List Of 19 Foods That Cause ADHD Symptoms In Children And Adults

People with ADHD often find it difficult to concentrate on something. Excessive stimulation causes high levels of distraction and reduces the ability to concentrate. You may have noticed that the difficulties you have had in the past have been linked to a recent diagnosis of ADHD. The first step is to be diagnosed. Then, develop strategies to help you cope with possible challenges. Be brave to cope with it if you are diagnosed with this disorder. Below, we provide you with information about the foods that cause ADHD, so you will know what foods to avoid if you or your child has this disease. But first, let's take a look at basic information about ADHD!

What Is ADHD?

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is one of the common developmental disorders in children. The prominent features of patients with ADHD are excessive hyperactivity associated with decreased attention ability. The disease seriously affects the ability to learn and build relationships with people. This is a fairly common syndrome in society. In the United States, about 4% of adults and about 11% of children have this syndrome ^[1].

ADHD is a chronic syndrome. If not treated early, this condition can continue even when the patient is an adult. Children and adults with this condition often cannot notice for long, cannot sit still and act in an uncontrolled way. Because of these characteristics, patients often get scolded. This makes them feel lack of confidence. As a consequence, patients have many obstacles in their education, in their work, as well as in their relationships with others. In some cases, these things are really dangerous.

There are three types of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. They are:

• Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation: Patients with this type of ADHD have symptoms of hyperactivity and feel the need to move continuously and rapidly.
• Predominantly Inattentive Presentation: Patients with this type of ADHD have the most prominent symptom of not being able to focus on something for a long time.
• Combined Presentation: Patients with this type of ADHD have both hyperactivity / impulsivity and inattention syndromes. As the patient enters puberty, the symptoms of this syndrome can be reduced.

ADHD needs to be identified and treated as soon as possible. Taking medication, developing proper diet and psychological treatment are the treatments that need to be applied simultaneously to help the patient gradually get out of this syndrome.

What Are Common Causes Of ADHD?

Here are common causes of this syndrome:

• Genetic Factors

This is a common cause of ADHD. If a child has AHDH, it is very likely that at least one member of his / her family also has this syndrome. Children are more likely to have ADHD if their dad has ever had this condition. You need to be aware of this to identify early signs of risk.

• Brain Dysfunction

The researchers found that the brains of patients with ADHD have a disorder, their ability to control their actions is so poor. In addition, researchers also found that patients with ADHD have lower levels of dopamine than normal people (dopamine is a neurotransmitter that stimulates the brain). If you find your child has signs of ADHD, you should take your child to see a doctor for a brain test.

• Eye Disorders

Children with eye disorders which affect vision are more prone to ADHD than those with healthy eyes. A study published in the American Academy of Optometry found that 15% of children with eye disorders have ADHD. Therefore, the treatment of eye disorders for children should be done as soon as possible.

• Traumatic Brain Injury

Researchers say that people with a history of traumatic brain injury have a higher risk of developing ADHD. Although ADHD begins in childhood, it still has the ability to last until adulthood.

• High Fat Diet

What your children eat directly affects their mental and emotional health. Researchers have identified a link between high fat diets and ADHD symptoms such as distraction and hyperactivity.

• Preterm Birth

Due to underdevelopment, premature infants are at high risk for anxiety disorders and ADHD. However, researchers report that the risk of preterm infant with ADHD in childhood or even adulthood is very low. Only 8/ 84 adults who were born prematurely are diagnosed with ADHD.

• Stress During Pregnancy

You need to closely control your stress when you are pregnant. Researchers have identified a link between prenatal stress in pregnant women and neurological disorders in young children. This means your child is prone to ADHD and even autism if you are constantly stressed during pregnancy.

• Exposure To Certain Toxins And Stimulants During Pregnancy

If a pregnant woman is usually exposed to cigarette smoke, alcohol, drugs, dioxin or hydrocarbure benzene, her children are prone to ADHD.

What Are Common Symptoms Of ADHD?

