| Parenting, good or bad does not cause Attention | | | | professionals prefer other avenues than going straight |
| Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactive | | | | to drugs for help. If you can identify the main issue |
| Disorder (ADHD). A calm stable home may help ease | | | | causing the ADD/ADHD then you can hopefully avoid |
| some children, while a home with problems may lead | | | | the medications. Drugs will not cure ADD/ADHD. They |
| to more frustration for a child with ADD/ADHD, but | | | | may just help with the symptoms. |
| these are not the causes of ADD/ADHD. | | | | Diet |
| Studies show that ADD and ADHD are linked to | | | | We stated above that Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) |
| genetics. If a parent had ADD or ADHD the child has a | | | | are very important to brain functioning. There are low |
| seventy percent chance of also having it. | | | | levels of EFAs in children with ADD/ADHD. The brain |
| Studies show that children who exhibit ADD and | | | | cells need fat (Omega 3s-n which are EFAs) to |
| ADHD qualities do not have the proper nutrients for | | | | function properly. The only way to get this Omega 3 |
| brain functioning. Because the body is not receiving | | | | fat is through your diet or vitamins. Good sources of |
| important nutrients, the brain can not perform properly. | | | | Omega 3 fatty acids are tuna, shrimp and salmon. |
| Many children with ADD or ADHD have lower levels | | | | Olive oil and walnut oil also provide the Omega 3 fats. |
| of amino acids and zinc. Low levels of essential fatty | | | | Amino acids are a source of food for the brain. They |
| acids (EFAs) also play a very important role in ADD | | | | are a source of protein for the body and are essential |
| ADHD. | | | | for brain functioning. You may want to include meat, |
| Another possible factor that may contribute to ADD | | | | soy, eggs, fish and dairy into your child's diet. If you are |
| and ADHD is food allergies. Take out highly allergenic | | | | vegetarian, try brown rice and beans, nuts and seeds. |
| foods and then watch your child's behaviour then add | | | | Along with the amino acids and EFAs, 'B' vitamins, zinc |
| the foods back in to the diet. Do this slowly - one food | | | | and phosphatidyl serine can be used to help with the |
| at a time every two weeks. You may notice a | | | | symptoms of ADD/ADHD. |
| behavior change when adding a certain food back into | | | | If your child exhibits ADD/ADHD symptoms, remember |
| the diet. This is how you can determine if a certain | | | | to eliminate high allergy foods adding them back in |
| food or foods is causing ADD/ADHD symptoms. | | | | slowly to find the possible culprit. Also add in EFAs, |
| Common allergy foods that lead to ADD/ADHD | | | | amino acids, 'B' vitamins, zinc and phosphatidyl serine. |
| symptoms are chocolate, wheat, corn, eggs, sugar and | | | | These steps may be the winning combination to help |
| milk. | | | | you avoid medication. |
| It is important to find the causes of ADD/ADHD. Many | | | | |