Diet for ADD

Someone asked me about this and I don't know which thread.

As background... back in the 70s I had a good friend whose son was diagnosed with hyperactivity (the ADD dx wasn't in existence then) and she refused to put him on speed (ritalin.) So she tried changing his diet as some doctors suggested.

She ended up having to quit her job as she had to home make all his food from scratch (there were no fast foods, flash frozen vegetables and stuff hardly at all back then.. ok? I mean this is even before Lunchables ok?)

He calmed right down... well it took some doing, but it worked. He was a young boy and hard to corral which made it difficult, friends at school giving him treats etc... you know....

As I recall, what she had done was quite similar to what is now called the Feingold Diet for ADD.

Please consider changing your diet before taking medication, or while you take meds and be aware of possibly needing less of them as you do.

Do you know that if you give a cocaine addict Ritalin, he won't know it isn't coke? It's because it is the same base as meth. (It is like 1 letter and 1/2 an element or such different only, sorry, I'm not a scientist.)

Anyway I know there is much info on the FEINGOLD DIET on the net.

Good luck. I know this is a problem in life today. I have my own ideas as to why it is so prevalent in today's society ... but I know a good diet will help you feel better. (Hey, it makes all of us feel better!)

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>

Someone asked me about this and I don't know which thread.

<hr></blockquote>

That may have been me I know someone mentioned diet in reply to one of my posts. Then asked for a good book on diet. Thank you, I will check out this diet you mentioned ASAP.

<font color=white>laughter really is the best medicine</font color=white>

According to "You Mean I'm not Lazy, Crazy, or Stupid?" p.24 The [Feingold] diet does seem to relieve the symptoms in about 5% of ADD children.

I wouldn't count on this diet too much.

Do you know that if you give a cocaine addict Ritalin, he won't know it isn't coke? It's because it is the same base as meth. (It is like 1 letter and 1/2 an element or such different only, sorry, I'm not a scientist.)

Yes, we know, the reason ADDers are more likely to get addicted to coke/meth instead of alcohol, and we are all addicted to adrenaline (at least I always have been!) is because our frontal lobes have reduced blood flow and don't make as much endorphins as normal, so Ritalin in us helps get us up to normal and is not addictive, it's been the biggest blessing in my life in a long time.

Reading is fundamental.

Good luck. I know this is a problem in life today. I have my own ideas as to why it is so prevalent in today's society ... but I know a good diet will help you feel better. (Hey, it makes all of us feel better!)

It's a hereditary condition that has always been in humans but was not noticed by doctors until modern society (early 1900s) started demanding that we multi-task. So it's not "so prevalent today". A conservative estimate is that 3-5% of humans have some form of ADD.

I take offense at you coming here with so little knowledge of Adult and Childhood ADD and telling me to get off sugar, you have no idea what you are talking about.

As background... back in the 70s I had a good friend whose son was diagnosed with hyperactivity (the ADD dx wasn't in existence then) and she refused to put him on speed (ritalin.) So she tried changing his diet as some doctors suggested.

1968 American Psychiatric Association called it "Hyperkinetic Disorder of Childhood" then as cognitive disabilities of memory and attention problems were discovered to be the core problems the dx changed in 1980 to ADDH, Attention Deficit Disorder with and without Hyperactivity" and "Residual Types" for adults.

While I agree that diet plays a role in everything our bodies and minds do and don't do, it is not the be all end all. You wouldn't tell someone who was born blind to try a different diet would you? Well don't tell someone who was born with ADD to get off sugar and food dyes.

Now I know why I loved coffee as a young child, and since caffeine is natural and not "speed" like Ritalin is it OK in your book? My body and mind was craving that speed, I climbed trees in thunder storms to get an adrenaline rush that would make normal people sick, but made me feel good and normal.

Reading is fundamental!

<div class="foot">(Edited by ToddAADD on 08/08/04 00:01 AM.)</div>

Let us all be appreciative of other's perspectives and options for treatment. We don't have to agree, only respect. We are a bunch of well intended people here, let us not forget that.

I agree with the idea of trying the a diet first before putting meds in a person's body. Changing a diet is in itself changing a behavior, and as you said, who doesn't benefit from a good diet?

I also agree with the idea that dieting sometimes is not the answer for some cases, so meds make perfect sence for those who need more or other than the diet.

My thoughts on ADD and ADHD are that, it is good to try first a diet guided by a trained physician, instead of jumping into a quick fix with a pill. AND, if the diet doesn't produce results, then go to plan B.

