Does Omega 3 help ADHD?!

Does Omega 3 help ADHD?

Deficiencies in zinc and certain essential fatty acids, - Omega 3 - the key components of fats and oils, may have effects on behavior.

P.S.

Sugar is often cited as contributing to hyperactivity, although study findings (especially those funded by the sugar industry) are mixed. Children who are malnourished as infants are also prone to developing ADHD.

Environmental Toxins: Complications during pregnancy or prenatal exposure to alcohol, nicotine, or environmental pollutants such as dioxins or PCBs may also be partly responsible. In addition, accumulation of even minimal amounts of lead in the body, which usually arises when children consume paint chips that are peeling off the walls of old homes, may cause distractibility and troubled thinking typical of ADHD.

The mineral magnesium may help to lessen symptoms of ADHD. Magnesium is often included in multivitamin formulas.

Taking a vitamin B complex, which contains a mix of B vitamins along with extra B3 and B6, helps to promote nervous system health.

Damage from free radicals, oxygen compounds produced during ordinary metabolism, can harm brain, nervous system, and other body tissues. The antioxidant vitamin C, taken with flavonoids, is important for preserving cell health throughout the body.

Evening primrose oil and borage oil are both rich in GLA (gamma-linolenic acid), a "good" type of fat that promotes nervous system health. Some studies suggest that GLA can be particularly beneficial in those who are deficient in the mineral zinc.

The nutritional supplement DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol) helps to foster production of brain chemicals essential for healthy mental processing. Taking DMAE may therefore help to improve focus and concentration. Some researchers suggest that DMAE improves short-term, or working, memory, deficits of which have been noted in people with ADHD.

Dietary changes. So many foods and substances have been shown to enhance hyperactivity that it's truly worth the effort of at least giving the following dietary elimination program at least a six to eight week trial. If you notice improvement by eliminating certain foods, you can gradually reintroduce certain foods to determine which are the real culprits.

Look for chemicals. Remove as many additives, artificial colorings, and other chemicals as possible. You will learn to become an expert label reader. After a few days, you'll be surprised by how many chemicals we routinely ingest.

Check for hidden food allergies and remove any "positives" from your diet. Some research has reported that behavior improves when likely allergens are restricted.

Eliminate salicylates, including aspirin and salicylate-rich foods, from your diet. Such foods include some spices (chili powder, cloves, oregano, paprika) and an array of fruits, vegetables, and nuts (apples, grapes, oranges, plums, peaches, all types of berries, tomatoes, bell peppers, almonds, and peanuts). This program, called the Feingold diet, also restricts additives as well as petroleum-based preservatives such as BHA and BHT from the diet. Eliminate such foods for about two weeks, then gradually re-introduce them into your diet to see which may be contributing to behavioral problems.

Try more caffeine. Caffeine acts as a stimulant, like Ritalin, and some nutritionally oriented doctors actually prescribe it in capsule form.

Cut out white sugar. Many people report a "sugar high" when they ingest sugary foods and drinks such as candy, cakes, sweetened fruit juice, or soda pop.

Lifestyle changes. In addition to dietary changes, a few simple strategies for dealing with everyday issues more effectively may help. Time-tested tips include:

Break large projects into smaller, simpler tasks, setting deadlines for each part. Create a daily "to do" list, with a schedule for completing each one, and reward yourself when you are done. Write notes to yourself to help you remember.

Choose quiet settings to work and relax. Limit TV watching and computer games. Instead, listen to music, audiotapes or stories, or old-time radio shows.

Ask for clarification. If you don't understand an assignment or task, ask a teacher or your boss to repeat the instructions.

Try to stay organized, keeping phone numbers and addresses in one place, and other related groups of items (such as CDs or photos) in another.

Focus on a new activity or sport. Many people with ADHD benefit from activities that limit stimulation, such as tai chi, yoga, or tae kwon do. Learning these kinds of focused exercises helps to teach self-restraint and discipline.