diet for adhd kids??? | ADHD Information
You might want to look into cow's milk. It's a common culprit for ADHD kids.my son's doctor had us do a high protein/low carb diet...easy to do and pratical to bootyeah i did read about the feingolds diet,i think i may start him on that -and see how he does-i already dont give him alot of those things so well see-thanks everyone
InaBox, this is exactly what I told my ex about our son. Why not try the diet change...it couldn't hurt. I'm trying to find any other alternative to putting him on meds (fish oil, magnesium). You need to remember that nutrition does not work instantly like meds. I took a full 3 months before I saw some change in my son. The dietary changes seemed to work faster. Within a week of giving up dairy, sugar, MSG, Red dye, and asparatame I saw a difference. It seems that many kids have a sensitivity to milk and dairy products. This is not like an allergy with hives etc or lactose intolerance with the gas and bloating. I do not get how it can make my kid hyper but I do not get the red dye thing either.
It seems to have something to do with the way they process food in the intestines. Something about fat processing, the body makes prosglandin 2 from milk and that is the one that leads to hardining of arteries and prevent the body form using the good omegas.
I read Dr Bob's guide to stop ADHD in 18 days and it explains it so I can sort of understand it. I was overwhelmed by his book but I keep refering back to it.
I wouldn't say milk is linked to ADHD. It's linked to food sensitivity. One who ingests a food source s/he's sensitive towards, s/he may display ADHD-like characteristics - particularly the hyperactive aspect of it.
There are a lot of things that triggers ADHD-like characteristics. It doesn't mean one has ADHD though. You have to do the leg work and find out what the root to the problem is before making the assumption that your child is ADHD. At least I did.
i have found that a change in diet doesn't really help me.Candyhound, maybe it's because you need to take a deeper look at the diet. For example, if your child has 6 different food sensitivities on his/her daily diet, then by removing 2-3 items from the list isn't going to show much of a marked improvement in behaviour. What if the child is more sensitive to the 4th or 5th item you've overlooked? Make sense? I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm just saying that often people assume diet has nothing to do with behaviour when in natural fact, they just haven't yet found the culprit(s). You'll need to do a process of ellimination in order to find these out.The website is:http://www.hairanalysisprogram.com
The lab she uses is:
www.doctorsdata.com.
It sucks if it is true that they are innacurate. Lots of people here in Las Vegas get or lose jobs based on hair analysis.
I have heard good things from a reliable source. In addition there is a lot of talk lately about aluminum toxicity.
Aluminum pans, cans, anitpersparant. I am having my beer in a bottle!!!!
I am familiar with a place that does the hair analysis tests, here in the states, but I just found this PubMed article. (!) I think this kind of test is valid, however, read the article......Kind of disheartening. Either way, you should be able to send in your sample and have it done on your own, cash basis out-of-pocket if you want to go that route. Just choose the lab wisely. It's an interesting method for many diagnostics.
calicorose38949.4875694444[QUOTE=candyhound21410]yeah for me. I've eliminated dairy, and i have always had sugar and caffeene
eliminated. I don't know what else there is to eliminate.[/QUOTE]
Ok. I thought you just said you've only elliminated dairy and caffeine. Do you know what salicylates are?
[QUOTE=BL Moretti]I have a couple of sites that do hair tests if anyone wants them or you can do a seach of your own.
[/QUOTE]
Here in Canada, I couldn't get these tests done. I asked and was told it's nearly impossible to get them done here. I was denied.
That stinks, Inabox..... were you denied by insurance or there are not places/labs who provide the service?I was told that unless I was living or working in an environment with extremely high toxic metals, I wouldn't qualify to have these tests done. It has nothing to do with insurance. I was told I could go to the states to have them done. lolI have a study of 10 causes of ADHD. Each should be researched and eliminated before you consider meds.1. Toxic metals (There is a hair test for this.)
