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.
My wife figured this out 8 years ago with our third daughter. The culprit was wheat gluten, and its in a lot of stuff. It led me to become an organic farmer. My wife makes three meals from scratch every day simply because we must. But the result has been worth it. What once was a nearly uncontrollable child is now a very disciplined, active 13 year old.
I’ve heard that artificial food coloring can also be a culprit in many cases.