etc. Therefore, the credibility are baked by their renowned reputation.
All of the studies carried the same theme in findings. They have scientifically proved that once the nutritional deficiency or food additive causing the sensitivity, allergy, or toxic reaction were removed from the diet, participants experience improvement in their behavior. They have also developed increased in reading ability, motor coordination, and IQ, prior to having poor attention ability and concentration. These improvements are as a result of these individuals was able to focus and stay on task.
What does all these point to?
These findings shows that ADD/ADHD can be treated without medicinal interventions. However, we might need more than these studies to change the views of a large portion of the medical community. Therefore, we as individuals should take the challenge of learning more about alternative treatment of ADD/ADHD. This means that it is possible for those suffering from ADD/ADHD to live their life normally without depending on medications.
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As a leading practitioner in the field of treating attention deficit disorder , Jimmy Brownen has had man years of experience in the treatment of such disorders. For more information on adderall or vyvanse, please visit his site today.
this was a well written article that makes sense to me. my son has ADD to whatever degree, and this is good information to have. thanks for sharing, and i hope you continue writing,
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