Parents Seek Alternatives to ADHD Medications

Article by healthybalance.com staff
Posted on June 30, 2008

Side effects of ADHD medications and their recent FDA black box labels warning about suicide risks are leading more and more parents to seek non-chemical alternatives. Adderall, Ritalin and Concerta all increase risk for sudden death, heart attacks and hallucinations. In addition, The Canadian Medical Association Journal reported that more than 10 percent of children taking medication for ADHD experience decreased appetite and weight loss, insomnia, abdominal pain and personality changes.

Parents of approximately two-thirds of all children diagnosed with ADHD have counted on alternative treatments. The most common alternatives center on diet. Many parents have found that processed foods, fast foods, sugars and artificial sweeteners and food colorings, preservatives and other additives aggravate their children’s ADHD behaviors.

These parents now have scientific backing. A 2007 study, reported in The Lancet, looked at how artificial colorings and preservatives impacted hyperactive behavior in children. After eating an additive-free diet for six weeks, the children drank either a placebo beverage or one containing a mix of additives. The additive group had increased hyperactive behaviors. Also, the American Academy of Pediatrics’ AAP Grand Rounds (Feb. 2008) reported, “The overall findings of the study are clear and require that even we skeptics, who have long doubted parental claims of the effects of various foods on the behavior of their children, admit we might have been wrong.”

Other parents are increasingly turning to supplements (such as fish oil), biofeedback, massage, yoga and herbal remedies including St. John’s wort, Echinacea, ginkgo biloba and ginseng. Using any of these alternative and complementary treatments is always done best under the advisement of an alternative health professional.

How to eat and beat ADHD

1. Eat real, not processed, fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and “brain” foods. Include flax seed oil for EFAs and fish oil or wild caught fish for DHAs and EPAs. Support serotonin production with turkey, sunflower seeds, and bananas.
2. Food allergy can cause ADHD behaviors. Common triggers are sugar, cow’s milk, wheat, yeast, corn, eggs and chocolate.
3. Supplement with a high quality multi-vitamin/mineral (B vitamins, calcium, zinc, magnesium and chromium are essential).
4. Detoxify. The high fiber content in fruits, vegetable and whole grains will start the process. In addition, trade soft drinks and sugary juice drinks for pure water—at least 8 glasses a day. Avoid all processed, fast and chemical laden convenience foods for a period of time to give the body time to cleanse itself thoroughly.

Brainpower OJ Smoothie
• 1 scoop of soy protein powder
• 1 scoop of green powder
• 2 T. ground flaxseed
• 1 banana
• ½ C. soy milk
• ½ C. orange juice

Blend and enjoy!