Below is a copy of our eating program for Attention Deficit Disorder - ADD ADHD kids. It is not a very strict program, unless you are used to having most meals at your local fast food restaurant. The information on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder presented here from the ADD Information Library is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace the expert and professional advice of your physician, psychologist, or therapist. Always seek help from qualified professionals in the field of attention deficit disorder. Always consult your physician.
This program is recommended for every member of the family. It's not just an ADHD program. It's the same program that we put professional athletes and business executives on for optimized performance, with only minor changes. We have found that it really helps about 25% of the ADHD kids that try it. The most common feedback that we get from parents is, "Well, it helped my kid somewhat, but I really feel great!"
Results fall into a "Bell Curve." A few will do great, a few are completely unaffected, and most do somewhat better - but it is not enough as a stand-alone intervention. Please have realistic expectations. But please try it. It just may be a big help to your family.
First, what NOT to eat for TWO WEEKS:
1) NO DAIRY PRODUCTS, especially cow's milk. This is the single most important restriction. Instead try Almond milk, Rice milk, or Better Than Milk. Drink water instead of milk. In fact, drink lots of water. The brain is about 80% water, and increasing your water intake to 7 to 10 glasses per day might be helpful all by itself. Sodas, Gatorade, teas, icees, etc., do not count as water. Only water counts as water.
2) NO YELLOW FOODS. Especially Corn or Squash. By the way, bananas are white. Just don't eat the peel.
3) NO JUNK FOODS. If it comes in a cellophane wrapper, don't eat it.
4) NO FRUIT JUICES. They have too much sugar content. One small glass of apple juice has the sugar content of eight apples. Later on you can have juice, but even then dilute it with water 50/50.
5) CUT SUGAR INTAKE BY 90%. If you can, cut it down to zero. Sugar is in just about everything, but give it a try. Do your best without going crazy.
6) CUT CHOCOLATE BY 90%. No more than a single piece, once a week.
7) NO NUTRASWEET. None. Period. And while we are at it, no Splenda either. These artificial sweetners just are not made for optimal brain performance.
8) NO PROCESSED MEATS and NO MSG. Only get meats with labels that say, "Turkey and Water," etc. If the meat has chemicals listed that you can't pronounce, don't buy it.
9) CUT FRIED FOODS BY 90%.
10) AVOID FOOD COLORINGS WHENEVER POSSIBLE. See if your child is sensitive to any particular colors, such as Reds, Yellows, etc. For now, though, avoid all if possible.
SUMMARY: Just eat foods that God made for a while. Eat like people did in the 1940's. Watch old Leave It To Beaver re-runs to see how the Cleavers used to eat. Go to a used book store and get a Betty Crocker's Cook Book for recipe ideas. There really are about 10,000 meals that you CAN eat, but not much in the way of "fast foods" or "convenience" foods.
AFTER TWO WEEKS begin adding these foods back into your diet, one food every other day. Eat A LOT of that food every day for four days. If you have a problem with one of the foods, you will see some kind of a "reaction" within four days. The reaction can vary from big red splotches on the body to ears turning bright red to explosive temper outbursts. If there's a problem, you'll know. If there's no problem, enjoy the food.
What TO eat to FEED THE BRAIN:
1) FOR BREAKFAST SERVE HIGHER PROTEIN, LOWER CARBOHYDRATE MEALS. Say, "Good-bye," to Breakfast cereals and milk. Serve 60% Protein and 40% Carbohydrates for breakfast. Other meals should be 50% / 50%.
2) PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTS might be needed to get the added protein for breakfast. They are often very helpful in the afternoon as well. Here is our favorite recipe for a Protein Shake:
a) Make a cup of coffee, using one of General Mills' International Coffees, or something like that, with a flavor that you or your child will like (yes, I know I'm breaking my own rules here, as these coffees have dried milk and some sugar, but I'm trying to get your kid to actually drink the thing, and also get some caffeine mixed with the protein.). Pour the hot coffee into a blender with about 6 oz of ice. Turn on the blender for a bit.
b) Add a good quality protein powder. There are many good ones available. If you can't find one that you like, ask at your local health food store. Get protein powders that are mostly protein and very little carbohydrate. Add between 15 and 20 grams of protein to the cold coffee in the blender.
c) Turn on the blender again.
d) Drink it up.
This protein shake is helpful for a lot of people. For many small kids, and many adults, this recipe works about as well as a small dose of Ritalin (100 mg of caffeine is roughly the same as 5 mg of Ritalin). So many who might just take a small dose of Ritalin might get away with just doing this.
Don't forget, though, that even caffeine can have some side effects. Every once in a while we find someone that has problems with the caffeine in the coffee. Usually, though, the caffeine in the coffee helps the person to focus better. The protein helps to feed the brain. If you find this helpful, have one with Breakfast, and one around 3 pm. If it is not helpful, then don't bother with it.
3) MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS may be helpful. Colloidal Minerals or fully chelated minerals are the best. Don't buy minerals in the grocery store. Get good minerals.
4) ATTEND, and EXTRESS from VAXA. We recommend the "Attend" product for everyone. The "Extress" is recommended in addition to the Attend for those with problems with hyperactivity and temper. These are strongly recommended.
5) FLAX SEED or PRIMROSE OIL. These are high sources of Omega oils which are very important, especially for those with Attention Deficit Disorder. Borage oils and some fish oils are good sources of Omega Oils as well. Mix about a spoonful a day of flax seed oil into foods as you prepare them, or add to salad dressings, etc. Or you can buy supplements.
