{"id":8251,"date":"2019-07-17T05:39:25","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T05:39:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=8251"},"modified":"2021-04-20T19:03:17","modified_gmt":"2021-04-20T19:03:17","slug":"15-ways-to-combat-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/15-ways-to-combat-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Ways to Combat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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People who are dealing with the effects of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, (ADHD,) experience an imbalance in neurotransmitter production in the brain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The brain uses neurotransmitters to send chemical signals throughout the body, and those patients with ADHD may find that they have trouble with cognitive processes, such as holding their focus and attention on boring subjects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the last three decades, medical science made leaps in medications designed to manage the disorder in patients. These drugs are effective in balancing neurotransmitter production, but they do come with a host of side-effects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s also possible for patients to misuse or abuse ADHD medications, resulting in dependency and addiction to the substances that are meant to buttress their mental health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to try and avoid medications in managing your ADHD symptoms, then there are strategies you can use to enhance neurotransmitter production naturally. Here are eight ways to combat ADHD without the use of medications.
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1.    Avoid Food Preservatives and Colorants<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Research shows that people who are suffering from ADHD <\/a>may experience an exacerbation in their symptoms if they consume foods high in preservatives and colorants. It’s no coincidence that the majority of foods containing these substances are not healthy for children. Loading your kids up on sugar products, and then expecting them to pay attention at school, is a poor parenting strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the more common preservative and artificial colorants used in the manufacture of food products include the following;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FD&C Yellow No. 5, also known as tartrazine, found in food products like granola, cereal bars, yogurt, and pickles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

FD&C Yellow No. 6, also known as sunset yellow, found in foods like cereals, breadcrumbs, candy, and soft drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

D&C Yellow No. 10, also known as quinoline yellow, found in smoked fish, sorbet, and fruit juices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

FD&C Red No. 40, also known as Allura red, found in some kid’s medications, desserts, and soft drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sodium benzoate found in soft drink products and dressing.
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2.    Avoid Refined Carbohydrates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Kids and teens affected by ADHD require modifications to their diet to remove all forms of refined carbohydrates<\/a>. Food products containing sugar and white flour have no place on our menus, even if we don’t have ADHD. However, those people suffering from the condition may experience an exacerbation in their symptoms after eating candy or drinking sugary soda.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For most people that eat these types of foods, we experience a brief surge in energy levels, followed by a sugar “crash,” which leaves us feeling tired and fatigued. Feeding candy to children with ADHD is like throwing gasoline on a fire. The sugar rush confuses neurotransmitter production, forcing the brain to increase the output of the biochemicals, increasing symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parents of kids with ADHD should evaluate their kid’s diet and remove all forms of refined carbs. Monitor your child’s behavior for a few weeks, and you should notice a decline in their symptoms. In some cases, removing refined carbohydrates from the child’s diet is enough to help them manage their condition without the use of drugs.
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3.    Avoid Allergens<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Research shows that some allergens may cause an exacerbation in symptoms in children dealing with ADHD. While this does not occur across the board with patients, evidence suggests that removing allergens <\/a>from their diet may help kids experience some relief from symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check with your doctor to ensure that your child does not have any allergies. If your child comes back clear, then you don’t have to worry about food allergens in your child’s diet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should the diagnosis come back positive for allergies, then its best to ensure that you remove all allergenic foods from your child’s diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid the following foods;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Toss out any foods containing salicylates. These include foodstuffs like chili powder, as well as some fruits, such as apples, oranges berries, and plums. If your child is dealing with the flu, make sure you check with the doctor and pharmacists for pain medications that contain salicylates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preservatives and other chemical additives, like BHT and BHA, found in potato chips, butter, and cereals, may cause an exacerbation in ADHD symptoms in children.
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4.    Try Yoga<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

