What Are ‘ADHD Diets’?

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is, as we have seen in previous weeks, a neuro-biological disorder that leads to impulsive, poorly-controlled behaviour and inability to concentrate amongst other symptoms (such as anxiety and depression, inability to sleep). We have examined the medicines available to treat the condition and the behaviour therapies that should be used to compliment the drug therapies.

Some parents of children with ADHD also swear by ‘ADHD Diets’ that they say reduce the symptoms and lead to calmer children. Some even prefer to change their child’s diets than give them prescribed medication because, unlike with meds, the diet does not take away the ‘essence’ of the child.

There are two ways that diets of children with ADHD can differ from those of children without ADHD: either their overall diet is changed (by withdrawing certain foodstuffs that seem to trigger certain behaviours, or adding foods that seem to help), or they are given supplements (certain vitamins and minerals to control symptoms). To identify foods that trigger symptoms, it is usual for the child to be given allergy tests, or to undergo an ‘elimination’ diet (withdrawing one food at a time, usually starting with ‘high risk’ foods like gluten and lactose, to see if symptoms improve without their presence in the overall diet).

Currently, NICE (the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence) advises that ‘Healthcare professionals should stress the value of a balanced diet, good nutrition and regular exercise for children, young people and adults with ADHD’.

Dieticians also believe that foods that are good for the brain are generally good for ADHD. Generally speaking, the brain is improved by: high protein diets (pulses, eggs, meat, nuts – these improve concentration); fewer simple carbohydrates (sugary foods, white flour products, white rice, potatoes without the skin); more complex carbohydrates (fruit – though not citric fruit – and veg, which might help sleep) and more omega-3 fatty acids (oily fish, some nuts and oils).

There is a great deal of debate about whether certain foods or additives may cause hyperactivity. Anecdotal evidence from many parents would suggest, for example, that chocolate makes children go slightly haywire for a short period (though many experts say that this is merely a self-fulfilling prophecy and that since parents expect ‘craziness’ after giving their children chocolate then that is what they observe, even if there isn’t really any measurable difference in the child’s behaviour).

Although there’s no proof that any given flavouring or colouring causes ADHD behaviours, experts are generally agreed that withdrawing unnatural foodstuffs from a child’s diet can’t hurt. However, this alone won’t necessarily help, and NICE says, ‘the elimination of artificial colouring and additives from the diet is not recommended as generally applicable treatment for children and young people with ADHD’.

Since medications for ADHD are largely stimulants, could natural stimulants help? Caffeine, for instance, is a stimulant. However, whilst some studies have shown that caffeine can help some children with ADHD, the side-effects of consuming caffeine outweigh the possible benefits.

If you are considering changing your child’s diet, you should always discuss it with your GP, who can refer you to a dietician. Beware of ‘nutritionists’ – people who carry this title do not have to have any qualifications. In the words of Dara O’Briain, ‘dietician’ is to ‘nutritionist’ as ‘dentist’ is to ‘toothyologist’…