[jesseryn]

I was just diagnosed ADHD, and am also Bipolar. I'm feel like my meds (topamax, provigil, lamictal) are just complicating things further. However I just started the provigil, which is supposedly used for ADHD, so that may help.

I was wondering if anyone has tried eliminating certain ADHD "trigger" foods from his or her diet, and if it was successful. Also, any therapies that helped anyone? I see a psychiatrist and a psychologist, but neither seems to have any plan besides the Provigil.

[kelbelle65]

I've never heard of the ADHD diet? Will look it up and let you know!

Kelly

[bonaire]

I recently (early 2005) read a pretty good book called:

"Crazy Makers: How the Food Industry Is Destroying Our Brains and Harming Our Children" by Carol Simontacchi. It has various elements pertaining to food and mental health. However, it's more general. Not intended to be a solution to any particular problem. But it does go into how foods affect our brains through out our life.

It helped kick me into gear. Mentally, I feel a bit more sharp (like I used to 10 years ago). I have lost 35 pounds this year (male 6' - dropped 235 -> 200) and have started doing mild exercise (brisk 3-mile walk in the mornings).

The ADD folks in my group therapy class haven't discussed foods they have worked into their diets but those with ADD (or ADHD) tended to say they did better overall when they changed their habbits and got support from family members. Even changing jobs helps calm the mind.

[kelbelle65]

Congrats on your successful weight loss Bonaire!! And thanks for the book recommendation! I will check it out. Maybe my library has it...

Keep munching those carrots!

-Kelly

[CompGeek]

I have never had ADHD however i do know people who have tried the diet and found the diet to be unsuccessfull

[fitgal37]

what exactly is the ADHD diet?? please inform me

[adeline]

Basically it consists of first systematically cutting out certain foods from the diet that commonly cause food allegies -- dairy, nuts, wheat gluten (flour), and a few others that I can't remember. Sometimes a food allergy is the real culprit behind ADHD-like symptoms.

If this isn't the case, a general diet of foods that have a low glycemic index has been suggested to help symptoms. The low glycemic index tells you that the food takes longer to process, and therefore doesn't produce a spike in blood sugar that can produce hyperactivity, inability to concentrate, and irritability in everyone. Examples include whole-wheat flour/pasta/bread, fruits and veggies, and sources of protein. This also helps with weight loss (known as the south beach diet, the Adkins, or the Zone diet, or any less stringent combo of the general method -- by the way, congrats on your weight loss success, Bonaire, I know how tough it is to lose weight).

I've had luck using the general methodolgy of the diet since my last post; if any has experienced the same with any changes in diet, I'd be interested to know. [and thanks to all that responded, your advice has been helpful.]

[crackednfragile]

I have not heard much about the diet, but I have heard about fish and something about Omega-3/Omega-6 Fish Oil dietary supplement(in vitamin section). Someone, who's boy has ADHD, has been all enthused about this. I don't know. You've gotta love those fish.

[peaceprinter]

what is the ADHD diet, and where can i find out more about it? thx.

[dottie]

http://www.oneaddplace.com/adhd-diet.php

Hi! Try this source. Hope it helps ya'!