ADHD also affects adults as well as children. Fortunately, adults can control their mind better than most children, allowing them to adopt behaviors that help them deal with their condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adults who experience the onset of ADHD symptoms may find that they develop feelings of anxiety <\/a>and hyperactivity that cause an elevation in stress levels which may, in turn, lead to a hormonal imbalance as cortisol levels get out of control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adults and teens should look into taking a yoga class to learn how to control their mind and get in touch with their emotions. Yoga is a form of moving meditation, involving controlled breathing, stretches, and poses designed to open the energy centers in the body, known as “chakras.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breathing and stretching help to increase oxygen levels in the bloodstream, giving you greater control of your thought process, allowing you to remain calm in stressful situations where ADHD symptoms may start to present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5.    Get Outdoors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some studies suggest that kids affected by ADHD should spend more time outdoors to help them cope with their symptoms. In today’s modern environment, many kids hardly ever spend any time outdoors playing. Instead, most choose to spend their time planted in front of the TV, playing video games, or watching Netflix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s understandable why kids are drawn to the fantasy world of video games and TV, or playing with friends outdoors. Game manufacturers design their games to release dopamine in the brain, creating a feedback loop that reinforces the stimulus<\/a>. As a result, kids become “addicted” to video games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, the additional stimulus of playing video games may disrupt neurotransmitter production of the brain. As a result, children may find that they experience an exacerbation in their ADHD symptoms, requiring drug therapy to maintain balanced dopamine levels in the brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Playing outdoors for a few hours each day helps the child to release stress and connect with the external environment, allowing the brain to balance neurotransmitter production.
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6.    Exercise<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Both children and adults can reduce their ADHD symptoms by getting regular exercise<\/a>. When we exert ourselves physically, the brain starts to produce dopamine as a response to the physical stimulus. It’s for this reason that runners get a “runner’s high,” when they spend a few hours on the track or tarmac.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting regular exercise increases your heart and respiration rate, forcing oxygen into your bloodstream. As a result of elevated oxygen in the blood, patients may find that they experience an increase in cognitive function. As a result, the patient may find that they have fewer sensations of anxiety throughout the day, and their thinking is sharper than if they do not exercise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exercising outdoors for twenty to thirty minutes each day, even if it’s only a walk around the block, will help you to control your ADHD symptoms. Sign your kids up for soccer practice or martial arts. The extra-curricular activities will help them work off any extra energy while allowing them to concentrate on their homework after training.
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7.    Behavioral Therapy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

ADHD affects people differently, with some people experiencing more severe cases than others. Those individuals with serious issues with ADHD should consider behavioral therapy to help them manage the effects of the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, behavioral therapy must be the first treatment point for children dealing with the condition. Also known as “behavioral modification,” this strategy helps to provide a resolution to problematic behavior experienced by kids with ADHD. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The therapy involves helping the child to set goals and milestones they need to achieve with their education. 5the therapist works with the child to monitor their progress and ensure that they have the support they need to overcome the challenges presented by the disorder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Behavioral therapy<\/a> often requires the use of medications to assist the patient and accelerate the results of their coping strategy for dealing with ADHD. Parents need to take an active role in behavioral therapy, monitoring their child outside of therapy sessions.
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8.    Supplements That Help<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to managing the effects of ADHD in children, it’s best to listen to the advice of your doctor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, be very careful if your physician is quick to pull out their prescription pad and write up a script for drugs, especially if it’s for children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s a prudent strategy to follow the points in this article and pay attention to your child’s behavior over a few weeks. If you don’t notice any improvement, then it may be time to visit the doctor for a pharmaceutical solution to the child’s problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if you do notice improvement, then consider supplementing their diet with the following nutrients to enhance their treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fish oil \u2013 This oil is rich in Omega-3 <\/a>essential fatty acids, which have a protective effect on the brain, assisting with the regulation of neurotransmitters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zinc \u2013 This mineral helps to regulate mood and energy levels, reducing cases of anxiety in children and adults with ADHD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other supplements worthy of consideration for treating ADHD include magnesium, vitamin B6, and L-carnitine.
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