What diet adjustments do you recommend for ADD/ ADHD? Currently in the early process of this differential diagnosis and will do anything to straighten it all out… TIA. As always, I appreciate your writing.
Hi Ashley, thanks for your question. Transparently, I am not an expert when it comes to nutrition & mental health, so my answer is going to be completely common sense. People with ADHD tend to be more sensitive to shifts in their energy levels, perhaps bc there live in the procrastination/guilt&shame/panic cycle. Motivation is also something that can be a challenge, especially if there is depression or anxiety on top of the ADHD (which is common). So diet wise, mainly it's trying to find ways to keep energy as consistent as possible during the day, so avoiding big, carb loaded meals, especially during the times of day when one's attention is more focused (that time of day will differ for individuals). All this being said, my favorite expert on nutrition and mental health is Dr. Drew Ramsey MD. His newest book is called Eat to Beat Depression & Anxiety, and it's great. Drew takes a nuanced approach -- like you may need zoloft *and* adjusting your nutrition can help too. Like me, he believes no *one* thing is the magic solution, and he does believe in medication. Would highly recommend you check him out (he has a podcast too). Good luck on your journey, and I hope this helps.
What diet adjustments do you recommend for ADD/ ADHD? Currently in the early process of this differential diagnosis and will do anything to straighten it all out… TIA. As always, I appreciate your writing.
Hi Ashley, thanks for your question. Transparently, I am not an expert when it comes to nutrition & mental health, so my answer is going to be completely common sense. People with ADHD tend to be more sensitive to shifts in their energy levels, perhaps bc there live in the procrastination/guilt&shame/panic cycle. Motivation is also something that can be a challenge, especially if there is depression or anxiety on top of the ADHD (which is common). So diet wise, mainly it's trying to find ways to keep energy as consistent as possible during the day, so avoiding big, carb loaded meals, especially during the times of day when one's attention is more focused (that time of day will differ for individuals). All this being said, my favorite expert on nutrition and mental health is Dr. Drew Ramsey MD. His newest book is called Eat to Beat Depression & Anxiety, and it's great. Drew takes a nuanced approach -- like you may need zoloft *and* adjusting your nutrition can help too. Like me, he believes no *one* thing is the magic solution, and he does believe in medication. Would highly recommend you check him out (he has a podcast too). Good luck on your journey, and I hope this helps.