ADHD: Changing a Child's Diet will Improve Behavior

ADHD is a reality today. Children suffering from the symptoms associated with ADHD can experience difficulty in school, hyperactivity, difficulty focusing, behavior problems, getting frustrated easily, etc. Many traditional counselors and doctors fail to point out the benefits of a change in diet. Yet there is much evidence that change in diet can make a difference in their behavior, mental health, and well being. Meds may still be needed but diet is a key that must not be over looked.

Here are some helpful steps that you can take. Step One: Look into allergy issues. Has your child ever experienced food allergies? This may be triggering behavior outbreaks and inability to focus. Allergy foods should be eliminated. If you suspect food allergies but do not know what the culprit of the food allergies may be then make an appointment with an allergist and have your child tested. Step Two: Remove red, yellow and blue dyes from the child's diets. These dyes can trigger unwelcome responses in the body as well as allergic responses that are displayed through behavior. Step Three: Remove excess sugars from their diet such as high fructose corn syrup found in juices and sodas.

Read the labels on packages of conventional yogurt bars and fruit roll ups and you will find that they are full of unhealthy trigger ingredients. Step Four: Add salads, greens, tuna, fish, chicken, and unprocessed natural foods to their diet. You may also choose to select a few traditional items from the organic isle such as organic pop tarts and/or organic cheese curls, chips and popcorn to replace those over processed, ingredient heavy and chemical heavy snacks that they may have been eating. Step Five: Add flax seed oil daily as well as consider adding grape seed extract. Essential Fatty Acids have been proven to improve symptoms of ADHD. Grape seed extract helps the immune system and will help the body cope with allergies. One website that I recommend is www.tyhcomplete.com. They have done much research and have formulated a liquid vitamin that may be helpful.

I have seen a great difference in my son as a result of changing his diet. As a baby he experienced major food allergy reactions as soon as he began eating table foods. As he grew older the food allergies seemed less severe externally however I noticed behavior issues that began around age one continued and even increased as he grew. Temper flare ups and angry episodes were frequent. I did not want to introduce medication to him and every one who was close to me would constantly tell me to be patient and keep him busy. I kept him busy but that was not the always the answer. He still had episodes of carrying emotional stress on the inside that would lead to bursts of frustration and arguing.

As he got older I finally got a name for what we were facing and then began adjusting his diet. He is not on medication and the change in diet as well as the introduction of Grape Seed Extract and Fatty Acids have made a major difference in his physical body and thus has helped his ability to focus, maintain a healthy attitude toward others and life, and deal with stress. I am so thankful for the young man that he is becoming and am very thankful for the knowledge that is available at the click of our finger tips via the Internet on diet and ADHD. I highly recommend using the wisdom of a counselor as well as the knowledge of a physician in addition to your child's new healthy eating. Other available websites include: http://www.yourfamilyclinic.com/shareware/adhdnutr.html and http://www.mercola.com.