Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects how you behave.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects how you behave.
Although symptoms are very diverse, many people with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating, and may be more likely to act on impulse. How it affects you or your child will differ from anyone else you know with this diagnosis.
ADHD - Nutrients for Optimal Brain Functioning
How can nutritional therapy and lifestyle measures help manage symptoms and improve brain function? This article looks at the best foods and supplements to include in your diet to help manage the symptoms of ADHD.
The Magic of Magnesium
Magnesium plays a key role in the formation of neurotransmitters. These are chemicals that help send messages between your brain cells. So, if you are deficient, it could be affecting your brain chemistry.
Magnesium has an important role in serotonin production, which helps to regulate your mood. It also helps you get to sleep as it is converted into melatonin and dopamine metabolism. This is the “reward” and “motivation” neurotransmitter.
Studies show that about 50% of people in the US and Europe get less than the recommended daily amount of magnesium. Yet, the true figure is likely to be even less. This is because many individuals do not eat enough plant-based foods, where magnesium is found.
Magnesium is also vital for energy production, in addition to other key nutrients, such as iron and co-enzyme Q10.
Ironically, some ADHD medications deplete magnesium stores in the body. So correcting a deficiency may also have the added benefit of helping your medication work better.
Magnesium is also involved in more than 300 reactions in your body, including:
Energy creation: helps convert food into energy
Protein formation: helps create new proteins from amino acids
Gene maintenance: helps create and repair DNA and RNA
Muscle movements: helps with the contraction and relaxation of muscles
Nervous system regulation: helps regulate neurotransmitters, which send messages throughout your brain and nervous system
Hormone regulation: helps with normal insulin secretion and insulin action in your body’s tissues
Taking a magnesium supplement can have profound effects on energy production, sleep quality, anxiety levels and impulsiveness.
Correcting other nutrient deficiencies is also very important.
Bioresonance Therapy and Quantum Analysis testing are both available at BioMed Natural Health Clinic to assess any potential deficiencies.
Fats and Brain Health
Did you know that 60% of your brain’s dried weight is fat? This is one of the reasons a low-fat diet can be so damaging to your health. You also require fat in your diet to obtain fat soluble vitamins, such as A, D, E and K.
Many fats are made in your body, but the essential fatty acids (EFA) (omega-3 and omega-6) are not. Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly important for brain health, are found primarily in fish, especially “oily” fish such as salmon. While you can obtain some plant-based omega-3 fats, studies have shown that some individuals have difficulty converting them into omega-3 fatty acids: EPA and DHA.
Clinical studies suggest that children with ADHD have lower levels of EFAs, both omega-6s and omega-3s. Taking Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) and fish oil (containing omega-3 fatty acids) may help reduce ADHD symptoms.
Omega-3 fats support:
Membrane functioning and receptor site formation of brain cells (neurons), without which they don’t work properly.
Serotonin and dopamine synthesis. Serotonin is the neurotransmitter that helps control mental activity, mood, behaviour and helps you sleep. Dopamine helps regulate impulsive behavioural tendencies and is part of the brain’s “reward centre”.
The number of dendrites - which help communicate messages and number of synapses (the bridges between neurons).
Omega-6 fatty acids are also important and can be obtained via EPO seeds and some unprocessed organic omega-6 oils. Non-organic poultry, meat, eggs, both organic or non-organic grains (wheat in bread, pasta, flour) and cereals are also high in omega-6 fatty acids.
However, Arachidonic acid from the omega-6 family is an inflammatory omega-6 fatty acid. In excess, omega-6 fats may lead to inflammatory diseases and mood disorders and compete with the amount of omega-3 fats we need.
Bioresonance/Quantum analysis testing can be especially helpful here to ensure that your levels are optimal. To make sure your omega-3 Index remains in the target range, it is best to re-check it every 6-12 months.
Other supplements helpful in the relief of ADHD symptoms
B vitamins – important for energy metabolism.
Vitamin C – helps to convert dopamine to adrenaline. Low levels can impact how you handle stress and getting to sleep at night.
Oligomeric proanthocyanidins (or OPCs for short) – can help normalise brain waves, neurotransmitter functioning, histamine regulation and reduce free radical damage.
Eat More Protein and less sugar
Whilst supplementing with vitamins and minerals can be extremely helpful, a well balanced diet is vital for optimum physical and mental health.
Diets high in refined carbohydrates – such as biscuits or breakfast cereals (with added sugar) – do not contain essential brain boosting nutrients. Instead, try to include more healthy carbohydrates such as vegetables, cabbage, cauliflower, and other green leafy vegetables. These foods also contain much needed fibre and phytonutrients for your gut microbiome and gut-brain axis.
Protein is another vital building block for neurotransmitter formation. It is found in meat, fish and eggs, as well as nuts, seed, legumes and grains.
Protein (and fat) is also one of the key regulators of your blood sugar. When your blood sugar – and insulin – rise and fall too rapidly, this can result in many symptoms associated with ADHD.
Including:
- Irritability
- Anger
- Anxiety
- Mood swings
Blood sugar levels that remain too high (hyperglycemia), or too low (hypoglycemia), or that fluctuate too rapidly, can contribute to emotional dysregulation. As a result, if you have less than optimal blood sugar regulation, in addition to changes in dopamine and adrenaline neurotransmitter activity, this could make your symptoms worse.
How BioMed can help
At Biomed we are dedicated to helping people maintain/restore their health, and prevent unnecessary degeneration, through the most advanced technology today.
To assess your individual needs, as well as offering computerised screening, BioMed can provide a wide range of diagnostic profiles taken from hair, blood, or saliva including:
- Metabolic Profiles
- Endocrinology Profiles
- Gastrointestinal Profiles
- Immunology Profiles
- Nutritional Profiles
- Energetic Profiles - Quantum Analysis & Bioresonance Therapy
- Genovations™
- Methylation Panel
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