Just so you all know

I heard a story recently about diet and ADHD.
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http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2011/03/11/berries.jpg?t=1299867477&s=2

http://www.npr.org/2011/03/12/134456594 ... than-drugs

Study: Diet May Help ADHD Kids More Than Drugs
March 12, 2011

Hyperactivity. Fidgeting. Inattention. Impulsivity. If your child has one or more of these qualities on a regular basis, you may be told that he or she has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. If so, they'd be among about 10 percent of children in the United States.

Kids with ADHD can be restless and difficult to handle. Many of them are treated with drugs, but a new study says food may be the key. Published in The Lancet journal, the study suggests that with a very restrictive diet, kids with ADHD could experience a significant reduction in symptoms.

The study's lead author, Dr. Lidy Pelsser of the ADHD Research Centre in the Netherlands, writes in The Lancet that the disorder is triggered in many cases by external factors — and those can be treated through changes to one's environment.

"ADHD, it's just a couple of symptoms — it's not a disease," the Dutch researcher tells All Things Considered weekend host Guy Raz.

The way we think about — and treat — these behaviors is wrong, Pelsser says. "There is a paradigm shift needed. If a child is diagnosed ADHD, we should say, 'OK, we have got those symptoms, now let's start looking for a cause.' "

Pelsser compares ADHD to eczema. "The skin is affected, but a lot of people get eczema because of a latex allergy or because they are eating a pineapple or strawberries."

According to Pelsser, 64 percent of children diagnosed with ADHD are actually experiencing a hypersensitivity to food. Researchers determined that by starting kids on a very elaborate diet, then restricting it over a few weeks' time.

"It's only five weeks," Pelsser says. "If it is the diet, then we start to find out which foods are causing the problems."

Teachers and doctors who worked with children in the study reported marked changes in behavior. "In fact, they were flabbergasted," Pelsser says.

"After the diet, they were just normal children with normal behavior," she says. No longer were they easily distracted or forgetful, and the temper tantrums subsided.

Some teachers said they never thought it would work, Pelsser says. "It was so strange," she says, "that a diet would change the behavior of a child as thoroughly as they saw it. It was a miracle, a teacher said."

But diet is not the solution for all children with ADHD, Pelsser cautions.

"In all children, we should start with diet research," she says. If a child's behavior doesn't change, then drugs may still be necessary. "But now we are giving them all drugs, and I think that's a huge mistake," she says.

Also, Pelsser warns, altering your child's diet without a doctor's supervision is inadvisable.

"We have got good news — that food is the main cause of ADHD," she says. "We've got bad news — that we have to train physicians to monitor this procedure because it cannot be done by a physician who is not trained."

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Here is transcript of interview:

GUY RAZ, host:

ADHD - or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - is said to affect up to 10 percent of American children, and almost 3 million of those kids take medication to control it.

But Dutch researcher Lidy Pelsser says as many as two-thirds of those kids may not need medicine at all. It's a conclusion she recently published in the British medical journal Lancet. And Pelsser, who runs the ADHD Research Centre in the Netherlands, argues that in many cases, behaviors usually associated with ADHD can be controlled by changes in diet.

Dr. LIDY PELSSER (ADHD Research Centre): ADHD, it's just a couple of symptoms; it's not a disease. We should look for the cause of it. Like in eczema, the skin is affected. But a lot of people get eczema because of a latex allergy, or because they are eating a pineapple or strawberries.

And I think there is a paradigm shift needed. If a child is diagnosed ADHD, we should say OK, we have got those symptoms; now, let's start looking for the cause.

RAZ: The majority of children who are diagnosed ADHD are given medication, but you believe that this research suggests that many of those children may not need it, that they may simply need to alter their diets.

Dr. PELSSER: Well, what we know now is that in 64 percent of children with ADHD, ADHD is caused by food. It's a hypersensitivity reaction to food. So then, there is 36 percent left. In those children, we could start - research for dyslexia, for highly talented, or maybe children who are not so talented and who have to do too much in school and just don't manage to do it, and they are getting distracted, too, and they start fidgeting, too.

RAZ: Now, you're not saying that some children with ADHD should not be given medication, right? I mean, you're saying that even...

Dr. PELSSER: No.

