For those seeking a holistic element in ADHD treatment, a well balanced healthy diet should be the first stop on your journey. This can be one of the more challenging aspects of how you approach your ADHD treatment as those diagnosed often struggle with impulse control. In other words “snack-attacks” are a very common occurrence and can be hard to curb.
This really lines up as most medications are prescribed to help with dopamine levels and another way children or adults with ADHD can get a dopamine hit quick and fast, is through eating their favourite foods.
In foods that contain sugar, salt, caffeine, and complex carbohydrates it has been proven that there are addictive properties.
Why Does Food Matter So Much?
Any diet that is high in fat and sugar can cause inflammation in the brain over time and stop the growth of new neurons. This means that there is a stalemate in your mind and trying to learn new things, or formulate new pathways in the brain to change lifestyle patterns can be very challenging.
What Should You Avoid Eating?
There are many treats and snacks out there that are worthy of being our guilty pleasures, mentally it will be hard to give these up as the old saying goes, “stress doesn’t like a salad”. Some foods you can start cutting out include:
- Caffeine
- Baked goods
- Deep fried foods
- Processed foods
- Food high in trans fats
Nothing worth doing is easy, and if this challenge of changing your eating habits is met it will pay dividends when it comes to your ADHD symptoms.
What Should You Eat?
Everyone seems to know what is considered a healthy food versus an unhealthy choice. That isn’t the problem, the problem is having the will power and consistency to continually make the right choices in the kitchen.
Here are some foods that you should keep stocked in your kitchen regularly:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Healthy protein
- Legumes, nuts, and beans
- Omega 3 fatty acids (fish oil, tofu, flaxseed oil)
Consider all the above categories as brain food and you are fuelling your brain to help combat any negative symptoms of ADHD.
In the end, what we put into our bodies directly affects our moods, energy, and brain function. Be kind to your body, gut, and mind by feeding yourself with the right foods. That being said, don’t be too hard on yourself in you slip up, or indulge on a special occasion. No one can be expected to skip out on eating their own birthday cake.