Many many years ago, when I first started looking into natural alternative ADHD treatment, everything that I read says there’s no conclusive evidence to show dietary intervention works.

But at the same time, I was hearing all these success stories from families, especially families of children with autism. If autism can be treated successfully with dietary changes, then diet must work.

As the years go by, more and more studies and research come out to support the effects of diet composition on kids and their behaviors.

Many studies show that diet composition and meal patterns can have immediate and long-term effects on children’s full genetic potential. These factors can affect their physical growth and mental development.

And it’s been proven that dietary changes can improve brain functions and behaviors in children and adolescents, who have poor nutritional status. Scientists also showed that elimination diets could help kids with ADHD improve their symptoms.

A growing number of researches suggests that diets that eliminate both toxic additives and potential allergens, while loaded with nutrient-rich foods, may play a significant role in the management of ADHD.

A review in 2004 looked at 15 double-blind, placebo-controlled (these are the king of studies) studies. The review concluded that there was a positive effect linking synthetic colors to ADHD symptoms. These studies focused on food coloring elimination.

Another widely publicized population-based study conducted in England concluded that food additives contribute to hyperactivity. The result of this study prompts the European Union Parliament to take action immediately.

In Europe, warning labels are now required to identify food that contains artificial food coloring.

In 2011, a double-blind crossover study of an elimination diet randomized 50 children with ADHD to an individually designed elimination diet and 50 to just “healthy diet” counseling. Thirty children (60%) respond positively to the “individualized” elimination diet, and only 19 of the 30 had symptom relapse when the trigger food was re-introduced.

Processed fast food and beverages are like Trojan horses. You eat things that look like food, but you’re putting a bunch of harmful critters into your body that hijacks your child’s command center (brain).

A diet that consists mainly of processed foods robs your body of the precious vitamins and minerals your body craves. Still, it also fills your body with toxic chemicals, pesticides, hormones, and preservatives, which affect the body’s hormone system and cause unnecessary inflammation.

Your body ends up using most of its resources to get rid of these junks and try to recover while trying to grow and learn in the case of a young child.

If your current diet consists of many processed and packaged food, fast food, etc., some of your symptoms may disappear after removing food additives and loading your body up with a nutrient-rich plant-based diet.

When people think of food allergies, they’re thinking of an immediate physical reaction just like the scene of Will Smith in the movie HITCH”, where he accidentally ate something with shrimp which he is severely allergic to. He immediately started having problems with breathing, itchy skin, and facial swellings.

But the allergies or food intolerance that I’m talking about or commonly seen in children with ADHD are a lot more subtle than that.

Most kids with ADHD suffer from what we called delayed food reactions or what sometimes call “hidden food allergies” or food intolerances.

These reactions to food showed up hours, sometimes up to days after eating a certain food.

It took me years to figure out that I have a gluten sensitivity because I don’t feel anything until about 3 days after eating gluten-containing foods.

In kids, sometimes the only symptoms you have are just “picky eater, who refused most food because young children do not have the verbal skills to voice their discomfort.

Maybe you have food allergy testing done for your child, and all the tests come back negative…I hear you.

I had food allergy testing done, both the RAST and skin prick and all were negative. But I know I’m not crazy and making up symptoms in my head. I have asthma, and I know something triggers it.

I also have sensitivities to gluten and wheat products and other foods, but nothing shows up on the allergy tests.

The truth of the matter is hidden allergies are not detected in the RAST or skin prick tests, which are looking for IgE-mediated reactions.

Food allergy that causes neurological symptoms is not IgE-mediated, but mostly IgG-mediated. And symptoms usually appeared on average 2-3 days after ingestion of trigger foods, which these food allergies super difficult to identify. It took me years to figure out that I have a gluten intolerance.

These food allergies also worsen the symptoms of eczema, asthma, and rhinitis.

Fortunately, there are actually many subtle telltale signs that most people, even doctors, are not aware of.

If your child with ADHD also has asthma, eczema (atopic dermatitis), and frequent ear infections, there’s a very likely chance that he or she has cow’s milk sensitivity.

Telltale signs of hidden food allergy in kids with ADHD:

• Picky eater (not because of ADHD medication)
• constipation
• diarrhea
• stomach ache
• cramps
• bloating
• nausea
• vomiting
• acting silly or hyper after eating certain food
• craves or addicted to certain types of food
• aggression and agitation
• asthma
• eczema
• ear infection
• dark circles around eyes
• nasal congestion
• coughing or wheezing

If you or your child shows any of the above symptoms with no clear explanation, chances are hidden food allergy may be the reason behind it.

If your child has any of these symptoms, an elimination diet should definitely be part of the natural ADHD treatment.

I know. No one wants to change their diet, especially if your child is already picky with food. And who wants to stop eating their favorite foods?

But this step is the most crucial because the elimination diet is not just a trial test diet, it is a therapeutic diet. Eliminating all the potentially harmful trigger food gives the body break to heal itself.

This means that after the body healed with the elimination diet, your child may be able to tolerate more food than before.

For 10% of children with ADHD may be able to completely resolve all ADHD symptoms by simply eliminating the problem of food additives and food allergens

For 20-30% of children may achieve partial symptoms resolution. But that does not mean the elimination diet does not work.

It just means there are a few more things to fix, such as nutrition deficiency or digestion issues.

Ok, there you have it…

I hope you find this information helpful. Let me know what you think and comment below.

Remember ADHD does not doom your child to a life of under-achievement. You know your child is bright, full of potential, and deserves the best. In fact, many of the world’s greatest discoveries and inventions were made by people with ADHD.

If you’re just starting out on this natural ADHD treatment journey, check out my new book Eat to Focus. You’ll learn why your ADHD child is always hungry, the 6 underlying causes of ADHD, what foods to avoid, foods to eat every day to calm the ADHD brain and what supplements to get started with.

Or if you’re ready to go on the fast track and want to work with me to create a customized diet and supplement plan for you or your child, contact us.

I helped my crazy wild child who could not read or write when she was little with the four pillars I laid out in the Eat to Focus book. She’s now a merit scholarship student studying premed at Loyola Chicago University.

So stay strong and keep believing in your child.

Don’t forget to download your free gift “15 Quick and Simple School Day Breakfast Ideas for Kids with ADHD” before you leave.