Any way, that is just my opinion.

gab

I have one suggestion to you. There is a Dr. Hartman in FL, she works only with ADD/ADHD people, children and adults. She doesn't medicate but she's not oposed to medication, and she uses diets and learning techniques to help her clients.

Read some current information, stuff newer than the 70's and 80's. There has been a lot of research in regards to ADD/ADHD and I think we've come a long way.

gab
<div class="foot">(Edited by gloria on 08/10/04 01:11 PM.)</div>
<div class="foot">(Edited by gloria on 08/10/04 01:12 PM.)</div>

Do you have the full name of this Dr. Hartman, a google shows many Dr. Hartmans.

Bottom Line: Most ADD is probably caused by reduced blood flow to the frontal lobes, in essence a birth/genetic defect no different than being born blind. A special diet can only take you so far, and diet or Ritalin you must also have the training to help compensate for ADD. I'll ask again, when you see someone who was born blind is changing his diet the first thing that comes to your mind? Just because a problem is in the brain is that problem any less serious than an obvious defect?

We have to eat, there is only so many foods and only a few things we can totally eliminate from our diets, it's help is very finite.

I have a friend that used to work with her. I took two courses with her too but I don't remember her first name.
I'll call my friend tonight and post Dr. Harman's full info tomorrow.
All I remember is that she is in FL and has focus all her energy and research in ADD/ADHD stuff. She works with children and adults and has special summer workshops for children to help them improve their academic performance in school. She uses multisensorial methods among other things.
Anyway, I'll get the info and post it tomorrow.

gab

I would also be interested in that information. I am new to knowing i have this ADD and willing to try anything that might help me. I know it will take more than meds to fix what is wrong with me. I started meds just over a week ago. I am hoping that they will eventually help me to tackle this thing head on.
There is so much I need to learn about ADD in order to get better. I am waiting for two books from my library about ADD. Hopefully by the time I get them, I will actually be able to sit down and read.

<font color=white>laughter really is the best medicine</font color=white>

I think I have ADD--and so does my GP; however, he has referred me to a psychiatrist for a more definitive diagnosis--my appt. is in about 2 weeks and I'm chomping on the bit. It was only a few weeks ago that I looked up ADD on the net--can't remember why 'cause I'm lethargic Lanna and not hyperactive Hannah, which as I understood is classic in ADHD (and now I know one can be at the other extreme as well). In any event, when I finally found what all the symptoms were, to my utter amazement, I found myself answering yes to almost every trait noted with the exception of the one noted above and one or two others. Could not believe it. I was damn near euphoric about the discovery--and made haste to see my GP.

So I'm new to all this. And yet, I hope no one will mind if I voice an opinion about diet. I have at times gone on a moderately low carb-moderately high protein diet, but allowing myself a total of 3 tsps of sugar for my coffee. I refuse to use sweeteners (too long a story). In any event, during these bouts of sanity, I avoided ALL junkfood and concentrated solely on those foods which bite for bite packed in the most amount of real nutrition. And each time, after only two weeks, I would start to feel great--I mean really great--read, "lots of energy."

Unfortunately, I use junkfood as my drug of choice--so when I feel emotional pain, I satiate myself with all the wrong foodstuffs, which puts me into a deeper state of lethargy that my racing mind quiets and I fall asleep and the pain goes away. However, as with any misused "drug," the pain is still there when I "come to". Of course: I know that. And yet, I persist in this negative behaviour--but we won't go there.

Still, I'm hoping to find out why I would CHOOSE to self-destruct when I know that at the very least I can change my eating habits. Can you believe this--and I'm in my 50's! By the time I finally get to the bottom of my problem and make ready to fly, it'll be time to die. Now that's the pits!

Still, on an anecdotal basis, I'd like to say that empty calories of whatever sort is bad for us no matter what our mental state is, so count me as an anti-mainline sugar person who still indulges.

Welcome to you.

I am new to ADD as well. I know very well how it feels to maybe finally know why i am the way I am.
Keep your opinions coming and read what you can here. I have found some useful information as well as people who understand me.


<font color=white>laughter really is the best medicine</font color=white>

Emwell and Ozzie - thanks so much for the welcome - it is actually a relief to find a place where I feel I actually belong--among you special people with ADD/ADHD. It is great to be among those who truly understand what it's like to feel different and so, so odd. Once again, then, thanks heaps for the welcome. We'll be chatting again soon I hope.

Cheers!!