2. Vitamin and mineral depletion. (Same hair test)
3. Foods that trigger behavior change. (I went to a naturopath if you believe in that)
4. Delayed food allergies. (Looking for a hair test for this one)
5. Hormonal imbalance. (The naturopath gave my son prolamine iodine for this)
6. Abnormal glucose tolerance levels. (Haven't even looked at this)
7. Traumatic childhood experience. (Two of my sons came from an orphanage in Siberia...They deserve their issues but we are working through them)
8. Head injury.
9.Dopamine receptor breakdown. (This would require meds)
10. Norepinephrine receptor breakdown. (This too)
This is a pretty good list but it dies not even mention the whole long chain fatty acid problem. (omegas)
I have a couple of sites that do hair tests if anyone wants them or you can do a seach of your own.
Artificial colouring; artificial flavouring; processed sugar substitutes; most anything processed; additives; preservatives .. to start.
Then you can go into the dairy (which you've done); salicylates (you'd be surprised); wheat products; corn products.. etc
oh ok . Thanks. I've tried all of that except for additaves. I'll have to try thattoo.Is this for you? What are all the things you've elliminated so far?yeah for me. I've eliminated dairy, and i have always had sugar and caffeene
eliminated. I don't know what else there is to eliminate.oh. my psyc told ,me to do that too. i guess i'll try. i've tried eleminateing
milk. and i can never eat much sugar because im diabetic. What else could i
eleminate?Can you explain how milk is linked to adhd? My son loves milk and neither the doctor nor the nutritionist has mentioned this to us. I'm just curious and would like to know more.
BL Moretti,
The hair tests for presence of certain drugs of abuse are not quantitative (cannot tell you how much is present, only IF it is present a bove a certain limit) and have been validated for how they are used. The area where hair tests are considered questionable are when they are used for testing quantities (how much) of something that is normally present in the body. The test have not been validated for this purpose so generally insurance (or other 3rd party payees) will not cover the costs.
Sorry i don't believe that a diet can change an adhd child. In my case my 8 year old got the gene. Let the kid eat what he wants as long as its within reason.[QUOTE=nerak]Sorry i don't believe that a diet can change an adhd child. In my case my 8 year old got the gene. Let the kid eat what he wants as long as its within reason.[/QUOTE]
Diet has nothing to do with ADHD. That's the misconception. But, a child who's eating foods that s/he's sensitive towards will often display ADHD-like characteristics but it doesn't mean that child has ADHD. I think you're confused in thinking that all children with ADHD have food allergies. If your child HAS been diagnosed with ADHD, it wouldn't hurt to see if diet may be a factor. It's helped many of those who have tried the process of ellimination diet in understanding the root of the problem or it's partial. What's there to lose? If your child doesn't have any food issues then at least it's been validated through your trial.
good explanation InaBox!hello i am a mother of a 4 year old adhd child and my daycare provider has just mentioned a special diet for kids to go on that will help them calm down...anyone else know about any special diet to be on.
eliminate red & blue food dyes, refined sugar, etc.The diet is called the Feingolds diet and has been around for at least 30 years. The diet is basically what z's mom stated above and the dyes are key.
This diet did not seem to effect my son at all..but all kids are different so you can give it a try if you like.
ITS JUST A FREAKIN DIET SODA!Get allergy testing each child here is different. Cornsyrup/ Yeast are biggys for our son. No Gbeans,NO Oats,NO peas,Peanut stuff either.Allergies for him. Allergie foods remember can effect any part of the internal system. Bascially a nervous sytem reaction which can lead to shock. Got this at the allergist office. You can find more info on the Alternatives to Meds section of this board... there more more diets other than Feingold. Welcome to the board.The foods that effect our son is cola orange fanta chocalate suger sweets boiled sweets any kind of jam jellied sweets rock, mainly crap that we dont eat or very little of.[QUOTE=shellylouck]And I feel like the bad parent because I feel llike I'm always yelling at my son, when his father says he's good for him.[/QUOTE]
Children always act out with those they feel safe around. He may be an angel at dad's but not because he's doing anything spectacular with him. Give it time. His dad will see his true colours eventually. Best of luck.
NOT GIVING DANIEL ALLERGIE FOODS AND VITAMINS ARE HELPING HIM. HE GET'S ST STILL. SO FAR HE IS GETTING 100 ON HIS WORK IN THE SE ROOM. THIS IS WITH MODIFICATIONS AND NO MEDACINE AT ALL. WE CAN'T STOP THE MODIFICATIONS UNTIL HIS LANGUAGE/READINGS LEVELS ARE UP TO AGE LEVEL.
