The Role that Diet plans in Learning Disorders like ADHD
Dr. Benjamin F. Feingold:
1. Study:
- 1975
- Hypothesis:
i. food additives and salicylates are causing hyperactivity symptoms
ii. Therefore they should be eliminated from diets
- Designed the Feingold Diet plan
- First to really suggest a treatment for hyperactivity/ADHD through food.
- studies that prove this connection
- 1975
- Hypothesis:
i. food additives and salicylates are causing hyperactivity symptoms
ii. Therefore they should be eliminated from diets
- Designed the Feingold Diet plan
- First to really suggest a treatment for hyperactivity/ADHD through food.
- studies that prove this connection
Neuroscience and psychology of Diet and ADHD
1. ADHD (Attention Defecit Hyperactivity Disorder)
- Basic definition: a learning disability involving a number of symptoms involving behavior and concentration problems such as hyperactivity, impulsivity, and distractibility.
2. How can diet negatively affect ADHD symptoms?
- People with ADHD tend to have low levels of zinc and copper.
i. Zinc is essential for metabolizing vital enzemes in the body. The consumption of food additives like Yellow 5 for instance
- Basic definition: a learning disability involving a number of symptoms involving behavior and concentration problems such as hyperactivity, impulsivity, and distractibility.
2. How can diet negatively affect ADHD symptoms?
- People with ADHD tend to have low levels of zinc and copper.
i. Zinc is essential for metabolizing vital enzemes in the body. The consumption of food additives like Yellow 5 for instance
What kinds of foods have been proven to worsen ADHD related symptoms?
1. Food Additives
2. Salicylates
3. sugar
4. food allergens especially dairy and gluten
2. Salicylates
3. sugar
4. food allergens especially dairy and gluten
How can food be used as treatment?
1. Elimination/ control diets
2. Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids (found in fish and flax seed)
3. taking vitamins and supplements
(diet is one aspect - this coupled with medication and therapy have been proven to be very affective.)
2. Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids (found in fish and flax seed)
3. taking vitamins and supplements
(diet is one aspect - this coupled with medication and therapy have been proven to be very affective.)
Conclusion
- Diet does affect ADHD symptoms but it is not a vaible treatment by itself. In studies it was proven to only cause improvement in 55% (Feingold's study) of those tested. It is said that this coupled with medication and therapy is most affective.