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Study Shows ADHD Symptoms Reduced By Avoiding Processed Food

A recent study of 100 children diagnosed with ADHD showed that 63 percent of them were negatively affected by eating processed foods. Specialists around the world are discovering that highly processed foods, additives, and gluten trigger an increase in ADHD symptoms in children. The five-week study, “Impact of Nutrition on Children with ADHD” (INCA)i was conducted in the Netherlands and Belgium by the Radboud University Medical School and the ADHD Research Center in the Netherlands. The children, ages 4 to 8 years old, were randomly divided into two groups: a restricted elimination diet (removing all foods linked to allergies and intolerances, such as wheat, eggs, and dairy); and a healthy diet (control group). Of those who ate a diet without processed foods, 78percent showed a significant reduction in ADHD symptoms – with a decrease in challenging or defiant behavior. After five weeks of controlled eating, children who responded with at least a 40 percent improvement proceeded into a four-week, double blind, crossover food challenge, during which they ate either high IgG or low IgG foods. Researchers tracked the participants’ IgG levels before the study and at the end of each of the two phases. When processed foods were re-introduced into the children’s diets, 63 percent of them saw a spike inADHD symptom.

Professor Jan Buitelaar of Radboud University said the study’s findings showed that food additives were not the cause of the shift in ADHD behaviors, but that they children were overly sensitive to certain foodstuffs. Food sensitivities, a form of allergy, can be measured by an IgG ELISA/EIA Food Allergy Test. IgG antibodies contribute to a variety of health problems, but are often more difficult to identify because the symptoms can occur within a few hours or even days after consuming the food. And, in the case of a gluten or dairy sensitivity, the offending food is an ingredient, making it more difficult to pinpoint. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “ADHD is one of the most common mental disorders among children. It affects three to five percent of all children.”Child psychologist Vincent Monastra, Ph.D., heads an ADHD clinic in New York. He evaluates about500 children per year and estimates that less than five percent of those youngsters are eating right.WWW.CHIROSPORTS.COM.AU | TEL. 02 9398 3699 | 166 CARRINGTON ROAD, COOGEE NSW 2034 | © CHIROSPORTS COOGEE PTY LTD. Researchers in the INCA study determined that the supervised elimination diet is a valuable tool for assessing the impact of diet on ADHD. They also concluded that diets should not be prescribed solely on the results of the IgG blood tests. These findings concur with previous research that shows a strong correlation between poor nutrition and ADHD. Children whose diets contain foods that are high in preservatives, additives, and food colorings are at greater risk than those who eat a balanced, healthy diet.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michelle Thomas is a qualified Nutritionist. She is a Hemaview Live Blood Analysis Practitioner and a VLA Bioimpedence Practitioner. Following a corporate career, Michelle decided in 2003 to follow her passion for health and nutrition. She has recently completed over 5 years with the Garvin Institute of Medical Research, a world-leading organization in biomedical research. At  Chirosports Michelle has a focus on assisting her clients with detoxification, weight management, pre-conception care and disease prevention. Michelle has a special interest in reviewing medical research to understand the implications of lifestyle factors, nutrition and environmental chemicals including EMR on health, ageing, stress, and fatigue and weight management.

“Effects of a Restricted Elimination Diet on the Behavior of Children With Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (INCA study): A Randomized Controlled Trial”; The Lancet 2011 (Feb 5, 2011); 377 (9764): 494–503; http://www.chiro.org/pediatrics/ABSTRACTS/Effects_of_a_Restricted_Elimination_Diet.shtml 2.National Institute of Mental Health, NIH publication number 96-3572.

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