New research, published last month in The Lancet, has found that children with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) demonstrated vast improvements from following a low allergenic, restricted diet for five weeks.

One hundred children diagnosed with ADHD were put on a ‘restricted elimination diet’ – containing only rice, meat, vegetables, pears and water. The authors found that after following the diet, ADHD symptoms were reduced in 78% of the children. When processed foods were added back to the diet, a substantial behavioural relapse was reported in 63% of the children.

This is clear evidence that children’s behavior can be aggravated by elements within the diet. Following such a strict elimination diet for any period of time is not only unhealthy, but impractical and miserable for the child. However, using such a diet to help identify problematic foods can be invaluable.  Children with ADHD often have one or more nutritional imbalances that, once identified and corrected, can dramatically improve their energy, focus, concentration and behavior.  What encouraging news that we can change our children’s diets rather than medicate them!  Another example of educate not medicate.