The common symptoms of Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation are:

• Always move and move
• Talk too much
• Lack of patience in waiting
• Cannot sit still in a position
• Run around or climb in unsuitable situations
• Do not be silent when playing or participating in recreational activities
• Give the answer before others have not finished the question
• Always intervene in the work of others
• Take dangerous actions without regard to the consequences.

The common symptoms of Predominantly Inattentive Presentation are:

• Easily distracted by the surroundings
• Cannot complete a task assigned
• Cannot concentrate on something for a long time
• Always get into trouble in group activities
• Avoid activities that require mental focus, such as doing homework

The common symptoms of Combined Presentation include the symptoms of 2 types of ADHD above.

You may experience other symptoms not mentioned. If you have any questions about the signs of this syndrome, please consult your doctor.

Who Is At High Risk Of This Syndrome?

ADHD is a very common disorder. It is considered to be one of the most common disorders in children. Children who have suffered from brain injury are at high risk for this syndrome. You can control this problem by minimizing risk factors. Please see your doctor for more information.

When To See A Doctor?

If you have any of these signs or symptoms or have any questions, please consult your doctor. Besides, you should also contact your doctor if your child's behavior negatively affects their lives. Each person's condition is different, so please consult your doctor to select the most suitable option.

Above are some basic information about ADHD. As you can see, this syndrome has a lot of impact on the lives and development of children. Besides taking medicines and applying psychological treatment, the establishment of a suitable diet is something that should be done to treat ADHD. You may not know that people with ADHD need to limit certain foods. They make your child's condition become worse. Here is the list of these foods. Please take a look at TrueRemedies.com!

List Of 19 Foods That Cause ADHD Symptoms In Children And Adults

1. Candy

This is the first trigger in the list of foods that cause ADHD symptoms. Sweet candies are always attractive to any kid. But they are not good for children with ADHD because the sugar content and artificial colors in these candies are too high. These substances stimulate the brain, making children become more active and naughty than normal. For the best, you should limit your child to eating candy, especially candy with colorful colors.

2. Foods That Cause ADHD – Carbonated Soft Drinks

Among the foods that cause ADHD symptoms that this article mentions, carbonated soft drinks is one of the most noticeable foods. Similar to candy, high sugar content and colorants are the predominant characteristics of carbonated soft drinks. In addition, these types of drinks also contain certain amounts of caffeine, which makes it difficult for your children to sleep ^[2]. Because children cannot sleep at night, their brains are not rested sufficiently. As a result, children are often tired and irritated during the day; their concentration is also gradually reduced.

3. Frozen Vegetables

Another food item that should be mentioned in this list of foods that cause ADHD symptoms is frozen veggies. Experts recommend that you should add green vegetables and fruits to your child's daily diet, especially the diet of children with ADHD. However, if these vegetables are to be frozen, they may contain artificial colors and preservatives such as organic phosphates. These substances cause behavioral disorders similar to the symptoms of predominantly inattentive presentation. Therefore, restricting the consumption of these foods is necessary to prevent or improve the symptoms of ADHD.

4. Foods That Cause ADHD – Mercury-Containing Fish

This is one of the foods that cause ADHD symptoms that few people know, but this is true. Fish and seafood provide nutrients which are good for the heart and development of your children. Therefore, women and children should regularly add fish and seafood to their diets. Unfortunately, almost all fish and seafood contain high levels of omega – 3 which play a role in stabilizing the nervous system. This helps support the process of treating ADHD. However, some types of fish such as sharks, mackerel, swordfish and tuna contain small amounts of mercury which can exacerbate the symptoms of ADHD. Mercury is very difficult to eliminate so it can accumulate in the brain. As you know, mercury is toxic to the nervous system. So, if your child has ADHD, you should talk to your dietitian about the best fish for your baby at the present time.

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5. Allergy-Causing Foods

Milk, chocolate, soy, noodles, eggs, corn, tomatoes, grapes, and oranges are thought to be very nutritious and benign foods. Milk is essential for most children because they contain high levels of nutrients and micronutrients, which are essential for the development of children. However, these foods can cause allergies, making the child more active and naughty than normal. These foods can also reduce your child's ability to concentrate. Therefore, you can still feed your children to these foods under your strict supervision. If their ADHD symptoms get worse, you must not let your child consume these foods.