[QUOTE=scotmama]i also read that salycitate(sorry forgot already how it is spelled)can be a trigger for hyperactivity.i was quite shocked that apples and grapes are high in them.i was so proud that he was eating so much of them instead of sweeties.i have been trying other fruits but this 2 are his favs.[/QUOTE]
Yellow apples are low in salicylates. Grapes are also found in vingerettes, ketchups and most condiments. Tomatoes are also high and so are peppers. If you use spices, careful with Indian spices. They are pretty high in salicylates as well.
i also read that salycitate(sorry forgot already how it is spelled)can be a trigger for hyperactivity.i was quite shocked that apples and grapes are high in them.i was so proud that he was eating so much of them instead of sweeties.i have been trying other fruits but this 2 are his favs.[QUOTE=nerak]Sorry i don't believe that a diet can change an adhd child. In my case my 8 year old got the gene. Let the kid eat what he wants as long as its within reason.[/QUOTE]
Sorry it's not your "belief" -- many of us have found significant differences -- along with other therapies (like supplementation that works much the same way meds do). My kid got the "gene" too but is definitely much more controlled by what he eats. Don't knock it 'til ya try it! 
Shelly, what does your ex think of the idea? Is he not supportive?
Moretti, I'm glad dietary changes has helped your son. Recently I've made the mistake of elliminating my son's restricted diet .. man, am I regretting it! For a while I was giving him trigger foods and his body was able to handle them no problem. I figured, great! maybe it's found a way of coping these 'toxins' .. afterall, I wasn't giving him junk food .. Now I'm starting to see the side-effects and in a bad way. Eeeek!
Hello everyone
I am new here. My son Kyle 4 1/2 was diagnosed with ADHD about 6 months ago. Even at very young it was noticable that his motor would run nonstop. He is a very loving boy, but very tempermental and explosive at times. I have had kyle on the Feingold diet for about 3 months and on VEGEPA for 2, and we have noticed some positive changes in him; however, I am quite worried about him starting 4k in the fall. He doesnt do very well with other children at the daycare - most days and does not like going ( i think because he gets in trouble most of the time). I am now trying to find additional alternatives to try along with the VEGEPA and the Feingold diet. Does anyone have any suggestions on a next step to try? Any information or suggestions will be greatly appreciated!! Has anyone tried the hair analysis program?
Check out the alternatives board. You'll get an idea of what we've been trying. I've never heard of VEGEPA but I know that many of us are using omega oils and/or magnesium. Good luck.I use the VegEPA as well, I have tried a couple of different high EPA suppliments. vegEPA is pure EPA and evening primrose oil. Kylesmama you might add magnesium, and zinc was helpful for my son with the explosiveness. I did do the hair test for minerals and metals. (My son is from an orphanage in Sibera located near a polluted river) We have some heavy metal issues. The results are overwhelming and the suggestions are mostly things I am already doing. There is an added suggestion of a digestive aid. Makes sense doesn't it? I need to re-read the suggestion and research the different types of aids. I mean if a child does not process dairy and sugar would a digestive aid help with that? kylesmama, the thread entitled Magnesium on the Alternatives section of this board might help answer some of your questions. Glad to have you here, welcome!InaBox, my ex is oblivious to our son having any problems. He doesn't see spending money on something that may not work. I wrote up a reply in my frustration thread. Noone wants to believe their child is not perfect, but he has a very closed mind about it. I send him information that I read, and I do tons or reading on this subject to keep from using medication for treatment. He says he reads it, but never gives me any input as to what he thinks we should try. It's like hitting a wall. And I feel like the bad parent because I feel llike I'm always yelling at my son, when his father says he's good for him.Thank you very much for the information. I will check out the mag and zinc and see if this is something that we can try also. Should I have him tested first for a magnesium deficiency first? Sorry, I obviously do not know much about this as I am just beginning the research. There just seems to be countless options, and it gets a little overwhelming with trying to make the right choice 
as everyone knows I am sure. I am also going to try taking away dairy for a few weeks and see if this helps at all. Crossing my fingers that we can just take the edge off a little bit 
. I am so thankful that I found this forum!!!