When your child is diagnosed with ADHD ( Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder ), you may wonder what else you can do at home besides prescribed medications and behavioral therapy. You may have heard about various foods, vitamins, and other treatments. So do these things really work? Let's talk about this in detail.
Can diet affect ADHD?
When talking about ADHD, a question many parents ask is, "Does eating sugar make children naughty?"
In fact, there is no scientific evidence that sugar causes ADHD . So why do children seem to be hyper when they eat a lot of sugar? Here's how refined sugar and carbohydrates can affect a child's activity level. Think about it, when you eat a high-sugar meal, that sugar is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. Then the blood sugar level suddenly rises. This causes the body to release more adrenaline, which can make the child suddenly feel very energetic or playful.
So what can you do? The best thing to do is to add fiber-rich foods to your child's diet. Fiber-rich foods help control the rate at which sugar is absorbed into the blood. This means that blood sugar levels don't spike suddenly. Oats, legumes, fruits (especially berries), vegetables, legumes, and whole grains are good examples of fiber-rich foods.
What is the Feingold Diet?
Years ago, allergist Ben Feingold introduced a special diet to control hyperactivity. This method involves completely eliminating artificial colors, artificial flavors, and preservatives from a child's diet.
Although many scientific studies have refuted this idea, some parents who have tried this method say they have seen some improvement in their children's behavior. However, some experts say that the difference may not be due to the food itself, but rather to the extra care and attention that parents give their children when they are given such special meals.
The most important thing is to talk to your doctor before starting a diet like this for your child. Otherwise, if you suddenly restrict foods, your child may not get the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals they need.
Are vitamins and supplements useful?
There is a lot of talk about this too. Let's see what science has to say about this.
| Supplement | What to know |
|---|---|
| Omega-3 Fatty Acids | Research has found that children with ADHD have lower levels of omega-3 in their blood than normal children. Some studies have shown that omega-3 supplements can help improve ADHD symptoms. These can be obtained with a doctor's prescription. |
| Melatonin | If your child is having trouble falling asleep, melatonin may be helpful in the short term. But be sure to talk to your doctor before continuing to use it . |
| Other supplements (Ginkgo biloba, St. John's wort) | There is no scientific evidence that other herbal supplements like these help with ADHD symptoms, so avoid giving them to your child without medical advice. |
Behavior, sleep and exercise - these are the real helpers!
There are several methods that go beyond medication and diet, but which bring very powerful results.
1. Parent Training and Behavioral Interventions
Research has shown that children can benefit from behavioral programs as early as preschool age. The best results are achieved when parents are involved in these programs .
Simply put, instead of giving your child big goals, give them small, achievable goals . For example, "Sit still at the table for 10 minutes." Give your child a small reward when they complete that goal. It's also very effective to use a "Daily Report Card" to talk to your child's teacher and see if they've met their daily behavior goals.
2. A good night's sleep is like medicine.
Getting a good night's sleep can make a big difference for a child with ADHD. Research shows that even an extra 30 minutes of sleep can help reduce a child's restlessness and impulsivity .
Often these children have difficulty calming down and going to sleep. The fatigue they feel the next day makes ADHD symptoms worse. The best way to deal with this is to develop good sleep habits .
- Make it a habit to go to bed at the same time every day, including weekends.
- The bedroom should be a cool, dark place.
- Create a calming ritual before bed, like reading a book or listening to a soothing song.
- Don't let your child look at any screens before bed, such as TV, computer, phone, or video games . It's best to remove these from the bedroom.
3. Exercise boosts the brain
Exercise is not only good for the body, but also for the brain. Moderate exercise increases the release of chemicals called neurotransmitters in the brain. These improve focus and alertness.
Exercises that involve both the brain and body working together have been found to be more beneficial for children with ADHD than simple exercises like running and jumping.
- Things like karate, gymnastics, ballet, ice skating.
- Exercising outdoors can yield better results than exercising indoors.
A recent study found that just 30 minutes of exercise significantly helped children with ADHD organize their thoughts and focus.
Methods that are not scientifically proven and should be considered
There are some treatments that are talked about, but there is not enough scientific evidence to prove their success.
| Treatment method | Description and things to consider |
|---|---|
| Yoga and Meditation | Mindfulness meditation techniques can produce positive changes in the brain. These can reduce stress and increase focus in children with ADHD. Yoga can also have similar effects. However, it is important to choose a teacher who has experience working with children with ADHD . |
| Chiropractic | Some acupuncturists claim that acupuncture can treat ADHD, but there is no research that proves it works . Many doctors do not endorse this. They believe that the bones in the skull cannot move. |
| Neurofeedback | This is a method of teaching people to change brain wave patterns and improve attention. It is based on the idea that people with ADHD have more slow waves called theta and less fast waves called beta. Although there is some successful research on this, further studies are still needed . It is also a very expensive treatment . |
| Working Memory Training | People with ADHD have poor short-term working memory. While some studies have shown that training this ability through computer programs can produce short-term results, other studies have found mixed results. |
Finally, there are now FDA-approved digital play therapies, such as EndeavorRx, which are designed to improve attention in children with ADHD between the ages of 8 and 12, and are available only with a doctor's prescription.
Take-Home Message
- Be sure to talk to your doctor before starting any treatment or supplement other than medication for your child. Don't believe everything you see on the internet.
- A balanced, nutritious diet is very important for a child. Avoid making drastic changes to their diet without medical advice.
- Good sleep, regular exercise, and a consistent routine are some of the most powerful and proven ways to manage ADHD symptoms.
- As parents, your support and behavioral therapy methods (giving small goals and encouraging them) are a great strength for the child.
- Be wary of unproven, expensive treatments. Give priority to proven, simple, and safe methods.
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