Causes of ADHD

Many parents around the world are having to deal with something they call "ADHD". This behavioral disorder is socially unacceptable, thus creating embarrassment to the family on top of the challenges of handling a hyperactive child. From my experience, many ADHD parents believe this problem is genetic or otherwise unchangeable. Well, I am here to tell you there are many causes for ADHD and they are all things parents can control.

Food and ADHD

The most widely agreed reason for ADHD is food. Most specialists agree that some food items cause aggressive behavior similar to that caused by addictions: sugar, chocolate, food colors, artificial flavors and preservatives.

Candy Others believe that the body is missing some chemicals it needs to digest certain kinds of food and thus develops an allergic response to food it cannot process. This is when you need to check food allergies like: wheat, milk, egg, chocolate, corn, soybean and also food containing Salicylates.

The key to a solution here is finding the foods causing the problem and getting them out of your ADHD child's diet, possibly introducing them back later on.

Breastfeeding and ADHD

Research shows that, out of 100 kids with ADHD, fewer are breastfed than the number in the general population. It also shows that when kids with ADHD are breastfed, it is for a shorter period of time.

Further research has found that breast milk contains some fatty acids that are necessary for proper development of babies. By breastfeeding long enough, mothers provide the right amount of these fatty acids to their babies and reduce the risk of having ADHD (and Dyslexia).

Breastfeeding Subsequent research has used fatty acid supplements from a combination of Evening Primrose and Fish Oil. Kids suffering from Dyslexia, ADD or ADHD were given supplements for over 4 months. The kids improved so much that 64% stopped having concentration problems, 73% were no longer hyperactive and 75% stopped breaking the rules. The kids' reading also improved and they showed reduced anxiety and shyness, better memory and increased coordination.

The key to a solution is breastfeeding your babies as long as possible, but no less than 4 months. For older kids already showing symptoms of ADHD, use the above supplements. In both matters, please consult a specialist.

Environment and ADHD

Together with food, it has been found that kids' environment can also contribute to ADHD. Kids who were exposed to cleaning products in their classes performed lower in their school work. Air pollution can also contribute to symptoms of ADHD.

Although it is a bit harder to stop breathing, it is quite easy to avoid very hard chemicals or at least ensure good ventilation after using them.

Antibiotics and ADHD

Studies have found that prolonged use of antibiotics weakens the good bacteria in the body, interfere with normal function of the body and can contribute to ADHD.

The best thing for us to do as parents is to avoid use of antibiotics as much as possible. If it is really necessary, we should make sure to eat lots of food containing good bacteria like yogurt, sauerkraut, miso and kefir. If this is hard too, you can always buy some acidophilus and lactobacillus capsules from the health shop for lots of good bacteria (the refrigerated versions are better).

Another way to help in this area is to avoid food with lots of sugar, because is the food of the bacteria you want to eliminate from your kid's body.

Learned behavior and ADHD

Some of the ADHD problems could be learned at home from a parent who is confused, impulsive, not coping well with authority or lacking self esteem. Some kids do not know any other way to behave and fall into a cycle of behavior that is hard to get out of. The good news is that the chance of both parents having that problem is small. The bad news is that if a parent has this problem, it will be hard for him or her to help their kids.

Spotting the symptoms in yourself or your partner can greatly help. I have heard so many parents saying, "My husband is exactly the same" or "My wife is exactly like this". You can work on your life skills, improve your self esteem and learns ways to manage your feelings and behaviors.

Kids are like mirrors, or little monkeys ("monkey see, monkey do"). If they see you happy and content, they will be happy to. And this is a wonderful cycle!

