| Hyperactivity-is it normal behavior or ADHD? | | | | to be and this is leading researchers to |
| A little over-exuberance is expected in | | | | believe that omega-3 deficiency is the cause |
| growing children, but what about when a | | | | of a number of disorders in the body, |
| tendency towards impulsiveness, a lack of | | | | including depression, arthritis, and ADHD. |
| concentration, and sometimes excessive | | | | |
| physical activity are carried on into | | | | Omega-3 in ADHD treatment |
| adulthood? Attention deficit-hyperactivity | | | | |
| disorder (ADD or ADHD) is defined as | | | | The typical American diet lacks Omega 3 to a |
| age-inappropriate behavior, specifically: | | | | large extent, the only exception being in |
| | | | certain kinds of fish. In fact, 4esearchers |
| 1. A lack of attention | | | | seem to feel that over 60% of the nation's |
| | | | population could be Omega 3-deficient. |
| 2. A tendency to make careless mistakes at | | | | Further research observed that people with |
| work that are often repeated | | | | lower blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids |
| | | | were more apt to have a negative outlook and |
| 3. Difficulty in following instructions | | | | to be more impulsive, while those with |
| | | | higher levels typically were more agreeable |
| 4. Easily distracted | | | | and less likely to exhibit a sour mood. Once |
| | | | the connection was established, the next step |
| 5. Compulsiveness | | | | was to test omega-3 in attention |
| | | | deficit-hyperactivity disorder. |
| 6. Excessive physical activity | | | | |
| | | | In their a recent study study, Dr. Sarah M. |
| Most parents would expect some of this | | | | Conklin and colleagues set out to see |
| behavior from their own children and, at a | | | | whether the volume of gray matter in the |
| pinch, would tolerate it in others' kids. | | | | brain, especially in areas related to mood, |
| However when these symptoms are exhibited in | | | | was proportionally related to the amount of |
| adults, most people's patience is less | | | | omega-3 fatty acid consumed. |
| elastic. People who suffer from attention | | | | |
| deficit-hyperactivity disorder often find it | | | | They asked 55 healthy adults about their |
| difficult to keep down a job or maintain | | | | average intake of omega-3 fatty acids and |
| healthy relationships. More worryingly, | | | | used MRI bran scans to determine gray matter |
| incidences of ADHD have been on the increase | | | | volume. |
| over the past five years. | | | | |
| | | | As the researchers theorized, the higher the |
| Luckily, research has been done into the | | | | intake of omega-3 the larger were the |
| causes of ADHD, and from this research a | | | | volumes of gray matter in areas of the brain |
| natural attention deficit disorder treatment | | | | associated with mood and regulation of |
| has been found: fat. More specifically, | | | | emotion. This could do wonders for the |
| fatty acids, and one type of fatty acid in | | | | treatment of ADHD. |
| particular… | | | | |
| | | | The brain is made mostly of fats - not just |
| Introducing Omega-3 fatty acids | | | | any fats but certain types of fats, of which |
| | | | Omega 3 is a very vital part. Increasing our |
| Omega-3 fatty acids are one of a number of | | | | intake of Omega 3 could make a great |
| different oils found in primarily in fish. | | | | difference to our overall mood and in ADHD |
| They are called essential fatty acids because | | | | treatment. For those who can't stand the |
| our body needs them for brain and nerve | | | | taste of fish, or feel their intake of |
| function, but cannot make them itself. | | | | omega-3 is not enough, then supplementation |
| Omega-3 usually comes from the diet, but a | | | | is recommended. |
| diet high in fish is less common than it used | | | | |