diet and adhd | ADHD Information

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Thank you for all you input!  I do believe a healthy diet goes hand in hand as well, but there are so many foods out there with artificial colors and preservatives!  I am going to do my best to keep those foods out of the house!

I do believe that a good diet should go hand in hand with the meds, not replace it.  It is so hard to control once they walk out that door and go to school, friend's house, camp or anywhere! So we have no candy in the house, no soda, no junk food at all, then at least the exposure is limited. 

One trick I learned from a therapist, add a jar or two of baby food to tomato sauce to increase the natual vitamins in your childs food.  I do this when making spaghetti (or any italian dish) and homemade pizza. 

Hi,

That definitely helps! Thanks

ji'm 13, and i'm never hungry when i'm on meds, so i'm a bit underweight fo rmy age. i'm only 96 pounds, but i eat so much when i'm off, and this has been going on since i started taking concerta when i was, i think 5, but even when i'm on it, i always manage to eat pizza. that might help

I DID try them all with my ds, who is now 23 (I'm now raising HIS ADHS son...lol).  The diet never helped anything with him.  I tried no sugar, no refined anything, tried cutting out the colorings, just about everything.  Even put him on an elimination diet with me to see if we could find some reactive foods, but we never did finish that one...lol.  I tried the supplements as well - vit E, and even one of the homeopathic meds that was really highly recommended at that time, but nothing helped even a little bit.  The only thing that worked with ds was Ritlin, and it was a godsend, believe me!!  There IS evidence, however, that they do help some children. 

Personally, I am more of a proponent of alternative treatments rather than the homeopathic or diet.  (Although I do believe a balanced and healthy diet is especially important for these children) IOW, how we handle the children....how we teach them and how we train them.  They are highly intelligent and do not fit in the realms of what is considered "normal" behavior and especially classroom behavior. 

Countrygalmom40014.2622453704

We do the Feingold Program and it has helped a great deal with hyperactivity.  Feel free to pm me if you would like more info.

Kim

Thank you for all your responses!  My son is on Vyvanse 30 mg and that really has been the most successful thing so far.  I do try to minimize the artificial colors and preservatives but I also want to make sure he eats enough.  He is very stubborn and would rather go without than eat something he doesn't like.


[QUOTE=Countrygalmom]

I DID try them all with my ds, who is now 23 (I'm now raising HIS ADHS son...lol).  The diet never helped anything with him.  I tried no sugar, no refined anything, tried cutting out the colorings, just about everything.  Even put him on an elimination diet with me to see if we could find some reactive foods, but we never did finish that one...lol.  I tried the supplements as well - vit E, and even one of the homeopathic meds that was really highly recommended at that time, but nothing helped even a little bit.  The only thing that worked with ds was Ritlin, and it was a godsend, believe me!!  There IS evidence, however, that they do help some children. 

Personally, I am more of a proponent of alternative treatments rather than the homeopathic or diet.  (Although I do believe a balanced and healthy diet is especially important for these children) IOW, how we handle the children....how we teach them and how we train them.  They are highly intelligent and do not fit in the realms of what is considered "normal" behavior and especially classroom behavior. 

Very well said Countrygalmom

 

Yes, like Corrina said, check the "Alternative and Complementary Meds" forum here on this message board. I think some people have some success with diet changes and it is worth checking into, but there is also a ton of misleading information out there on the web, especially from people trying to make a quick $.

My daughter takes some supplements (omega 3 fish oil and an amino acid called phosphatidyl serine) that I believe help her. We also TRY to eat a reasonably healthy diet and minimize junk.

I do think it is worth looking into whether or not your child is on medication.
My son is 7 and has been on medication for a year now.  I know that it is helping him and I see such a dramatic difference from when he is off vs. on the medication.   I keep going back in forth in my mind though, are we doing the right thing for him.  I don't want there to be any problems in the long run. 

I recently googled diet and adhd and it came up with so many websites!  I was wondering if anyone has tried diet modification and if they had any results. 

My plan is to keep him on the meds because when he is off them he makes me absolutely CRAZY!  But I was just wondering.....

Thanks!
JM
Check the alternative forum. I haven't - our diet plan is getting as many
calories as possible in my son so he won't lose weight!