According to a recent study, different foods trigger different behavioral problems and should be monitored.
Ritalin is widely used to treat children with ADHD, but an article in the Lancet suggests that a change in diet could be just as effective and offer alternatives to Ritalin.
Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), who are impulsive, inattentive and unable to sit still, should be placed on a restricted diet for several weeks to determine if particular foods are the cause. , say scientists today.
Certain foods and additives may make behavior worse in some children, although guidelines from the National Institute for Health health and Clinical Excellence state that there is no evidence that eliminating fatty acids, food colors or additives can help.
An article published today in the medical journal establishes that diet is responsible for the erratic and difficult behavior of children with ADHD in many cases, although it is likely that different foods trigger behavioral problems in children different. These findings will likely be welcomed by those who are concerned about the amount of medication given to children with ADHD.
Dutch researchers put 50 children with ADHD on a “restricted elimination diet” consisting of foods with the lowest possible risk of an allergic reaction – a combination of rice, meat, vegetables, pears and water – which has been adapted to the preferences of each child. A second group of 50 children were not put on a diet, but their parents were given healthy eating advice and asked to keep a diary of everything their child ate.
What can we conclude about the impact of diet on learning disorders?
The behavior of 78% of the 41 children who underwent the five-week restricted diet phase improved, while that of those who did not follow a special diet remained the same.
The researchers then tried adding particular foods high in immunoglobulin G (IgG), antibodies known to trigger allergic reactions, to the restricted diet. They then added foods low in IgG – to find out whether antibody blood tests could be used to identify foods that trigger ADHD. However, 63% of children relapsed and there was no difference in response to low-IgG or high-IgG foods.
Researchers conclude that – although food sensitivity plays a role in ADHD, it is not caused by an allergic reaction.
Thus, dietary intervention should be considered in all children with ADHD. This is provided that parents are willing to follow a limited elimination diet for a period of 5 weeks and expert supervision is available.
Children who respond favorably to this diet should be diagnosed with food-induced ADHD. They should undergo a review procedure to define which foods each child responds to, increase feasibility and minimize the burden of the diet. In children who do not show improvement in behavior after following the diet, standard treatments such as medication, behavioral treatments, or both should be considered.
The experts behind the study welcomed these results. This study provides additional evidence of the potential value of dietary approaches for the treatment of ADHD. It is a condition that disrupts family life, interferes with a child’s ability to maintain friendships with other children, and puts him or her at risk for longer-term problems with academic achievement. Many parents are hesitant to resort to drug treatment and it is important that alternatives such as the few foods approach can be effective.
But Professor David Daley, of the University of Nottingham’s Institute of Mental Health, said there was still work to be done. Scientifically, I think this paper offers excellent evidence for another possible underlying cause of ADHD, but it would be premature to conclude that such a dietary intervention would be of any clinical benefit to children with ADHD and their children. parents. We need to know more about how much the intervention costs, how motivated parents are to make it work, and how easy it is for parents to get their child to follow the diet,” he said.
Some Bach flower recipes to help your child
Please read some Bach flower remedies:
- Clematis are used for those who daydream, live in an imaginary world and are not really present.
- The impatient ones are for those who are quick to action and impatient.
- Gentians are used for those who become easily discouraged by small setbacks.
- Drowning is used when the person is easily distracted by noises, movements and agitation. She has difficulty concentrating on what she is going to or is supposed to do.
- Elm is for those who easily get overwhelmed.
- Larch, for those who lack self-confidence.
- Verbena, for those who become too active because of an idea or activity.
- White chestnut, for those who have repeated unwanted thoughts.