Articles ¬ The Source ¬ Attention deficit disorder

Attention deficit disorder, or ADD symptoms can include lack of concentration, constant motion, self-destructiveness, impatience, temper tantrums, clumsiness, sleep disturbances, head banging, and failure to complete tasks. ADD may be related to vision or hearing loss, emotional stress, seizures, sleep disorders, cerebral palsy, prenatal drug or alcohol abuse, or oxygen deprivation during birth. If your child is diagnosed as having ADD, make sure that these are not contributing factors.

Attention deficit disorder has been strongly linked to sensitivities to food preservatives and coloring. These substances should therefore be eliminated from the diet. Caffeine, chocolate, and MSG should also be avoided.

Strong associations have also been made between ADD and sugar intake. Accordingly, sugar should be kept to a minimum in the diet. Simple carbohydrates such as white bread and pasta should be decreased in the diet, along with large quantities of fruit and natural sweeteners such as maple sugar and honey, at least until symptoms decrease.

Food allergies are often a cause of ADD. Foods that most commonly cause allergies include dairy products, wheat, corn, and eggs. Many people with ADD also have systemic yeast or candida, which may worsen or even cause the symptoms. Candida may be caused by past or present use of antibiotics, steroid drugs, or the birth control pill.

Something as simple and correctable as a vitamin or mineral deficiency can either cause or worsen the symptoms of ADD. To avoid this, you should supplement with a high quality multivitamin / multimineral daily.

For relaxing the nervous system, the minerals Calcium and Magnesium can be used. Calcium should be taken at a two to one ratio to magnesium. To increase absorption, at least 400 IU of Vitamin D should be taken daily as well. These minerals can be taken at bedtime to improve sleep quality and are best taken in the citrate form .

The B vitamins are also very important for the health of the nervous system. For best effectiveness, they should be taken in the form of a B vitamin complex. Dosage commonly used is 50 mg, once daily.

Recent studies have shown a link between ADD occurrence and an essential fatty acid deficiency. This can be supplemented by pill or oil and the dosage will depend the size of the person being treated.

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