Better Understanding ADHD and How It Can Be Managed

The prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children has surged in recent years and the rate of ADHD diagnoses shows no sign of letting up. According to the Centers for Disease Control, from 2003 to 2011 the percentage of children diagnosed with ADHD rose from 7.8 percent to 11 percent.

Doctors have struggled to explain why a diagnosis of ADHD in our children has become more common, but one thing that has clearly contributed to this increase is that schools have become much more focused on diagnosing children who have ADHD. It was not that long ago that many children who today would be diagnosed with ADHD were simply considered “misbehaved.”

A change in our diet over many years, such as the increased consumption of hydrogenated fat and refined sugar, is also believed by many to have contributed to the increase in ADHD.

Junk foods that are highly fatty and sweet are difficult for the body to digest and can also alter the natural balance among the neurotransmitters that regulate behavior. The body has excitatory and calming neurotransmitters. Children with ADHD have a neurotransmitter imbalance, with too many excitatory neurotransmitters and not enough calming neurotransmitters.

Proper nutrition and digestion is essential in treating children with ADHD and with proper nutrition, neurotransmitter balance can often be restored. Many children with ADHD have a digestion imbalance, causing them to crave foods rich in simple carbohydrates and white flour, which are not beneficial to one’s health. When a digestive imbalance is corrected through proper nutrition, cravings for these types of foods subside and the digestive system is easier able to process complex carbohydrates and healthy fats.

In addition to the right diet, supplements such as fish oil can be helpful in treating ADHD. Herbal supplements like Rhodiola can also be beneficial. Rhodiola helps the body to fight stress and can have the same effect as medications used to treat anxiety and stress, without the side effects.

Medications are also commonly used to treat ADHD. While these medications temporarily provide neurotransmitter balance, we believe that restoring proper digestive and bowel function and proper nutrition are the keys to ADHD treatment. A 2011 study in The Lancet journal suggests that with a very restrictive diet, children with ADHD could experience a significant reduction in symptoms.

Of course, every case is different and in each instance the medical team treating a patient should determine the best course of therapy.

It may be difficult for a child to understand why eating a diet rich in nutrients and protein is important to their health. However, it is often true that once a child sees and feels the benefits of this diet, they will become more willing to adhere. This does not mean that a child with ADHD can never enjoy a treat like candy or a cookie, but like everything else, it must be done in moderation.

For frequent readers of this space, one theme is clearly dominant: What we put into our bodies is the best indicator of what we get out of them. Our country is dealing with record levels of such illnesses as autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, diabetes and digestive problems like irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. While we may never fully know what has caused the surge of ADHD in our children or what exactly is the best form of treatment, we do know that balance in lifestyle and in what we eat, proper exercise and sufficient rest are the three legs of the good health stool.

Steve Bernardi is a registered compounding pharmacist and co-owner of Johnson Compounding & Wellness in Waltham (www.naturalcompounder.com). Readers with questions about natural or homeopathic medicine, compounded medications, or health in general can email steve@naturalcompounder.com or call 781-893-3870.