Is It ADHD or a Bad Diet?

Could you or your child have ADHD?

You have had trouble concentrating at work. It seems as if you’ll go stir crazy if you have to wait more than five minutes for anything. Now that we are in lockdown due to a global pandemic, you feel like you are going to climb the walls.

You’re not alone.

But if these feelings are present most of the time, even when we are not dealing with COVID-19, then the problem could be attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.

What is ADHD?

We hear the acronym tossed around a lot when it comes to children, but what does it really mean in a physical sense? For someone affected by this disorder, there are many symptoms, with the most obvious being a person losing focus and having trouble concentrating on their work. Their minds wander to other things and are brought back to task when someone calls attention to their mental drifting. their train of thought.

People suffering from ADHD often seem to fidget all the time, or, as has been described by parent of children with ADHD, as if they are driven by a motor. They can’t sit still for any length of time. The only thing that calms them down is to keep moving or doing some sort of activity.

While this is good for the student, in a classroom this can be distracting to the other students and the teacher. ADHD was often mistaken for bad behavior until it became better understood, but there are still people biased against those with ADHD at school and in the workplace because people with ADHD are ‘wired differently’.

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder is often misconstrued as bad behavior or poor effort. It can also be put down to ‘bad parenting’, especially if a child has poor impulse control, another sign of ADHD.

A child or adult can be labeled by their behavior when there is actually a legitimate health-related explanation. Many parents chalk it up to being a hyper child and let it go, especially if the child still manages to make decent grades and have friends.

Many adults who miss being diagnosed as children only discover they have ADHD when their children are diagnosed with the disorder. The medical profession did not know much about the condition 30 or 40 years ago. In fact, there are still some doctors who ‘don’t believe’ it is an actual health problem, despite the fact that medication and natural treatments have been proven to relieve symptoms, sometimes within a week or two.

Sadly, for some adults who have suffered all their lives with ADHD, they really only diagnose their own problem when the symptoms sound so familiar, they can see the parallels. They also know they have passed it along to their children. They feel relief but also sadness at the years of turmoil that could have been avoided. They might also feel guilt for having passed it along.

The causes of ADHD are varied. In addition to genetics, there are a number of theories about the causes, including possible chemical imbalance, brain trauma due to injury, toxins, other brain disorders, and less than proper care during pregnancy. Scientists are also looking at exposure to certain things found in foods, such as mercury in fish, which a woman and her unborn child might be exposed to in the course of her normal eating habits whilst pregant.

A lot of women don’t even know they are pregnant for several weeks, or even months.  The trouble is, everything they are doing during that period of time is contributing to the health of their unborn baby.

The brain stem is the first thing to develop in a fetus, so if the mother suffers from alcoholism, smoking, or substance abuse, the chances of ADHD may increase. Not getting enough nutrients in the diet during pregnancy also affects fetal development. Women who don’t know they are pregnant will not be taking pre-natal vitamins, which are designed to supplement her regular diet. They are rich in folic acid, for example, which are normally found in leafy greens. Folic acid is essential for normal cerebrospinal development.

It has been hinted that the diet of the child, and therefore the adult, can cause ADHD symptoms. Studies have shown a link between artificial food coloring and behavior. A poor or improper diet also affects attention span and concentration, especially a diet high in sugar and chemicals.

A child that is hungry will pay more attention to their stomach than their teacher. They will often fidget, and high or low blood sugar will sometimes cause them to ‘act out’.  Lack of nutrients can cause fatigue which also makes it hard to concentrate in class. In other cases, eating may trigger the ADHD symptoms, such as eating chocolate or drinking beverages loaded with coloring and sugar.

When we were teaching, one student got wired after drinking cola and another after consuming a popular orange drink. Once we noticed how different his manner was in the morning versus after lunch, and the fact that he had a rash around his mouth after the orange drink, we suggested to his parents they look at his lunch box. He went from being one of the most difficult students in the school that teachers and other students dreaded having to deal with, to a model pupil it was a pleasure to have in class who had lots of friends.

So, what should you do if you suspect you or your child have ADHD?

ADHD is diagnosed through a series of tests and questions. A child is not even suspected of the disorder unless they display symptoms for at least six months. Many other social and mental issues can be the cause of ADHD-like behavior, and medicines too, so it is crucial to be detailed when assessing a person or child to see if they have ADHD. The diagnostic criteria have been updated to cover a range of symptoms, and doctors will follow these guidelines when making their assessment.

If you suspect that you or your child suffers from ADHD, don’t hesitate to consult a doctor. Be sure to eat right and exercise. If your child has it, learn more about how to deal with their symptoms, using medications and/or natural methods. Also learn more about how you can help your child succeed academically, both in school, and if and when you decide to take on homeschooling to give them the best start in life.

FURTHER READING

For more information on ADHD in children, you might be interested in:

ADHD: A Beginner’s Guide for Parents: What It Means When Your Child is Diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Health Matters Book 43)

Homeschooling Your Child with ADHD: Steps to Success (Life Matters Book 5)

School Success Strategies for Children With ADHD: A Resource Book for Parents (Life Matters 4)

The Dangers of Artificial Coloring in Food (Health Matters)

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Is It ADHD or a Bad Diet?
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Is It ADHD or a Bad Diet?
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Is it ADHD, or a bad diet that has been causing your symptoms of restlessness and lack of concentration?
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