ADHD and Diet

February 20, 2011 by

A recent study proved that a restricted diet resulted in decreased symptoms of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).  100 children ages 4 to 8 diagnosed with ADHD were put on a restricted elimination diet of unprocessed rice, meat, vegetables, pears, and water, for five weeks.  Professor Buitelaar and his team found that ADHD symptoms reduced in 78% of the children.  In addition, when processed foods where re-introduced to the diet, there was a 63% relapse in behavior.

Symptoms of ADHD include inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.  Many professionals note the trend in over-diagnosing and over-medicating, due to many children having such tendencies naturally and many factors impacting behavior.  Given the risks associated with medication, particularly long-term effects on children when many of the pharmaceutical research is done on adults, parents are encouraged to explore other factors that can be addressed first.  In addition to diet modification (including focus on organic nutrition free from pesticides and artificial processing) as highlighted in this study, parents can also address discipline/parenting style (including consistency and focus on love-based rather than fear-based approaches) and explore more natural approaches to behavior management.

Gray, Nathan.  February 11, 2011. Restricted diet linked to reduction in ADHD: Study. Retrieved February 20, 2011 from FoodNavigator.com:  http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Science-Nutrition/Restricted-diet-linked-to-reduction-in-ADHD-Study.

L. Pelsser, K. Frankena, J. Toorman, H.F. Savelkoul, A.E. Dubois, R.R. Pereira, et al.  “Effects of a restricted elimination diet on the behaviour of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (INCA study): a randomised controlled trial.”  Source: The Lancet
Volume 377, Issue 9764 , Pages 446-448, doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60133-5

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Filed Under: Attention/Focus, Child/Teen Health, Child/Teen Mental Health, Child/Teen Nutrition, Nutrition
About Kimberly Rodgers, LCSW, RPT-S

Kimberly is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Florida and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor through the Association for Play Therapy. She also supervises clinical social work interns pursuing licensure. She has worked as a psychotherapist for twelve years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Georgia and Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Central Florida.

Her experience includes foster care, adoption, youth shelter, youth related research, school-based counseling, and sexual assault crisis center settings prior to private practice. She specializes in counseling children, families, and adults struggling with stress, anxiety, trauma, and adjustment to life transitions. Kimberly is a current Board member of the Mental Health Association of Southwest Florida and former Vice-President of the Southwest Florida chapter of the Association for Play Therapy. She is also a member of the National Association of Social Workers and EMDR International Association.

Kimberly is founder of Monarch Wellness (originally Monarch Therapy), an integrative center focused on empowering individuals and families through emotional and behavioral metamorphosis. In addition to counseling and play therapy, the center offers other supportive modalities to further enhance emotional healing and stress management including support groups, yoga, laughter yoga, breathwork, integrative relaxation, and sound therapy. Monarch Wellness' sister site eFitFamily.com offers health related information and inspiration for everyday families to live healthier every day. The center is also involved with House of Gaia community center and other community and service focused organizations. More information about Kimberly and her practice can be found online: www.MonarchWellness.net.

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