6) EAT LOTS OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. Eat in a healthy manner.
7) Avoid Aluminum exposure whenever possible.
Try it out and let us know what you think. Oh, before you email back and ask, "Well, what can we eat?" please look through your Betty Crocker Cook Book and you'll find hundreds of recipes that will fit. It's the convenience foods that are most of the problem. Re-discover the lost art of cooking!
Douglas Cowan, Psy.D., is a family therapist who has been working with ADHD children and their families since 1986. He is the clinical director of the ADHD Information Library's family of seven web sites, including http://www.newideas.net, helping over 350,000 parents and teachers learn more about ADHD each year. Dr. Cowan also serves on the Medical Advisory Board of VAXA International of Tampa, FL., is President of the Board of Directors for KAXL 88.3 FM in central California, and is President of NewIdeas.net Incorporated.
The Different Types, or Styles, of ADHD
Research literature, recent books, and common sense, all point to the fact that there are different types, or styles, of ADHD. In the past we referred to Attention Deficit Disorder: Inattentive Type, or Impulsive/Hyperactive Type, or a Combined Type.
Helpful Strategies For Teaching ADHD Children
Impulsiveness, lack of attention and hyperactivity are the common traits of children with ADHD. All of these can make it hard to teach children in a school environment. Therefore it is important that when teaching ADHD children the day is carefully planned to try and ensure the children are kept organized and motivated to complete tasks.
Online Business Podcasting Expo Jan 19-21, 2007 Offers Seminars For Overcoming Challenges for ADHD Entrepreneurs, Quickbook Training, Outlook Tips, Po
The Business Podcasting Expo is an Online Audio/Visual Business Conference with seminars including ADHD Challenges for Entrepreneurs, Quickbook Training, Outlook Tips, and Installing WordPress. The BizPodExpo also offers introductory classes on Podcasting, and how to increase your search engine ranking using this audio/video social media. There will be thousands of dollars worth of giveaways and prizes, and a Data DVD of all recorded seminars is included with full Admission. The event is sponsored by Co-Op World and PodcastDirectories4Sale.com
Is it ADHD or is it Depression?
During the assessment process it is of great importance for the physician or clinician to consider other possible causes of inattention, impulsivity, or hyperactivity in your child, or teen, or yourself. In fact, this is probably the most important element of a good assessment.
Understanding and Organizing with ADD/ADHD
SUMMARY: Learn more about people who have ADD/ADHD and their special needs. Tips to help people who have trouble staying on task and meeting appointments. When I was a child ADD/ADHD was not a diagnosis that had been identified. I was considered hyper active and was the child who presented a challenge to the teacher because I could talk to my neighbor, and at the same time know what question the teacher was asking and then answer the question. If you were in my school I could have been the one sitting in the hall so I couldn't talk to my neighbor. It used to be that anyone who couldn't stay organized was easily distracted, and tended to be overly energetic. Children were labeled "problems" and adults were thought to be lost causes. ...
The Reticular Activating System, and its Role in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
In our last article about the neurology of ADHD we began to introduce the reader to the system in the brain known as the Reticular Activating System. The Reticular Activating System is the "attention center" in the brain.
Appropriate ADHD Medication For Child - Meds For ADHD Child
Dealing and treating with children suffering from ADHD everyday, I engage a number of parents many of which are despondent about their childs condition, and more often than not, I end up offering consoling and emotional support to the parents than the children. They would often as on what is the best medication for an adhd child. It is a parents nightmare that their child should suffer and be in pain, but such parents forget one very crucial fact with ADHD: it is a readily treatable and curable condition.
Common Add Adhd Checklist Signs
Does you child show signs of being impulsive, hyperactive and inattentive? Then he or she might be showing some symptoms of ADHD. If you are concerned about your child?s behavior then checking the common signs and symptoms on an ADD/ADHD checklist can help to determine if further assessment is needed.
Understanding The ADHD Affected Teenager
Teenagers usually represent a challenge not only for the child in transition,but also for his parents. The ones affected by ADHD are much more difficult to handle,because of the increased difficulty they have regarding peer-pressure,the risk of failure in certain areas,a bad opinion on themselves. The things that are not allowed seem more and more tempting,such as alcohol,sex or drugs,and they are regardless of the consequences. A constant need to break the familiar rules takes over them,which drives to confusion from both them and their parents. The last ones have at first a feeling of relaxation,generated by the ending of early school years ,but new times bring new problems. Even if,until then,the child constantly got professional help an...
ADHD Psychological Treatment for Children More Accessible Through a Unique Program
Based on research and established ADHD treatment guidelines, Total Focus provides education for parents and therapeutic activities for kids through a multimedia program available for home use. Total Focus can be used with or without ADHD medications.
Teacher Tips: Giving Tests to ADHD Students
Thank you to all of our professional educators who dedicate themselves to our children! We know how difficult it can be working with ADHD children, so here are your teacher tips for the week, brought to you by the ADHD Information Library and ADDinSchool.com.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is Not Related to I.Q.
It's important to know that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Intelligence, as measured by I.Q.
Food and ADHD are you at Choice
Food and ADHD
ADHD and Iron Deficiency
About 8% of children, ages 4 years and under, are deficient in iron. Between the ages of 5 and 12, the percentage rises to 13%, and then settles back to 8% in people above the age of 15.
Autism and ADHD Linked to Child Vaccines
In a study review conducted by David A. Geier, B.