Atkins diet and ADD - | ADHD Information

I read a book that a diet of higher protein and less carb, not no carb is better for ADHD.  I have read so many books on the topic that I cannot remember which book I saw this in.  I even did a test on my 5 year old for breakfast i gave her eggs or yogurt and she was calmer at the bus stop before going to school.  On the days she ate french toast sticks or pancakes with syrup she was dancing around and all over the place at the corner. [QUOTE=Jillette]I read a book that a diet of higher protein and less carb, not no carb is better for ADHD.  I have read so many books on the topic that I cannot remember which book I saw this in.  I even did a test on my 5 year old for breakfast i gave her eggs or yogurt and she was calmer at the bus stop before going to school.  On the days she ate french toast sticks or pancakes with syrup she was dancing around and all over the place at the corner.[/QUOTE]

A "no carb" diet is not safe for anyone, period. The body needs at least some, including of course fiber, which IS classed as a carbohydrate even though it does not affect blood sugar levels, like other carbs do. Fruits, vegetables, and dairy are all carbs as well as pasta, bread, and potatoes. They are just better choice carbs. Many people believe Atkins is all meat and no veggies. So not the case!!!
bcgirl197838489.6780555556

It is interesting that you say you have had better functioning. I have always read that you need good carbs for the best brain function. I think a well balanced diet in general is best for everyone. It could possibly be that the shock to your system has your brain in overdrive. So, I am interested in whether this continues for you once your body has adjusted.

By the way, I am still trying to lose the last 10 lbs. from my pregnancy. My daughter is now 18 mths. old. I really had to change my eating habits after her birth. I don't take my size for granted the way I did before. We are trying to conceive again, so I really want to get back down before I start going back up. Hopefully, I won't gain 50 again. I have noticed a cruel joke nature seems to play. The smaller you start out, the more weight you gain. At least, that is what my friends and I have concluded. Good Luck!

Please don't misunderstand me- I would never consider Atkins for my kids but I would consider cutting out sugar and refined carbs if it helped their ADHD symptoms.

When I say I am interested in a diet for ADHD kids- I don't mean a weight loss diet, I mean a plan or regimen. 

I also went to the parents of ADHD kids board to see if anyone has had success with a no sugar diet for their kids.

KidsInSpace38489.7873148148KidsinSpace, I know you weren't looking for a weight loss diet for your kids, that's not what I meant! I was just stating for the benefit of anyone else reading that the weight-loss phases of Atkins shouldn't be used for healthy-weight kids.

Basilio, yes, everyone needs carbohydrates. You do need them for energy and certain body processes. You also get loads of vitamins and nutrients from carb-containing foods that meat doesn't have. Humans are omnivores, which means we need both protein AND carbs. That's why "no-carb" diets are not healthy, for anyone.

                   I would suggest you approach the Atkins' diet as being the general approach and forget the Atkins' name.  Most Americans in the old days had more protein in their diet when I used to study health in the early 80s and that flipped in the 1990s somehow, because of how the fastfood industry and corporations took over the public airwaves and reached more people and life-styles changed.

                   A high protein diet is generally good, but it also depends on the protein.  Not all proteins are equal.  It depends on your genetic make-up.  No one I know with ADHD would have trouble with meat.  However, dairy products might be a problem for some including some ADHD types who can be prone to getting candida (leaking gut).... You also need Carbohydrates otherwise you will become tired.   You just need to find quality carbs.  I consume usually only the finest carbs like for example often I will buy either non-Wheat breads from health stores or the sprouted Biblical style wheat which is full of enzymes and is benign in comparison to most wheat products.  Many carbs that we consume in our fastfood world convert quickly to a form of sugar which is not good for an ADHD type mind in general...

                   Many people with ADD following something called the FEINGOLD diet.  I am not an expert on that.  But it has to do with some of the things I mentioned above.  Also, you definitely need fat in your diet.  Especially, Omega 3 oils derived from Fish Oils.  I use the brand Smart Oils, but that is my preference.  I like the combination of oils.  Carlson is another brand that is more popular but I just preferred the  Omega combination of the former.... Basically, certain supplements are important along with the nutrition...

 

 

I just heard about a magazine article that tested a whole bunch of diets out there. Apparently, the Atkin's diet ranked the very lowest and was deemed extremely unhealthy and dangerous. Weight Watcher's ranked number one and Slim Fast number two. They concluded that these diets were the healthiest way to lose weight. and had the greatest success for keeping lbs. off long term.

I am sorry, but I can't remember where it was written. It came out this week, so look for it. Something along the lines of Newsweek or Time. Not sure.

The Feingold diet -  It also has been known to prevent seizures in some people with severe seizing conditions. I know a child who benefitted tremendously from it for seizing.  I didn't realize this is what some were using for ADHD.

By the way- I agree Atkins is extreme and not healthy but I am at the end of my tether with this extra weight.  Also,- I do eat carbs- I eat 3 cups of salad each day and 1 cup of broccoli.  After the initial stage I should be able to add some more veggies and a bit of fruit.  In addition I eat a bunch of meat and a small amount of cheese.  Truthfully- I am probably eating more vegs now than before I went on Atkins.

[QUOTE=KidsInSpace]By the way- I agree Atkins is extreme and not healthy but I am at the end of my tether with this extra weight.  Also,- I do eat carbs- I eat 3 cups of salad each day and 1 cup of broccoli.  After the initial stage I should be able to add some more veggies and a bit of fruit.  In addition I eat a bunch of meat and a small amount of cheese.  Truthfully- I am probably eating more vegs now than before I went on Atkins. [/QUOTE]

Why do you believe Atkins is extreme and not healthy? I'm confused. I personally believe Atkins is one of the healthiest ways a person can eat. Our bodies are designed for it. People who have been on low-fat diets for years and still gaining weight suddenly found they were losing weight by increasing their fat and decreasing bad carbs. And as you said, you feel you are eating more veggies now than you ever were - I felt the same way when I was doing it! LOL.

