Are There Food Triggers for ADHD?
My son was recently diagnosed with ADHD, and as part of his treatment plan, we're making changes to his diet. I've heard that certain foods can make ADHD symptoms worse. What are the most important food triggers for me to avoid?
While some parents have reported that certain "trigger foods" seem to make their or their child's symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) worse, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have evaluated the current research and found that there is little evidence that particular foods affect symptoms for most individuals with ADHD.
Some preliminary research has suggested that a "restricted elimination diet" may be helpful in identifying foods that worsen behavioral problems. For example, in one type of diet that has been studied, children were allowed to eat foods that rarely cause allergies (rice, meat, vegetables, pears, water, and one or two other items) for a few weeks.
Some of these children had improved symptoms, suggesting that food allergies or intolerances may play a role in behavioral problems. However, even after many years of research, diet or food restrictions have not been shown to improve ADHD symptoms for most people.