What is ADHD?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the neurological-behavioral disorders that begin in childhood. A child suffering from this condition is impulsive, with difficulty concentrating on any tasks. Although from the outside, the state may seem like just a lot of activity in a growing organism, this disorder can have dire consequences, especially in adulthood. According to research, children with ADHD are more at risk of being socially isolated and may experience learning difficulties (Pelsser et al., 2017). However, many of them additionally suffer from other diseases, such as autism. Finally, there is a high probability that the child will carry over the condition into adulthood. Therefore, there is a need to pay close attention to this problem and seek a durable solution that can make life easier for children.
The Problems of Medications
At the moment, there are several ways in which they mainly help people suffering from the disease. The most common and essential is the pharmacological method, which consists of various kinds of psychostimulants. Despite the method’s apparent effectiveness, many studies show the presence and manifestation of different effects when taking these drugs (Woo et al., 2014). First of all, psychostimulants suppress behavioral reactions, interfering with the natural development of self-discipline in a child. Secondly, these medications must be taken with great frequency; otherwise, their effectiveness is reduced. Thirdly, in addition to possible problems with other body systems, for example, with the skin, narcotic addiction to such drugs can develop in children. Thus, it is necessary to look for similar ways to solve this problem and use non-pharmacological approaches. For example, one such method is choosing the right diet, as studies show that many children with ADHD have low reserves of certain nutrients (Millichap & Yee, 2012).
Causes of ADHD
Despite many years of research, the causes of this disease are still largely unknown. There are quite a few groups of factors that can, to varying degrees, influence the formation of this condition. Among other things, it is believed that genetics and a hostile environment may cause ADHD. The last factor is a trigger that can lead to the development of a child’s genes’ reaction. According to research that dates back to the 1970s, nutrition can significantly impact human advancement and various conditions. It may be a lack of certain substances that help the development of cognitive functions. In the absence of specific micronutrients acting as neurotransmitters, serotonin production is disrupted, leading to behavioral disturbances. Therefore, the treatment of ADHD can be carried out by medication and by regulating a person’s diet.
The Importance of Diet
The reason for such a dramatic effect of nutrition on children is the process of human development itself. According to research, children under five years of age are much more vulnerable and susceptible to the characteristics of the food they eat (Zhou et al., 2016). This reaction is due to the active form of the human body at this stage. Therefore, if children lack certain micronutrients, they may develop developmental problems in one area or another, manifested in ADHD conditions. Improper nutrition can lead to a disruption in genes’ development, ultimately leading to irreversible changes. This fact is supported by various studies that link nutritional supplements and the progression of the syndrome (Pelsser et al., 2017). Thus, diet is one of the factors that can help prevent the development of ADHD. However, it is necessary to research to identify the appropriate type of meals and its effects on patients with similar diagnoses.
Oligoantigenic Diet
The first type of diet considered is the oligoantigenic, elimination diet, which is most commonly used to treat various allergies. This diet’s essence is to exclude all kinds of food from the diet that can cause allergic reactions, such as cheeses, citrus fruits, nuts. Removing these types of nourishment from consumption allows you to stabilize the human condition, after which you can return the products one by one, observing the state and reaction of the body. In the case of ADHD, avoiding allergic foods is less important than focusing on healthy foods that do not cause allergies. Such foods include, for example, carrots, peas, pears, and tapioca (Dölp et al., 2020). Due to its richness in various vitamins and other micro-nutrients, this diet can be very beneficial for children who have ADHD.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids Diet
The second diet under consideration focuses not on food types but a specific microcomponent – omega-3 fatty acids. Research shows the usefulness of this element, especially for the developing organism (Millichap & Yee, 2012). The human body cannot produce some fatty acids; therefore, food may be their only source. In its absence, a vital component will be lacking needed for the development of the human body. Foods containing omega-3 are primarily fish and other seafood, with particular attention paid to sea fish such as tuna, sardines, and salmon. Besides, omega-3s are found in nuts, seeds, and vegetable fats, making them healthy to consume. This component is critically important for developing children, mostly under ten years of age, and therefore must be included in their diet (Heilskov Rytter et al., 2014).
