Top Nutrients for ADHD, ADD, and other “D” Disorders
Supplements for ADHD
Do you or someone you love struggle with a “D” disorder? So what’s a “D” disorder? ADHD, ADD, ODD, OCD, BPD. All of our bodies are deficient in some nutrients as our typical western diet is not optimal for brain health. So, we must supplement. Below are the top nutrients that doctors suggest to help with focus, hyperactivity, sleep, calming and gut health.
Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s) – These MUST be obtained through diet. We’ve all heard that we need to get more good fat into our bodies as our western diet has too many Omega 6’s due to the highly processed foods we consume. So, it’s Omega 3’s and 9’s that we need to increase. Why? Well, an Australian Study showed that an increase in Omega 3’s were associated with improved spelling and attention and reduced oppositional defiance, hyperactivity, cognitive problems and inattention. The recommended daily dose is 750-1500 mg EPA and DHA for most kids; double that amount for kids with allergies, or mood or behavioral disorders. Nordic Naturals is the brand I recommend as it doesn’t have a fishy after taste and kids love it.
Zinc – Dr. Mary Hyman has reported that “Low zinc levels are associated with lowered immunity, poor heavy metal detoxification and ADHD.” Low levels of zinc correlate with inattention. Recommended dosage – 10-35mg Check with your pediatrician for the proper dose for your child.
Magnesium – Known as the calming herb, magnesium is involved in brain functions and research has linked a low level of magnesium with decreased attention span. A small study of 75 magnesium deficient children showed an improvement in behavior after supplementation. Magnesium also helps with sleep and relaxation which can be a challenge for adults and children with ADHD. The dosage varies per the age of the child. Check with your pediatrician to find out the recommended dose.
Probiotics – Probiotics have become very popular in recent years as research has shown the importance of gut health with an overall healthy body. Nearly 2000 years ago the Greek doctor Hippocrates said that all disease begins in the gut and new research is showing how true that is. There are many things that damage a healthy microbiome which is why it is so important to supplement with a good probiotic. I personally love doTerra’s PB Assist for Adults and PB Assist Jr. for children. They are double encapsulated so that the precious good bacteria will deposit into the small intestine and not the stomach where stomach acids will destroy it. Click here if you are interested in learning more.
Along with supplementation, we must clean up our diet and the diet of our family for optimal brain health, focus, attention, and a better outlook on life. I can help you with that. I have group coaching opportunities and 1:1 family coaching where I dive into your unique family and we problem-solve to get you all squared away.
Wonder what it’s like to work with a Health Coach, please book a Free Discovery Call here:
https://Treeoflifehealthcoachingmarytate.as.me/discoverycall
Until next time,
Mary
About the author: Mary is a wife of 22 years and mom to three children, one of whom has ADHD and Sensory Processing Disorder. She is also a Certified Health Coach and loves to serve her clients through a Free Facebook group, Online and In-Person Individual Family Coaching, and Group Coaching programs. She is also a self-published author of “Food & The Brain” a book about how food affects our brains and the creator of “Grocery Store to Table” a program with a proven approach to helping your child accept new foods into their diets.
