Description

This health video looks at ways to manage your diet to be able to help manage ADHD.

Transcript

Jennifer Matthews: It wasn’t always easy for Austin Armitage to focus like this, especially in school. Austin Armitage: Even the tinier sounds like tapping a pencil on a desk on the other side of the room, I would hear it not just – I get really distracted and I couldn’t work. Jennifer Matthews: But Austin’s mom was weary of starting her son on medication. Melanie Armitage: I wanted to try some other things that were natural before we did that and look at the medication as a last resort. Jennifer Matthews: She turned to naturopathic doctor Wendy Weber from Bastyr University in Seattle. Wendy Weber: I find that a lot of parents just aren’t comfortable with the medications that are available and so they really want other options. Jennifer Matthews: Weber says the top five foods that aggravate ADHD are wheat, dairy, citrus, eggs and corn. Eliminating one or more of these foods can make a big difference. Wendy Weber: There are some foods that aggravate some kids. The hard part is that not the same food will aggravate every child. Jennifer Matthews: Supplements can also help. Weber says when kids are deficient in essential fatty acids, they can appear to have ADHD. Wendy Weber: So I am going to check your ears. Jennifer Matthews: Weber says, about 85% of the kids she sees have at least some improvement. Austin is one of them. Melanie Armitage: Within four weeks, he was noticing a difference, I was noticing a difference, his teacher was noticing a difference. Jennifer Matthews: Those big changes came by adding Ginkgo and fish oil to Austin’s diet. Melanie Armitage: The fact that he can take supplements and have a notable increase in his performance is just fantastic. This is Jennifer Matthews reporting.