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