Managing ADHD Mood Swings and Symptoms

Managing ADHD Mood Swings and Symptoms With Diet and Nutrition

ADHD or Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a condition common among children and adults and learning how to manage the mood swings is of course paramount. As with many health issues, including anxiety and ADHD, diet can play a big part in our moods.

ADHD Diet – Can Diet Improve ADHD Symptoms?

If you or someone you know exhibits ADHD mood swings, you could try the following.

Foods That Improve ADHD Symptoms:

• Omega-3

Fatty acids that are polyunsaturated like omega-6 and omega-3 have advantages in helping proper development of the brain and cognitive functioning.

These fatty acids can be helpful for managing hyperactivity disorders in patients with ADHD – furthermore, studies show that patients with ADHD have typically low omega-3 fatty acids.

When added to the diet, it can assist learning and greatly improve a person’s attention span.

Omega-3 and omega-6 can be acquired from fatty fishes, olive oils, walnuts and avocados.

• Zinc

Zinc is a mineral that is essential for the body since it boosts the immune system. In addition to that, zinc is also an important mineral in maintaining neurotransmitters like dopamine – a neurotransmitter in the brain that is important in keeping nerves healthy and regulates hyperactivity.

• Magnesium

According to studies, patients with anxiety and ADHD lack a very important mineral: magnesium. Once added to the diet, magnesium can help manage ADHD symptoms, and improve hyperactivity and impulsivity as well as lengthens attentiveness.

• Organic Foods

Although not yet proven, some studies show that certain additives and artificial colorings added to food may cause ADHD, thus it is better to keep everything clean and natural. When it comes to food, choose fruits and vegetables prepared organically for optimum safety.

• Protein

Aside from zinc, protein is also used by the body for healthy neurotransmitters. Protein prevents hyperactivity by preventing blood sugars to surge.

Foods To Avoid:

• Sugar

There are a lot of myths about sugar and sweets and its negative effects towards ADHD. Although myths may not be typically true, it is always safer to avoid sugary products. Sweet foods in the diet can spike-up blood sugar levels. Fluctuations in blood sugar levels make it harder for an ADHD patient to concentrate and focus and can worsen hyperactivity.

• Additives and Preservatives

According to studies, additives and preservatives make hyperactivity as well as other ADHD symptoms worse. In addition to that, results of experiments conducted on some ADHD patients show that symptoms decrease when food has no preservatives or additives in them compared to those that are loaded with them.

A balanced and healthy meal has a lot of advantages and benefits regardless of whether a person has ADHD or not.

Management of symptoms while trying to improve pre-existing symptoms is the main goal in treating ADHD. Know what is beneficial and what isn’t when making your ADHD diet plan.

Reference:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/pmh0002518/

Affiliate Disclosure

My website contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase any products mentioned in my articles, I may receive a commission. If you do, thank you!