ADHD - Does Nutrition Play a Factor?

Relatively unknown just two decades agodrugs.
(although discussion of the disorder has occurredDiet after weaning
in medical circles for over half a century)The symptoms of ADHD tend to show up during
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorderthe preschool years, and they can be aggravated
awareness is critical in the lives of those whoby certain type of diets. Many children are
make a career out of working with children.ingesting too much sugar and caffeine in their
Teachers, child psychologists, counsellors, anddiets today in the form of "easy" and junk food,
others are all given at least some exposure toand of course these ingredients will cause a
the symptoms and solutions of the disorder.reaction of hyperactivity in children without the
The people most affected by ADHD, of course,disorder. The reaction is far greater in children
are the children with the disorder and theirwith ADHD.
parents. An ADHD diagnosis is the first stepThe Feingold Program is a diet which has not been
towards the general improvement of many areaspositively proven to alleviate ADHD symptoms by
in the lives of someone with this condition, andscience, but has been upheld both by doctors and
many people wonder just what role diet plays asparents who work with ADHD afflicted children.
far as ADHD.This diet essentially takes out any unnatural food
Before we get into some specific areas, it isproducts in a nutrition regime, including artificial
important to note that scientific research hascoloring and sweeteners, flavours, and
never positively linked any diet to the directpreservatives.
causes or symptoms of ADHD. Most of the workADHD is largely a disorder whose origins are not
in this area remains theoretical.fully known. The nutrition of the ADHD positive
Diet of the pregnant motherchild is important, but has not yet proven to be
The first area where nutrition may come into playlinked to the actual development of the condition.
as far as the development of ADHD is when theStill, watching the nutrition a child with ADHD
fetus is in the womb. The probable links to ADHDtakes in may mean that the symptoms of the
development here include the usual suspects suchdisorder are not as acute.
as caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and other types of