Low-Carbohydrate Diets
The following two types of nutriments can be combined due to similar goals and principles of construction. They focus on the balance of fat, carbohydrates, and protein, with both nutrition plans being low-carb. The keto diet is high in fat and moderates in protein, while carbohydrate sources such as rice or sugar are prohibited. This type of nutrition is often used for children with epilepsy because of its ability to reduce blood glucose fluctuations (Bostock et al., 2017). It is this property that makes this diet potentially beneficial for treating children with ADHD. The Robert Atkins diet is also low-carb, but it focuses more on protein than fat. Its main task is to reduce human weight by burning existing body fat reserves (Bostock et al., 2017). Due to the similar blood glucose regulation principle, this diet may also benefit children with attention deficit disorder.
Polyphenol Diet
Finally, the last type of nutrition is the polyphenol diet, which concentrates on plants’ chemical compounds. These substances are natural antioxidants and prevent radicals’ damage, thus being extremely important for the body’s functioning. These substances can be found in many condiments, such as cloves, cocoa, dark chocolate, fruits, and berries. The absence of such elements may cause an imbalance between antioxidants and radicals, which leads to oxidative stress. Studies have shown that this stress may be one of the sources of ADHD, so eating plant foods and following this diet can help manage this condition (Dvořáková et al., 2006).
Two Types of Diets
Thus, virtually all available nutrition plans can be divided into two categories based on how they function. The former excludes any elements from human nutrition, as is the case with the oligoantigenic diet. On the contrary, the latter focuses on adding specific critical components to restore balance within the body. However, some diets can only be harmful, as is the case with sugar, so it is imperative to consult a doctor (Heilskov Rytter et al., 2014). In many cases, the same product may cause additional ADHD symptoms in large quantities or manage them in small doses. Hence, the root of the current problem can often be found in the child’s foods the most. By adjusting the diet, removing unnecessary components, and adding missing ones, it becomes possible to correct the existing symptoms.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Thus, nutrition is an undoubtedly vital element for the full functional development of a child. It is necessary to include many different foods in their diets following specific proportions to provide the developing body with all the essential trace elements. First, it is needed to study children’s behavior when they interact with certain types of food. This observation will allow you to establish what exactly the child needs at the moment. Secondly, it is important to contact qualified medical specialists who can give a professional assessment of the situation. Third, you need to do your best to support children and create a calm environment for them, allowing them to feel safe since psychology plays a vital role in ADHD. Finally, it is crucial to study the baby’s need for various micronutrients at different life stages. All of these factors, when taken together, can reduce the risk of ADHD and help minimize the impact of these symptoms on a child’s life.
References
Bostock, E., Kirkby, K. C., & Taylor, B. V. (2017). The current status of the ketogenic diet in psychiatry. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 8. Web.
Dölp, A., Schneider-Momm, K., Heiser, P., Clement, C., Rauh, R., Clement, H.W., Schulz, E., & Fleischhaker, C. (2020). Oligoantigenic diet improves children’s ADHD rating scale scores reliably in added video-rating. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11. Web.
Dvořáková, M., Sivoňová, M., Trebatická, J., Škodáček, I., Waczuliková, I., Muchová, J., & Ďuračková, Z. (2006). The effect of polyphenolic extract from pine bark, Pycnogenol® on the level of glutathione in children suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Redox Report, 11(4), 163-172. Web.
Heilskov Rytter, M.J., Andersen, L.B.B., Houmann, T., Bilenberg, N., Hvolby, A., Mølgaard, C., Michaelsen, K.F., & Lauritzen, L. (2014). Diet in the treatment of ADHD in children—A systematic review of the literature. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 69(1), 1-18. Web.
Millichap, J. G., & Yee, M. M. (2012). The diet factor in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Pediatrics, 129(2), 330-337. Web.
Pelsser, L. M., Frankena, K., Toorman, J., & Rodrigues Pereira, R. (2017). Diet and ADHD, reviewing the evidence: A systematic review of meta-analyses of double-blind placebo-controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of diet interventions on the behavior of children with ADHD. PloS One, 12(1), e0169277. Web.
Woo, H.D., Kim, D.W., Hong, Y.S., Kim, Y.M., Seo, J.H., Choe, B.M., Park, J.H., Kang, J.W., Yoo, J.H., Chueh, H.W., & Lee, J.H (2014). Dietary patterns in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Nutrients, 6(4), 1539-1553. Web.
Zhou, F., Wu, F., Zou, S., Chen, Y., Feng, C., & Fan, G. (2016). Dietary, nutrient patterns and blood essential elements in Chinese children with ADHD. Nutrients, 8(6), 1-14. Web.