6 Important Tips On Diet For ADHD

What if I told you that it may be possible to help your child's ADHD without using potentially risky drug therapy? Read on and get some encouraging advice regarding diet for ADHD from Dr. David Perlmutter, MD, author of Raise a Smarter Child by Kindergarten.

Dr. Perlmutter, a Board-Certified Neurologist and Fellow of the American College of Nutrition, only uses drugs to treat ADHD as a last resort. Along with other non-drug options for dealing with ADHD, he has developed some strategies utilizing diet for adhd that have been highly effective at helping childred control impulses, focus, and generally succeed in school.

The number one tip is to go organic. Dr. Perlmutter believes it's best to feed your children organic whole foods starting from infancy. Although prepared organic baby food is available, it can be expensive. If that's not financially feasible, you can make your own. Organic foods avoid the additives, toxins and pesticides that hinder concentration and increase hyperactivity in some children.

Fish containing high levels of mercury are to be avoided. Mostly all shellfish and fish contain at least some mercury which, according to Dr. Perlmutter, can affect a child's ability to think and to concentrate. It's interesting to note that these side effects occur with much lower levels in children than in adults. Some examples of fish with high levels of mercury are swordfish, shark, king mackerel and tilefish.

Have your family doctor run a blood test to check for gluten sensitivity. Even though only about 1 percent of the general population is sensitive to gluten, Dr. Perlmutter has discovered that percentage to be much higher in children. When a child is sensitive to gluten, removing it from a diet for ADHD has been known to produce incredible and almost immediate results. Gluten can be found in rye, wheat and barley and is usually associated with bread products.

Taking DHA supplements may be advisable. DHA is an omega-3 essential fatty acid that is necessary for brain function. Dr. Perlmutter recommends 400 mg per day of a marine algae-based DHA supplement for ADHD kids with low DHA levels in his practice.

Add multi-vitamins to the diet for ADHD. Dr. Perlmutter believes all children should take a multi-vitamin, and especially those with ADHD. Have your family doctor perform an Intracellular Vitamin Analysis to determine which vitamins and minerals need to be supplemented.

There are other nutrients for the brain that may be lacking in the ADHD child. Besides DHA, Dr. Perlmutter prescribes 5 supplements in his diet for ADHD. They are Phosphatidylserine, Alpha lipoic acid, N-acetyl-cysteine, Coenzyme Q-10, and Ginkgo Biloba. Not only has he had success with them in his practice, but they have been clinically proven to not only protect the brain, but to enhance brain function as well.

So there you have it. Here is the view from a medical professional on diet for ADHD. It's encouraging to see that the medical community today is increasingly touting the benefits of diet and neutraceutical supplementation in treating various illnesses and disorders. More and more, holistic remedies are being recognized as playing an important part in achieving and maintaining good health.

David Perlmutter, MD, FACN, ABIHM is a Board-Certified Neurologist and Fellow of the American College of Nutrition, who received his M.D. degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine. Upon completion of his residency in Neurology at the University of Miami, he entered private practice in Naples, Florida. He currently serves as Medical Director of the Perlmutter Health Center and the Perlmutter Hyperbaric Center. Dr. Perlmutter also serves as Adjunct Instructor at the Institute for Functional Medicine in Gig Harbor, Washington. He is internationally recognized for his work in the field of nutritional influences in neurological disorders.