Are Alternative Methods For Treating ADHD Valid? - Getting The Facts

You would be amazed to find so many references to diet when researching ADHD. Now diet may not be the key or even the best one of alternative methods for treating ADHD. But it is certainly getting more attention and it deserves to because food does affect how our brain works! Just think how that cup of coffee will immediately make you feel more alert or how carbohydrates can give you more energy.

Research studies on how food affects our brain function.

A UCLA professor of neurosurgery, Prof. Fernando Gomez-Pinilla has no doubt at all that food is vital and is rather like a pharmaceutical compound. The research that this professor has done has appeared in the an issue of the journal Nature Reviews Neuroscience. Those studies were published after surveying over 150 other research papers on how food affects our brains. It also affects the way we sleep and carry out our daily grind.

Food and ADHD

It does not take a great leap of the imagination to realize that the neurotransmitters in the brain are also going to be affected one way or the other by what we eat. The neurotransmitters which are involved in brain function are dopamine, norepinephrine and also to a certain extent adrenaline. The one essential food element that affects our brain function is the omega- 3 fatty acid which is found in certain foods. As these are usually out of sync in ADHD, we can see the relevance of diet and food when considering alternative methods for treating ADHD.

Australian study.

Over 400 school children in Australian were given a rather special drink which contained not only Omega -3 fatty acids but also essential elements such as zinc, iron, vitamin B mix and also vitamin C. After only six months, these children were displaying better cognitive function and were doing better at learning and memory tests than the control group who were on a normal diet. There are numerous other studies which all point to the increasing importance of food when looking at all the alternative methods of treating ADHD.

Best foods to eat which support better brain function.

Ramping up on foods which contain the vital Omega-3 fatty acids can easily be done. Here is a list of the most common ones:-

• kiwi fruit

• nuts

• salmon

• green leafy vegetables

Other alternative methods for treating ADHD

There are several alternative methods which are now receiving a lot of attention. These range from:-

• neurofeedback

• yoga

• play therapy

• pet therapy

• sensory integration

• chiropractic

• sports and exercise.

• homeopathic remedies

At the end of the day I believe that diet and food will become central to any alternative methods for treating ADHD while the others I have mentioned above will become secondary. Why not check out my website to get some more facts before deciding what is right for your child.

Robert Locke is a Health enthusiast who specializes in children's health. He has written extensively on ADHD. Discover what Natural ADHD Therapy is available. Find out about ADHD natural cures.

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