The Diagnosis
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have behavioral conditions which can cause high levels of energy, lack of focus, and impulsive behavior. Over 6 million children have been diagnosed with ADHD surveyed by the CDC. The numbers continue to rise year after year. These disorders are different symptoms of the same underlying cause.
Exchanging Medication with Nutrition
The standard response in most medical situations is to prescribe a pill. Unfortunately, these pills are not a long term answer to the neurological function for children, and also adults. In fact, many disorders and diseases are prescribed medication to mask the symptom instead of dealing with the main issue. Prescription medications have never been tested or approved for kids, yet we prescribe them anyways. Luckily, there are multiple ways to improve ADHD/ADD solely through nutrition.
Chiropractic Plays a Role
There are many misconceptions of chiropractic care helping back and neck pain only. This is far from true. Chiropractic care helps with countless issues that stem from the nervous system. 90% of the stimulation to your brain is connected to your spine. When chiropractors adjust the spine, the spine comes back into alignment to function properly. Chiropractic works well with ADHD/ADD specifically from helping their body balance itself to a homeostasis state rather than a high stressed state. Chiropractic care helps clear blockage to the nervous system so the body can perform to its highest ability; your part is to eliminating nutritional interference for yourself or your children who have ADHD/ADD.
5 Nutritional Shifts to Help Underlying Issues
1. Essential Fatty Acids
Your body needs fat to function in a healthy way. Stay away from hydrogenated oil, vegetable oil, and canola oil. Any oil with trans fat is hard for your body to break down. Healthy fats include coconut oil, avocados, flaxseed oil, grass fed meat, free range organic eggs, and hemp oil. The way these help ADHD/ADD is by fueling your brain and lowering inflammation.
2. Sugar/Grains
Grains turn into sugar as soon as they are consumed into your body. Grain is one of the top genetically modified foods and contains preservatives, round up, and other toxins. Grains and sugar both effect the neurology in your brain. Reducing, but better yet eliminating, all sugars and grains (pizza, pasta, french fries) will allow the brain to neurologically function properly and even allow you or your child to get off medication.
3. Chemicals
Removing toxic chemicals in your food and home will decrease stress levels and allow the brain to focus more. This includes food dyes, preservatives, cleaning products, laundry detergent, etc. The rule of thumb is if you can’t read it, you shouldn’t be eating it. You have to become the expert of the food you buy and start reading the ingredients.
4. Supplements
There are many supplements that will help ADHD/ADD such as magnesium, vitamin D3, probiotics, and CBD oil. The key is finding the right provider or physician you trust to suggest what natural supplements to get and where to get them. A natural way for fatty acids are chia seeds and a natural way for vitamin D is going into the sun without sunscreen.
5. Water
Remove juice and sodas and drink more water, it’s as simple as that. After 72 hours, in a freshly squeezed juice, it loses all the nutrients and becomes more oxidized. Also, most juices have immense amounts of sugar. Water is vital to clean out toxins and carry nutrients to your brain.