| Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is | | | | ADHD children have differences in their metabolism |
| considered to be a neurological disorder that | | | | compared with non-ADD and non-ADHD children. For |
| manifests in childhood. Symptoms of ADHD may | | | | instance, Neil Ward, a chemist from the United |
| include inattentiveness and increased distractibility, as | | | | Kingdom, showed in 1990 that ADHD children lost zinc |
| well as high energy and hyperactivity. When only | | | | quickly when they took tartrazine. Other studies |
| distractibility and inattentiveness are manifested, the | | | | suggested that lack of omega-3 fatty acids could |
| disorder is referred to as Attention Deficit Disorder, | | | | trigger ADHD development. Despite these and other |
| or ADD. With the rising number of reported cases of | | | | findings, a concrete link between attention deficit |
| ADD, research is consistently being conducted in | | | | disorder and nutrition has yet to be established, |
| understanding the disorder, as well as exploring the | | | | although the research is often used as the basis for |
| link between attention deficit disorder and nutrition. | | | | supplementary diets in addition to existing medication |
| ADD symptoms are classified into two main groups: | | | | and therapy techniques. |
| inattentiveness and hyperactive-impulsive behavior. | | | | A popular supplementary diet is the Feingold diet, |
| Inattentiveness is manifested most explicitly in school, | | | | where artificial flavors and colors, such as salicylates |
| where ADD children have a hard time following | | | | and preservatives, are removed from an ADD or |
| instructions, concentrating on their work, keeping | | | | ADHD person's diet. Another school of thought on |
| their work error-free, and even finishing it. They will | | | | the link between attention deficit disorder and |
| often avoid difficult schoolwork, and will sometimes | | | | nutrition dictates that a balanced diet is essential for |
| lose important school items such as books or pens. | | | | the proper health and nutrition of any person, |
| ADD children can appear inattentive if they are | | | | whether with ADD, ADHD, or any other disorder. |
| spoken to. If people with ADD do strike up a | | | | Scientists have therefore taken middle ground in the |
| conversation, they can speak excessively, only to | | | | debate: no diet has yet been approved for ADD or |
| break off the conversation abruptly as they are | | | | ADHD treatment, and any diet proposed to patients |
| distracted by something that catches their fancy. | | | | must always be used in conjunction with therapy and |
| People with ADD can also be forgetful, and they may | | | | medication. |
| find it hard to sleep, due to the many, varied | | | | Stimulants are the most popular medicines for ADHD. |
| thoughts they have at night. They may also be easily | | | | Such medications work by targeting parts of the |
| frustrated, and may exhibit emotional outbursts | | | | brain that work to promote impulse control, |
| frequently. Although hyperactive-impulsive behavior is | | | | attention, and focus. Therapies are varied, although |
| more characteristic of those who suffer from ADHD, | | | | on the whole, they help both the ADD or ADHD |
| there are a few habits that ADD persons may have, | | | | person and his or her family in coping with the |
| such as occasional fidgeting or talkativeness. | | | | disease. Group therapy is also important for people |
| Thanks to much research, there are now therapies | | | | with ADD or ADHD, as it can give them the benefits |
| and medications available to treat ADD and ADHD. | | | | associated with joining a network of people who can |
| Research is still being conducted in the field of | | | | help them discover their potential. |
| attention deficit disorder and nutrition links, although | | | | There are many studies proposing a link between |
| changing diets is often recommended as an | | | | attention deficit disorder and nutrition, but while these |
| alternative, if not experimental treatment. In the early | | | | are still proving to be inconclusive, conventional |
| years of studies seeking to find the link between | | | | therapies may prove to be better in dealing with the |
| attention deficit disorder and nutrition, research | | | | disorder. If you or your children have ADD or ADHD, |
| proposed diets that excluded stimulants, such as | | | | consult with a doctor constantly. You may be |
| coffee, tea, or sugar. Other studies proposed diets | | | | recommended changes in diet, but these will be |
| that removed allergenic foods from meals, such as | | | | incomplete without the proper medication and |
| eggs, milk, and wheat. Despite these findings, no | | | | therapy. Follow doctor's prescription on medication, |
| study has yet shown a conclusive link between diets | | | | and do not self medicate. Lastly, engage in therapy |
| and improved ADD symptoms. | | | | with enthusiasm, and you may recognize changes for |
| Research still does show, however, that ADD and | | | | the better in yourself or your child after some time. |