ADHD Nutrition - Getting Nutrition to Work as a Treatment for your Disorder
The connection between ADHD and nutrition is huge. ADHD nutrition has many aspects to it, many of which can be put to use for improving the symptoms of ADD and ADHD immediately.
What we eat determines more than just the manner in which our body works. Nutritional habits will also influence how a person suffering from ADD feels. This is why nutrition acts very effectively as alternative treatment for the disorder.
ADHD - Proper Nutrition
Researchers have pointed out that nutritional deficiencies, resulting from a lack of fatty acid intake or amino acid intake can contribute to the worsening condition of the ADD and to the increasing state of the learning deficit.
Before considering ADHD medication such as Ritalin, stop to think about the affects nutrition would have on your body.
Research at the George Washington School of Medicine has found out that hyperactive children who received nutrition high in proteins did perform better in their task at school, compared to those who did not benefit from high protein intake.
ADHD and Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Researchers at Oxford University have also pointed out that the effect fatty acids have on children who suffer from ADD can be profound. For those children severely affected by the disorder in their reading and writing abilities, nutrition mostly based on fatty acids helped them perform better academically.
Another study conducted in 1987 also proved that there exists a definite connection between nutrition based on fatty acids and the effects of this on the behavior of children suffering from ADD.
Furthermore, in 1995 another study pointed out the effect fatty acid nutrition has on boys without ADD. It was shown that the level of the Omega 3 in their blood of ADHD boys was lower than the level of those who were not diagnosed with the disorder.
ADHD And Nutrition Deficiency
A study conducted at Purdue University in 1996 has also pointed out that boys who have low levels of Omega 3 constituents in their blood is an indicator that they will be more prone to develop ADHD in the future.
While ADD is the most frequent disorder that occurs in kids, not all children suffering from the disease have nutritional deficiencies. However, generally children suffering from attention deficit disorder have trouble with fatty acids intake. This fact is supported by many studies.
Words cannot describe the extreme importance of the relation between nutrition and ADHD.
Fatty acids are essential for the management of a healthy body because they interact with the nervous system and affect mental functioning by improving the neuronal connections between the areas of the brain.
Since the body isn't able to produce essential fatty acids on its own, it needs to be supplied with them from nutritional sources. This happens when consume products containing Omega 3 or Omega 6. ADHD is also alleviated by the intake of fatty acids, thus rendering this type of nutrient even more important.
The Western diet includes a high intake of the Omega-6 nutrient family which can be found in corn, margarine, vegetable oil, or oil coming from canola and safflower. However, most Americans lack nutrition from sources of Omega 3 which is found primarily in fish.
Every adult and child suffering from ADHD will benefit from improved nutrition by increasing the levels of Omega 3 fatty acids in their diet on a daily basis. While some children refuse to eat things such as sardines, salmon or mackerel it is important that you keep in mind that such nutrients are extremely helpful in the effective treatment of the disorder.
One of the best ways to be assured that you and your family are obtaining the Omega 3 levels that will best support brain development and health is through the use of fish oil supplements. However, the purity of these supplements has been of great concern in recent years.
Because of this, we have chosen to use only Omega 3 supplements that have been shown to be pure and safe. Omega 3 DHA Fish Oil from Xtend-Life is one of the most affordable ways to know for sure that the fish oil you are taking will be safe and effective.
A combination of improved diet and the use of herbal supplements designed to help with focus and hyperactivity has been a winning solution for many individuals with ADHD and ADD. Visit our ADHD herbal treatment page to learn more about herbal products designed to improve behavior and concentration.