A few months ago I was doing some research on methods for treating ADHD and I came across some articles talking about how certain diets seem to reduce and treat ADHD symptoms. Despite these multiple studies of how the power of certain foods, artificial coloring, and preservatives can play into the symptoms of ADHD, or how they do not, is still a very controversial and debated issue. The purpose of this paper is to seek out those answers. Does restricting certain foods from ones diet help improve ADHD symptoms or not? If so, what are those findings? Are there specific diets or specific foods to avoid or favor? Is it simply eliminating these certain foods, or just adding certain foods into ones diet? Before diving into searching for those answers, it's important to have a good understanding of what ADHD is, and how with each variation of ADHD there are a few differences. ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is a neurobehavioral developmental disorder, and is defined in the DSM-5 as "A persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development". (2013, p. 31). .
There are three types of ADHD: Predominantly Inattentive, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive, and a combination of the two. (Nordqvist, 2015) Predominantly Inattentive is when a person finds it very difficult to finish tasks, will struggle to organize things, and/or have a difficult time focusing on something without being easily distracted. For example, may have a hard time paying attention to details, following instructions or even able to focus during conversations. Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive is when a person finds difficulty with controlling what they are doing or saying. For example, having random outburst, interrupting, speaking at inappropriate times or just simply talking a lot. They also aren't able to sit still or may be constantly fidgeting, however they are consider restless and impulsive.
