A.D.D. Foods (Attention Deficit Disorder)

Intuitive parents have long suspected that in some children undesirable behavior and poor school performance are linked to poor nutrition. New scientific studies of children with Attention Deficit Disorder are beginning to confirm these suspicions.

One theory about ADD is that it is caused by a neurotransmitter imbalance. Children with ADD use hyperactivity and undesirable behavior to stimulate production of neurotransmitters, but then they get overstressed and deplete themselves of neurotransmitters and are soon out of control. It seems, that a child with a tendency toward ADD needs a diet rich in nutrients that build neurotransmitters, given the difficulties he may have regulating their production. Research supports this idea, specifically:

• A 1996 study of 96 boys found that those with lower blood levels of omega 3 fatty acids were significantly more likely to have learning and behavior problems than those whose levels were normal.