Pull the trigger We get a lot of letters and e-mails from parents and grandparents asking if there are any alternatives to the Ritalin or Adderall the pediatrician has prescribed their child after diagnosing them with attention deficit or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In a word: yes. Dr. Wright has seen hundreds of children diagnosed with ADHD over the years, and not one of them "needed" a patent medication to combat the disorder. In fact, in the vast majority of cases, the condition can be completely eliminated just by making some changes to what they're eating. Dairy, for example. This has been public enemy No. 1 in Dr. Wright's experience. Eliminating it from the diet of a child with ADHD can make dramatic improvements -- sometimes even reverse the condition altogether. There are other things to consider too. In this month's issue of Nutrition & Healing, Kerry Bone mentions the Feingold Program. This diet is based on the concept that the behavioral issues present in cases of ADHD are the result of allergies and sensitivities to certain things the child is ingesting. So it focuses primarily on eliminating foods that contain artificial preservatives, additives like synthetic colorings and flavorings, and aspartame and other artificial sweeteners. Sounds simple enough, but take a walk through an average supermarket, check out some labels, and you'll feel like you're in a Feingold landmine: It's no wonder ADHD diagnoses have skyrocketed over the past couple of decades. So, obviously, avoiding these triggers isn't as easy as it might seem. But there are some simple steps you can take towards cleaning up your kids' diet -- and likely their ADHD as well. - Eliminate dairy. As Dr. Wright always says, milk is for baby cows, not humans. Same goes for cheese, ice cream, etc.
- Cut back on sugar. I don't know if any parent can eliminate it ENTIRELY from their child's diet, but the less the better!
- Eliminate artificial sweeteners. Sugar itself can be tough, but this one is an absolute must. There are just too many risks associated with these chemicals to feed them to your children, period -- ADHD or not.
- Avoid processed meats and other foods. That means no bologna sandwiches or pre-packaged lunch kits. Put some real chicken or turkey breast on whole wheat bread, throw some baby carrots into a bag, and round it all out with an all-natural applesauce cup and you've got a healthy lunch that, given the chance, most kids will eat -- and like.
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