Happy parenting!
Ronit

You may want to read

February 26th, 2009 | Author: Ronit Baras

Posted in Health / Wellbeing, Parenting | Tags: attention deficit add adhd, behavior / discipline, beliefs, diet, food, health / wellbeing, how to, hyperactive, lifestyle, self confidence / self esteem / self worth, special education

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http://www.add-adhd-teen-help.com/add-adhd/what-are-the-symptoms-of-adhd-disorder-in-children.html adhd children
It's true that "Kids are like mirrors, or little monkeys ("monkey see, monkey do")". How can you help your kids when you cant even help yours. In that case parent should seek for professional advice or make some therapy session.
http://www.ronitbaras.com/index.php/about/ Ronit Baras
I agree, parent cannot help their kids if they cannot help themselves.
The whole "Be a Happy Parent" program that we run is about "Happy Parents raise happy kids".
Yes, I would recommend parents to seek professional advice of some kind of a therapy before they send their kids to a therapy, not because they need to take the blame for what is happening to their kids but because they need to be in a strong, confident place in order to help their kids.
Thanks for the comment.
Ronit
Amanda
As a parent and spouse of ADD/ADHD this article is a disappointment. There are so many "causes" or triggers for those with ADD/ADHD and this does nothing to help those looking for good information.
ADD/ADHD is as much a behavioral disorder as it is a chemical imbalance in the brain. We do many things in our house like eating gluten-free, organic, and medications only in the case of extreme need. With or without these modifications my husband and daughter's brain scans still show different than others.
I am a strong, confident, educated, parent that does whatever is needed to raise healthy, creative, well behaved children.
http://www.ronitbaras.com/index.php/about/ Ronit Baras
Hi Amanda,
I am sorry you could not take anything from this information here that was useful for you.
I know there are some theories that shows different brain scans however, did you know that very active 100 year old people show a brain scan of a 50 year old?
Brain is something that changes with food, chemical exposure and thinking.
No one disagrees that the behavioural is not chemical. I think it is important to understand that they are highly connected.
food causes a chemical reaction.
Drugs causes a chemical reaction.
Thoughts create a chemical reaction.
If you think that ADD or ADHD is a dysfunction of the brain and there is nothing you can do about it. I guess you are lucky your husband and daughter were not diagnosed with something worst.
On the article, I wrote about 4 causes of ADHD.
in the following article I wrote about other causes.
The "Learned" cause, as much as you do not like the idea is one of the causes.
I learned over the years and working with lots of kids with difficulties that hiding this option as cause from parents is not doing them a favour.
The causes were meant to help you find strength and motivation to examine causes and eliminate the ones that are not relevant and support your kids. They were not meant to blame you. Blame puts you in a place when your support is limited.
Enjoy your parenting
Ronit
http://studentcenteredcounseling.com/ Keith Kosierowski
It is confusing to see a lack of proof to support your claim that ADHD is solely an environmental condition...
Particularly, given the ever-increasing, and scientific, body of research explaining ADHD to be predominately inherited or in-utero originated.
It is important that clear and supportable information be available to those impacted by ADHD. How do you explain your positions and on what bodies of evidence do you use to site them?
http://www.ronitbaras.com/index.php/about/ Ronit Baras
Keith,
There is not much support because no one ( at least not me) thinks that ADHD is solely an environmental condition.
My protest is that there is an inflation in the diagnosis of ADHD and every tiny problem with kids falls easily into that category.
There is ADD, there is ADHD but most of it is low emotional intelligence. Children (and adults) with high EQ are never considered ADD or ADHD, suddenly you call them active, creative - same kids just using different eyes to diagnose them.
I use the information on 25 years of special education experience and years of diagnosing kids and I don't think that it was pure luck that the second they see me, they become calmer, creative and focused. I don't have magic touch, I learned it from my teachers. I had inspiring teachers that for 4 years of my degree showcased hundreds of kids that were misdiagnosed with ADD, ADHD or just hyperactive and they were just kinesthetic kids that think while in movement.
I do recommend you reading the ADHD fraud book which gives one, just one explanation ( with lots of back up)to why you think there is an increasing scientific explanation of ADHD.
Go to this site:
http://www.parental-intelligence.com/
on the left hand side on the side banner, you can find a free ebook called The ADHD fraud.
Sit while reading. I can back up lots of what Fred Baughman says. It is scary.
Happy parenting
ronit

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