Are ADD and ADHD Diet Changes Effective?
Natural, non-drug related solutions to attention deficit issues such as ADD and ADHD diet adjustments, are a strategy that naturopathic doctors and other natural health care providers have been using with success for several decades.
Many variations of natural treatment for ADD and ADHD use diet changes as one tactic along with other things like homeopathic and herbal remedies.
The Feingold diet has been in use since the 1970's, and has inspired many variations as people look for solutions for attention deficit issues, as well as for anxiety, stress and depression.
Although mainstream medicine has been slow to accept the idea that diet affects ADD and ADHD, evidence for its effectiveness exists in the form of steadily increasing sales of natural, organic foods.
Processed food alternatives are now commonly found in special sections in many grocery stores which also shows that people are finding that natural foods are helpful in easing symptoms which may be at least partly caused by food allergies or sensitivities.
The Feingold diet aims to eliminate as many artificial food additives like artificial coloring, preservatives, flavors and other added substances from the diet as possible.
These additives are now known to irritate the stomach and digestive system which current research is showing contains a very complex and sensitive nervous system called the enteric nervous system.
The enteric nervous system consists of such an extensive neural network that some researchers are calling it "the second brain.
" Since this abdominal brain works along with the head brain as well as the rest of the nervous system, it offers some explanation of how food irritants can cause the symptoms involved in ADD and ADHD.
Switching from processed food to natural, additive free food is a good start.
Another option is to find and remove specific foods that may be causing an allergic irritation.
Some common culprits are grain products with gluten, unfermented dairy products, unfermented soy products and refined sugar.
Many people have experienced improvements making these diet changes.
For example, symptoms like recurring infections, sleep disorders, poor focus and concentration, and bed wetting are a few problems that have been helped by these diet changes.
Another option that works well with ADD and ADHD diet changes are homeopathic and herbal remedies along with specific dietary supplements.
A natural health care provider can help with putting together a customized plan of action.
Many variations of natural treatment for ADD and ADHD use diet changes as one tactic along with other things like homeopathic and herbal remedies.
The Feingold diet has been in use since the 1970's, and has inspired many variations as people look for solutions for attention deficit issues, as well as for anxiety, stress and depression.
Although mainstream medicine has been slow to accept the idea that diet affects ADD and ADHD, evidence for its effectiveness exists in the form of steadily increasing sales of natural, organic foods.
Processed food alternatives are now commonly found in special sections in many grocery stores which also shows that people are finding that natural foods are helpful in easing symptoms which may be at least partly caused by food allergies or sensitivities.
The Feingold diet aims to eliminate as many artificial food additives like artificial coloring, preservatives, flavors and other added substances from the diet as possible.
These additives are now known to irritate the stomach and digestive system which current research is showing contains a very complex and sensitive nervous system called the enteric nervous system.
The enteric nervous system consists of such an extensive neural network that some researchers are calling it "the second brain.
" Since this abdominal brain works along with the head brain as well as the rest of the nervous system, it offers some explanation of how food irritants can cause the symptoms involved in ADD and ADHD.
Switching from processed food to natural, additive free food is a good start.
Another option is to find and remove specific foods that may be causing an allergic irritation.
Some common culprits are grain products with gluten, unfermented dairy products, unfermented soy products and refined sugar.
Many people have experienced improvements making these diet changes.
For example, symptoms like recurring infections, sleep disorders, poor focus and concentration, and bed wetting are a few problems that have been helped by these diet changes.
Another option that works well with ADD and ADHD diet changes are homeopathic and herbal remedies along with specific dietary supplements.
A natural health care provider can help with putting together a customized plan of action.
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