Find out from a doctor if it’s worth avoiding foods with gluten if you or your child have ADHD.
Parents who aren’t too thrilled about the idea of giving their child a drug to manage ADHD experiences may be wondering if eliminating gluten foods might improve these symptoms.
Adults with a diagnosis of ADHD, as well, may have heard about this idea.
“There are no known diets that have been found to help or cure ADHD during controlled research studies,” says Dr. Robert Myers, creator of the Total Focus program at Legacy Publishing.
This isn’t surprising, as ADHD is considered a neurodevelopmental condition, one of innate brain wiring of an atypical nature.
Dr. Myers is a clinical psychologist with 30+ years of experience working with children, adolescents, families and parents, specializing in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
“Some children may have food allergies and some of the symptoms could be similar to ADHD,” says Dr. Myers.
“If a change in diet eliminates the symptoms, then the diagnosis would be a food allergy, not ADHD.”
Untreated food allergies can cause behavioral deviances that are similar to those seen in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
If your child or even you yourself have been diagnosed with ADHD, you’ll want to NOT be hasty about jumping onto a prescription medication to manage the symptoms.
You’ll first want to investigate the possibility of a food allergy. Multiple conditions can cause signs that resemble those of ADHD.
The features of ADHD overlap with those of other conditions. This also includes untreated sleep apnea — which can occur in children and non-overweight individuals.
Dr. Myers has 30+ years’ experience working with children, adolescents and parents, specializing in children and adolescents with ADHD. Total Focus is a comprehensive program to improve attention, concentration and self-control in children.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
.