6. Foods That Cause ADHD – MSG

The next one in this list of foods that cause ADHD symptoms that this article refers to is MSG. In fact, MSG is not good for health. It only adds flavor to the dish and it does not bring any nutritional value to the body. Consuming too much MSG will cause brain disorders, leading to brain degradation. In addition, the liver and kidneys can also be disturbed. The chemical composition of MSG and seasoning is glutamate. It is a stimulant neurotransmitter. As you know, children with ADHD have excessive stimulation in the brain, so if they eat more MSG, the symptoms of ADHD will get worse. Therefore, it is best to completely remove MSG from your child's diet.

7. Prepared Foods

Pizza, sausage, noodles, and snacks are always the favorite foods of children. However, these foods contain a lot of preservatives and artificial colors, which can increase the hyperactivity and reduce the ability to concentrate of your children. Therefore, these are also foods that children with ADHD should not eat. If your child wants to eat snacks, you can cook them a bowl of soup or let them eat some fruit such as apples or watermelons. This will quickly reduce their appetite.

8. Foods That Cause ADHD – Foods Containing Gluten

This is another food item in this list of foods that cause ADHD symptoms that few people know. Gluten is a mixture of two proteins, gliadin and gluten. About 10% of the population suffers from gluten sensitivity disease. Dr. Perlmutter found that children eating too many foods containing gluten tend to have symptoms of ADHD. These foods include wheat, rye, barley and barley preparations such as bread and milk. You should limit these foods in your child's diet. Let your child eat these foods under your strict supervision to prevent the return of ADHD symptoms. Not just for children with ADHD, gluten-free foods are not good for everyone. One of the key principles for building a healthy diet is to limit the intake of gluten-containing foods.

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9. Yogurt

Yogurt is known as one of the brain-stimulant foods of children with ADHD. It causes the symptoms of the disease to become very bad. But not all ADHD sufferers suffer from this condition after eating yogurt. Therefore, you should remove yogurt from your child's diet for about a month to see if yogurt is the cause of your children’ condition. If yogurt is actually the cause of your child's ADHD syndrome, you should consider choosing foods made from soy to replace yogurt.

10. Foods That Cause ADHD – Ice Cream

The next one in this list of foods that cause ADHD symptoms is ice cream. Like yogurt, ice cream is also a dairy product, so it can cause ADHD symptoms in people who are hypersensitive to milk and dairy products. If your child is one of those people, they will feel both physically and mentally tired after consuming milk, yogurt or ice cream. Interestingly, although they feel very tired, they are still very hyperactive. Maybe it's because of fatigue, so they cannot focus on anything. You can easily see these abnormalities in them. Therefore, to avoid this, you should avoid letting your child eat ice cream.

11. Sugar

Sugar is also one of the foods that cause ADHD symptoms that few people know. Sugar is one of the unhealthy foods, especially the health of patients with ADHD. Many experts believe that a diet high in sugar is ideal for triggering the symptoms of ADHD, as well as making them worse ^[3].

According to researches by experts, sugar strips the body of vitamins, minerals and enzymes which help stabilize mood and nerves. In addition to causing ADHD symptoms, sugar also causes many other conditions like diabetes, obesity and tooth decay. This does not mean that you should completely remove sugar from your children’s diet. Consuming a reasonable amount of sugar every day is considered good for general health. Therefore, let your children consume sugar under your strict supervision.

Learn more: 10 Natural Home Remedies For Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

12. Foods That Cause ADHD – Cheese

Cheese, especially cow's cheese, is considered one of the only negative influences on some people. Like milk and other dairy products, cheese can cause symptoms of ADHD. Therefore, you should let your child stop consuming these foods for about a month, then please observe your children’s symptoms to see if the cheese is the cause of ADHD. If you find that your children are more likely to control their actions and thoughts when they do not eat cheese, consider choosing non-dairy products or non-lactose products such as goat’s cheese to add to your children’s diet instead of cow’s cheese.