RAZ: ...with your research, some kids will still need medication.

Dr. PELSSER: Yes. I think in all children, we should start with a diet research. And if that is not successful, if behavior doesn't - changes, well then we do need drugs. Of course, we do need them. But now, we are giving them all drugs, and I think that's a huge mistake.

RAZ: Explain how you tested the children. What did you feed them, for example?

Dr. PELSSER: In fact, we started with a very elaborate diet. And after two weeks, we made an inventory of the problems. If the problems still were there, we started to restrict the diet until we came to that few food diet - with only rice, turkey, pear and lettuce - and water.

RAZ: And we can know - or you say that your research shows that it only takes about five weeks to determine whether...

Dr. PELSSER: Yes, five weeks of diet. Parents should not start a diet for a year or so. It's only five weeks to find out whether diet is the cause.

RAZ: Right.

Dr. PELSSER: And if it isn't, that child can have drugs, of course. And if it is the diet, then we start to find out which foods are causing the problems.

RAZ: Right. But how would a parent listening now go about trying this? I mean, what should they do? You know, should they go talk to the doctors?

Dr. PELSSER: Well, we have got the good news that food is the main cause of ADHD. We've got the bad news that we have to train physicians to monitor this procedure because it cannot be done by a physician who is not trained.

RAZ: Now, did you hear from any of the schoolteachers of these kids, or even the physicians who describe changes in behavior?

Dr. PELSSER: Well, in fact, they were flabbergasted. After the diet, they were just normal children with normal behavior. They were no more easily distracted. They were no more forgetful. There were no more temper tantrums. Some teachers saying that they never thought it would work - it was so strange that a diet would change the behavior of a child as thoroughly as they saw it. It was a miracle, a teacher said.

RAZ: That's Lidy Pessler. She's from the ADHD Research Center in Eindhoven, in the Netherlands. She led a study that links diet to ADHD. It was published in the latest issue of the journal Lancet.

Dr. Pessler, thank you so much.

Ms. PESSLER: I was glad to join you.
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Here is one response to the story:

Toni Geiser (cantle) wrote:

Keeping a food diary helped us figure out what was triggering my daughters behavioral issues. She was prescribed Zoloft & Ritalin at age 4! We did not want to go down that road. Instead, we gave her Omega 3 fish oils (available in gummies)which helped tremendously. We took her off food dyes, especially Red #40. However ultimatley we discovered she has Celiac Disease and needed to be gluten free. Since being gluten free she has blossomed and while we have relapses (always due to what she has eaten) she is for the most part much improved. I would like to encourage others to consider diet changes before medications. Celiac Disease is genetic.
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It sure seems this has been on the rise in recent years. That could be a clue as to why. I am sure it is not so black and white, but a combination of things, but food allergies could be part of it. This leads me to wonder about all the altered foods for higher production and if those chemicals used are having an impact.

Awesome post!

major bean wrote: ADHD. Any parent who would let their child be doped up is unloving and not fit to be a parent.

My parents refused to recognize ADD and figured it was behavioral.

Parents that think like you or listen to trolls like you are putting their kids through a hellish school experience for no need.

Wily, the diet sounds nice. I tried several. They don't work long term. They can alleviate symptoms short term, but the symptoms always return.

I hate to be a troublemaker but maybe SC and CG need to apologize to MB.

Nmysys wrote: I hate to be a troublemaker but maybe SC and CG need to apologize to MB.

That's almost as clueless a statement as MB's original one.

Do you think that MB posting some random "anti-ADHD drug" crap somehow justifies denouncing parents of ADHD kids who have to use medication to have somewhat normal lives as "unloving" and "unfit"? In the past 30 years there have been about 30 different "theories" on the "causes" of ADHD from bad mothering to food additives, each and every one in its turn debunked after putting parents through needless expense, heartbreak, and disappointment. Not to mention the kids who have suffered while their parents believed in all these crackpot theories while their kids struggled in school, in relationships, and later, in the work world with their problems unaddressed.

Yes, ADHD is a controversial diagnosis. Yes, there are more kids placed on medication than should be. There are even kids who have been wrongly placed on medication that have been harmed by it. That does NOT make parents whose children require medication unfit, or unloving, and anyone who suggests they are is worse than clueless, they are a totally unfeeling, uninformed.....never mind.

