Could someone maybe give me a link, or something, for what foods could trigger, or make ADHD worse????
I have heard that a change in diet could make it less. And I really would like for someone to give me ideas, or links, it would be greately appreciated.

I don't have a website, but I do have a girlfriend that has a son that should be diagnosed as hyper. She has taken away sugar and red dye, because those were 2 main triggers for him. If he goes to a party and has a cupcake or anything like that, he is so wired and out of control afterwards. No Hawaiian punch for the kid!

That is my son, and I am a little ticked off that my MIL thinks its so cute to continue buying him cookies, and chocolate and strawberry syrup, when I told her, that he gets so hyper, and bounces off the wall, I mean seriously, this little boy cannot have much sugar at all.

At times I feel bad, because when he eats sugar he gets constipated or hyper, and or both, and people keep buying it, and its like teasing a dog with a piece of meat.

I need to have a heart to heart with her about this, because how would she like it if my son would stick a piece of chocolate in front of her, when she is dieting.

I've started telling people DS has allergies to certain foods (not a true lie since he REALLY DOES have reactions) and that seems to get their attention. My mom knows she can't give either of the boys red food colors (these seem to be our biggest triggers) and absolutely no sugar free stuff - we've discovered the asperteme (sp?) is another trigger for us.

To combat this, I just make sure I bring choices they CAN eat. And sometimes, I just let it slide. It is really hard at a bday party not to eat cake when everyone else is. Pick your battles, just be prepared for the outcome. As my boys have gotten older, they know themselves what they can eat and what they can't. They can read a food label better than my DH. They know what are the "outlaw" foods and what they can eat.

Good luck - but emphasize to your parents/MIL that this is really a health issue, and sometimes just say they are allergeic and usually they will comply.

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Debbie

"Watch the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves." --Benjamin Franklin

I know if you do a google or dogpile search it can help. I have checked out a couple one of them is athttp://www.freehomepages.com/autistic/gcf.htm it is a casein and gluten free diet. You should read it over and print it out and talk to your doctor about it.

good luck

Patchwork told me about the Fiengold diet. It has a list of foods that trigger bad reactions with kids. I used it as my guide and then just eliminated one thing at a time. I finally found with my son that it was yellow dyes and corn surup.

I pretty much just cook from scratch and it has helped tons. The thing that really used to send him to the moon was macaroni and cheese. I found an all natural one in the organic food section.

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The mighty oak started out as a nut that held its ground.

Let me know if you find something. I need that info for my younger son too :/

DID you know caffine calms them down? Coffee, coke, mountain dew, Volt, etc, the caffine has a reverse reaction. I mean at 8 my daughter started drinking coffee at night to help her settle down. Crazy sounding I know but try it.


None of the diets worked for us. Best of luck.

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Casey loving wife to Steven mom to 4 bratty girls Amanda, Rebecca, Jessica and Makayla
Where did my baby go

Uhm, coffee, mtn dew and such as that makes my son bounce off the walls. LOL

I was told that because caffeine is a stimulant, which is in the ADD drugs, that it could indeed calm down a true ADD/ADHD person - I have two adult friends, one of which is ADD, the other ADHD, and it does work that way on them, but more than two cups makes them tired. I'm not sure, though if it works across the board, as each person is so different. However, this would NOT work with pure autism/Aspergers, which is why the wrong diagnosis can be harmful. ADD drugs do not work with Aspergers/autism, and unfortunately, some kids are labeled ADD/ADHD first - if my son's preschool teacher had her way, that's what category he would have been put in.

As far as the diet, I was just reading that gluten, wheat, and dairy free diets have anecdotal success, but scientific studies are still pending. Many parents report this success. I, personally will be upping magnesium to my child (it also helps with mood disorders) under the doctor's advice and guidance. I read this info, by the way in the August 2006 Readers Digest, which has an article on autism. It's not long or very comprehensive, but it's good reading, from a mother with a 10 year old autistic child. Some of you will be able to relate.