Again, for the benefit of anyone reading, people don't realize that as you progress through the phases of Atkins, your fat and protein decreases while your carb intake ratio goes up. As you add the carbs, you should be easing off on the meat and cheese. During the first phase, your calories from fat seem startling at 60-70% of your diet, but by the time you reach maintenance, you should be down to no more than 30-40%, at most.

Feingold diet to hard to keep it tried it.

Highprotein,no refined carbs more complex ones. A DR . I listened to said this.This was at a Sensory workshop I went to.

Why do you believe Atkins is extreme and not healthy? I'm confused. I personally believe Atkins is one of the healthiest ways a person can eat.

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I will never be convinced that restricting fruit and veggies and having a steak and sausage free for all is healthy.  Are you confused why I am doing if I think it is unhealthy?  Just to lose weight.  After my extra pounds are gone
I plan on maintaining my weight with portion control and excersise.

I really think the maintenance phase of Atkins looks perfectly fine.  But induction is sick with all the fat.

 

KidsInSpace38491.4630092593 I know there is a lot of fat involved in the Induction phase, but it only lasts two weeks, and besides, the whole plan is based on the idea that fat is not the enemy, sugar is. And besides, it is NOT a "steak and sausage free for all". The idea is to eat until you are full, not stuffed. If you ate steak and veggies until you were full, you would end up eating a healthy portion of the steak. The book even says that meat by-products such as sausage, hotdogs, and bacon should be limited due to their high sodium and nitrate contents.

I can't tell you what to do, but I can almost gurantee that if you stop Atkins in favour of portion control and exercise, you will almost certainly gain at least a few pounds back. Atkins is not meant to be a quick or temporary fix. If you are already planning on not sticking with it, then you should opt for portion control and exercise now.

A month or so ago, I decided to try Atkins again. Less than 3 days in I remembered how bored I was on the plan, and decided I wouldn't even bother. I decided on a new mantra for myself - everything in moderation. So far I have lost about 3.5 lbs. It is slow going, but I know this is something I can stick with for the rest of my life.

Just my two cents.
bcgirl197838491.4908912037

[QUOTE=bcgirl1978]  I decided on a new mantra for myself - everything in moderation. So far I have lost about 3.5 lbs. It is slow going, but I know this is something I can stick with for the rest of my life.

Just my two cents.
[/QUOTE]

I agree with this philosophy. "Diet" in my brain gets converted into denial. Personally I believe in a healthy plan for life. This is what my wife and I do. We dont count calories, we just educated ourselves as to whats good and whats not good for us and we keep to that. But if I want to have something fatning or "unhealthy" well I just have it.

So far my wife has lost over 50lbs in about 9 months.

 

Tinker38491.5341898148My daughter does eat carbs I just do not let her overdue it.  I did say it does not mean no carbs. 

bcgirl- I am not really trying to discuss the merits of Atkins- just looking to see if people have seen an effect after cutting out sugar refined carbs. 

 

 

KidsInSpace38496.4715972222[QUOTE=KidsInSpace]bcgirl- I am not really trying to discuss the merits of Atkins- just looking to see if people have seen an effect after cutting out sugar refined carbs. [/QUOTE]

Sorry.  I have a tendency to get rather defensive about things I believe in.
I did the Atkins diet for precisely 1 full year. I started in August of '03 and stopped in Aug of '04.

I loved it, it made me feel better internally (less *ahem* gas and bloating and stuff), and I had lost about 14 lbs in the first 3 months. However, I don't recall how it affected my ADD symptoms because I didn't know I had ADD at the time, so I wasn't paying attention (so to speak).

However, I took a 2-week trip in August, and ended up going completely off the wagon. I was astounded at how much I had missed the things I gave up. I am very sad to say that I never did manage to go back. Unfortunately, my lost 14 lbs also managed to find me again.

I believe Atkins is a fantastic plan - when done properly of course (please tell me you have read the book or at least visited Atkins.com? Soooo many people do it based on only what they've heard in the media). It's just very difficult (but not impossible), to stick to long term.

I've read, even on the Atkins site I believe, that kids of a healthy weight should not do the weight-loss phases of Atkins. But they are perfectly okay to adhere to the maintenance phase - which of course includes meats, veggies, fruits/berries in whole form (NOT juice), whole grains, wild rice, and even the occasional slice of birthday cake.

I am an adult with ADD.  I was diagnosed in 1983 at age 12- this was before anybody (parents, teachers and my pediatrician) had ever heard of it.  I feel I am a severe case of the inattentive variety.

In addition- I'm fat.  I have about 25 pounds to lose from my last pregnancy (baby is now 2) so after much resistance am giving Atkins a try.  I have been on it for 6 days. 

I am starting to think that it is affecting my ADHD in a positive way.  I have heard about cutting sugars/refined carbs as a treatment for kids but my children's doctor poo-pooed the notion when I brought it up. (2/3 of my kids have ADHD)  I never gave it much thought after that. 

The first few days of the diet I didn't feel well at all.  I think I was having sugar/carb withdrawls.  But by the end of the 3rd day I was stable.  For the past 3 days I felt calm and I seem to be able to accomplish tasks... with less difficulty. 

I am starting to rethink this whole dietary approach for my kids.  Does anyone know a book that promotes a healthy diet for kids with adhd. 

Anyone else have an experience like this?

I actually did that for a year, and I lost about 20 pounds. The add was about the same as always for me. I just got so sick of it though. That's a very hard diet to stick to in my opinion.