Integrative Health Blog

Is there such a thing as an ADHD Diet?

The answer is yes…and no. 

What this mean is this: a child’s diet is a critical piece in the treatment of ADHD.  However, the right diet doesn’t treat just ADHD symptoms, but it makes the brain work better in general.  So, an ADHD diet is actually a brain healthy diet.

What happens in ADHD? 

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) are brain disorder diagnoses usually made by a pediatrician or psychologist. It is characterized by inability to concentrate, restlessness, and impulsiveness, but may be difficult to diagnose. It is often first reported by teachers or parents. There is no single cause of ADHD. Rather, scientific research suggests the effects of many underlying causes, which taken together are expressed through each individual's genetic make up as a group of symptoms qualifying for a diagnosis of ADHD.

When a person has ADHD, the brain has difficulty focusing and staying on task; it has difficulty planning and self-regulating. In order for the brain to carry out these tasks, it needs adequate amounts of building materials.  The brain is one of the most metabolically active parts of your body, and therefore it needs a constant flow of nutrients to work well. 

Here are the Building Blocks of an ADHD Healthy Brain Diet

1. Protein: Many children today eat a diet that’s heavy in simple carbohydrates and low in protein.  A brain healthy diet needs a good supply of healthy proteins. Even though lean meat and eggs are good sources of protein, make sure you remember plant sources.  For example, beans, nut butters, certain vegetables, such as broccoli, and certain whole grains such as quinoa, are healthy sources of protein. 

2. Complex carbohydrates are essential for brain health because they provide steady energy to keep up with the brain’s high metabolism rate.  A variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as beans and whole grains, provide this energy source.

3. Healthy fats are finally being recognized for their critical role in brain function. Almonds, walnuts, avocados and flax seeds are important sources of fat for your child’s diet.  Also, wild salmon once or twice per week provides essential fatty acids.  If you use oil when cooking, the best choices for brain health are coconut and extra virgin olive oil.

4. Micronutrients:  There are so many vitamins and minerals that are needed for a brain healthy diet.  Zinc, chromium, iron, vitamin A, folate, vitamin C…just to name a few!  That’s why variety is so critical to a healthy brain, because these nutrients are variably abundant in different foods.

A brain healthy diet will help to improve your child’s attention, mood and energy level.  So, using an "ADHD diet" as a key part of the overall treatment plan for your child’s ADD/ADHD symptoms is a smart idea.