13. Chocolate

Among the foods that cause ADHD symptoms that this article mentions to, chocolate is one of the most noticeable foods. Chocolate contains a lot of caffeine, so it can cause symptoms of ADHD, and at the same time makes these symptoms worse. If your children really like to eat chocolate so much that they cannot give it up, ADHD cannot be improved. Yes, ADHD and caffeine have a very special relationship.

Researchers have conducted research and concluded that some of the major components of chocolate, such as cocoa, sugar and other additives, have a negative impact on your child's behavior. Therefore, your child should consume white chocolate products. Warn your children that eating chocolate or drinking hot chocolate will make them feel uncomfortable. Initially, it was very difficult for them to give up their favorite food, but gradually they will get used to it.

14. Foods That Cause ADHD – Coffee

This is also one of the foods that should be mentioned in this list of foods that cause ADHD symptoms. Coffee is an indispensable drink in many people's lives. Just smelling coffee, many people cannot control themselves. Properly drinking coffee helps you become more alert.

Unfortunately, this kind of drink contains a very large amount of caffeine. As you know, caffeine is one of the natural stimulants that cause the symptoms of ADHD. If you feel your behavior becomes worse after drinking coffee, you should stop using this drink. Instead, you can drink herbal tea to maintain your alertness. As we have said, not only children, adults may also be exposed to ADHD, so it is important for you to be aware of the causes of this condition.

15. Frozen Pizza

Frozen pizza is really a delicious dish. It also appeals to children with artificial colors and flavors like pop. Unfortunately, these ingredients are the cause of ADHD.

Ingredients in frozen pizza can increase hyperactivity in young children and reduce concentration in people with disorientation. Therefore, you should not let your children eat frozen pizza to help stabilize their health as well as their physical.

16. Foods That Cause ADHD – Chips

Chips are also one of the foods that cause ADHD symptoms. Basically, all junk products, including chips, should be restricted to help control ADHD. This type of snack is rich in artificial flavors and colors. Therefore, they are not “friendly” to patients with ADHD. If your child wants to eat junk foods, encourage them to eat fresh fruits and vegetables (not frozen vegetables) to reduce their appetite. Also, do not leave snacks like chips or chocolate in places where they are easy to be see because this stimulates your children’ appetite.

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17. Red Meat

Red meat is one of the factors that cause the symptoms of ADHD, and at the same time makes the symptoms of this syndrome worse. However, red meat contains a large amount of nutrients that are essential for the development of the child, so you should not completely remove red meat from the children's diet. Instead, just limit the amount of red meat your children consume each week, and monitor closely the consumption of them.

Not only that, you can also choose alternative methods, i.e. replacing red meat with other nutritious foods such as salmon or shrimp. As a result, you can help your children maintain a healthy and happy life.

18. Foods That Cause ADHD – Squash

Squash is another food item in this list of foods that cause ADHD symptoms. Unexpectedly, squash can also be one of the foods that cause ADHD. Squash is a yellow, sweet fruit or vegetable. This does not mean that all yellow vegetables or fruits are not good for ADHD patients.

For example, bananas are really good for patients because only the skin of the banana is yellow. But if you are not sure about this, it is better to choose other vegetables such as organic vegetables to add to your diet. These vegetables are both healthy and do not affect the patient's ADHD condition.

19. Cake Mixes And Frostings

If you have ADHD, consider eliminating cake mixes and frostings. They have high amounts of artificial colors and sugar that could result in hyperactivity as well as other ADHD symptoms. According the ADHD expert named Naheed Ali, these products are usually packed with some artificial sweeteners. When cake mix and frosting consist of artificial sweeteners, they promote the risk of ADHD symptoms more than the natural sweeteners would.

Above are the foods that you need to pay attention before building a reasonable diet for ADHD patients. They are all very popular foods but not many of us know that they are triggers for ADHD symptoms.

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