And you think SC should APOLOGIZE to him? I'm amazed she was able to answer him so graciously, but in my opinion she not only wasted her graciousness, she was wasting her breath trying to educate someone who clearly only wants to hear his own point of view.

I guess you make one more to add to the ignore list....

My two cents:


Broad and sweeping generalities serve no purpose. I can't imagine how challenging it must be to have a child that has special requirements because of numerous different reasons. Raising any child is difficult enough. I think, like with everything, there is good and bad. Some parents refuse to address the problem, others go overboard and take the easier (not easy) way out and over-medicate (in this example), while others like SC seem to delve into the issue and educate themselves and try different things to see what works best. No judging here from me. The only thing you'll get is my support and well wishes for your family,

:thumbsup:

AspenValley wrote:

Nmysys wrote: I hate to be a troublemaker but maybe SC and CG need to apologize to MB.

That's almost as clueless a statement as MB's original one.

Do you think that MB posting some random "anti-ADHD drug" crap somehow justifies denouncing parents of ADHD kids who have to use medication to have somewhat normal lives as "unloving" and "unfit"? In the past 30 years there have been about 30 different "theories" on the "causes" of ADHD from bad mothering to food additives, each and every one in its turn debunked after putting parents through needless expense, heartbreak, and disappointment. Not to mention the kids who have suffered while their parents believed in all these crackpot theories while their kids struggled in school, in relationships, and later, in the work world with their problems unaddressed.

Yes, ADHD is a controversial diagnosis. Yes, there are more kids placed on medication than should be. There are even kids who have been wrongly placed on medication that have been harmed by it. That does NOT make parents whose children require medication unfit, or unloving, and anyone who suggests they are is worse than clueless, they are a totally unfeeling, uninformed.....never mind.

And you think SC should APOLOGIZE to him? I'm amazed she was able to answer him so graciously, but in my opinion she not only wasted her graciousness, she was wasting her breath trying to educate someone who clearly only wants to hear his own point of view.

I guess you make one more to add to the ignore list....

I know I couldn't have been as polite as she was. Not to mention as much self-control she has to walk away from this thread. I know myself well enough to know that is not the response I would have given. lol

I cannot imagine a parent who would subject their child to drug treatments. A parent must research after the recommendation has been made to them, and then deny approval after seeing all of the questions concerning such a treatment. If for no other reason than doubt.

Trusting doctors and other "experts" is extremely foolish. ALL medical treatments are the decision of the patient or guardian, not the doctors. That is the reason that consent forms were invented.

Doctors and experts are human, with human motivations, limitations, and agendas. Parents should have ONLY ONE motivation: what is the absolute wisest upbringing for their child.

There is too much controversy in the area of ADHD for a parent to consent to this diagnosis and treatment. Psychotropic drugs have dangers which will affect the child that are irreversible.

There are alternatives:

ADHD Treatment - Why Choose Neurofeedback Over Drugs for Attention Deficit Disorder Treatment?

For 30 years the Drake Institute has made biofeedback or neurofeedback the centerpiece of our non drug ADHD treatment programs. There is a learning curve in acquiring clinical expertise in utilizing neurofeedback and biofeedback . Our having helped more than 11,000 patients over the past 30 years has produced a level of knowledge and clinical expertise that could not have been acquired in any other way.

For the past 2 decades, we committed to helping ADHD patients with our preferred non drug ADHD treatment. As a medical clinic we could prescribe medication for ADHD children, but for clinical effectiveness and safety we choose our non drug ADHD treatment.

Unlike drugs when used for ADHD treatment, neurofeedback used properly does not cause negative side effects. In addition, brainmap guided neurofeedback can produce long term improvements which drugs cannot. The drugs can only produce a short-lived improvement. Furthermore, brainmap guided neurofeedback is very empowering to the ADHD child, and helps restore their self esteem by enabling them to develop the neurological resources and skills necessary to succeed. Our clinical staff of therapists provides much needed support throughout the ADHD Treatment for the parents to facilitate the ADHD child's improvements integrating into their everyday lives.

the link: http://www.drakeinstitute.com/adhd-treatment