Treatment of Hyperactivity
Without Medication
The successful treatment of ADHD and behavioral issues can be accomplished without medication if you understand what your child's diet is not providing. Supplements for hyperactivity are effective for many individuals struggling with ADHD.
When considering ADHD supplements, what should you be looking for? To begin with, look for the best sources of Omega-3 fatty acids.
Consider increasing the amount of fish in the child's diet. Also, fish oil is also an important source of both GLA and EPA, (eiciosapentaenoic acid).
Back To Basics of ADHD Supplements
Keep in mind that a child's body requires a wide assortment of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to develop properly. However, in today's world, few children actually recieve the nutrients that are required in their diets.
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are often overly sensitity to a deficiency in certain ADHD vitamins or minerals, making supplementing benficial as a treatment of hyperactivity.
You will need to insure that your child has a consistent intake of zinc, as well as critical vitamins for ADHD such as vitamin C, E and B6. ADHD children have been shown to be lacking in these specific nutrients.
Also, all of the B vitamins are important for a hyperactive child. Since one of the main functions of these vitamins is to control the nervous system, a deficiency can produce many ADHD symptoms. Vitamin B1, also known as thiamin, is especially involved with the central nervous system.
A deficiency of vitamin B2, which is known as riboflavin, can lead to symptoms such as headaches, fatigue or irritability. Children will often experience hyperactivity when facing these types of symptoms. Science has also shown this vitamin to be involved in the synthesis of neurotransmitters.
The Importance of Minerals for Attention Deficit Disorder
ADHD vitamins should also include the minerals that are critical for treating behavior issues. Calcium is an important mineral that influences reactions. For instance, calcium influences impulses throughout the body and the nervous system.
Additionally, magnesium, which is closely, related to the development in your muscles and nerve impulses bonds with calcium. Vitamin D helps with absorbtion so the body is better able to utilize it's calcium and magnesium intake.
Zinc and chromium are two minerals that play a role in sugar balance. They influence the insulin into promoting glucose intake in your body. Thus, a tolerance factor regarding glucose is known to influence the insulin action upon your body.
Supplementation with chromium insures that the glucose levels decrease providing an increase in glucose tolerance. These levels of glucose can play a crucial part in determining the behavior of hyperactive children. Supplementation with chromium and zinc have been shown to improve the behavior of children suffering from ADHD.
Amino acids are also known to help in the treatment of ADHD. For instance, the primary amines such as serotonin, norepinephrine, acetylcholine and dopamine are obtained through synthesization from tyrosine or phenylalanine, which is in turn metabolized by tyrosine.
Moreover, serotonin is obtained by using tryptophan and acetylcholine from choline. Lack of glycine or L-taurine in one's blood would mean that your body cannot properly regulate the commands on the nervous system and have been linked to the development of epilepsy, anxiety or hyperactivity.
It is my goal here to help you understand how critical balanced nutrition is when looking at treating ADHD in children. Our body needs complete nutrition in order to be healthy, both physically and mentally.
The place to begin is with a diet for ADHD that has been designed to help in the treatment of hyperactivity.
Many children have a sensitivity to dyes in the food they eat. Consider removing all additives, especially food coloring from their diet. We have more on this on our food additives and ADHD page
It is also recommended that all children, especially those with hyperactivity and behavioral issues take a quality multi-nutrient vitamin supplement on a daily basis. Our family has found that Total Balance for Children helps our children feel better and therfore have improved behavior and concentration.
Before turning to medication for the treatment of hyperactivity, try these three steps. 1.) Improve your child's diet. 2.) Be sure they are receiving adequate amounts of sleep. 3.) Provide fair and consistent structure. You'll be amazed at the improvement that this type of treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can provide.