To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art- Brillat Savarin

stepswithnutrition
Oct 12
2 min read

The global prevalence of ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) is sitting at 6-7% with national stats being 5%. What does this mean? This means that 1 out of a class of 20 would statistically have ADHD.

In South Africa, with classes reaching 40 children, that still means that 2 children of the entire class would have ADHD. This seems like considerably low numbers when we sit around the braai and hear how many parents are considering putting their children on ADHD medications.

Whether you are a parent with a child on ADHD medication or an adult using it yourself, here are some common side effects that you may not be aware of:

· Decreased appetite

· Weight loss

· Mood changes

· Growth faltering

The loss of appetite often leads to weight loss. In children, this runs the risk of growth faltering, which can lead to short stature, developmental delays, and an increased risk of infections.

In autism, these food-related hindrances often manifest differently:

· Heightened sensitivities to changes in recipes

· Hyper-fixations or extreme restrictions of foods accepted (the age-old: I will eat this for every meal until I get sick of it)

· Struggles to tolerate certain textures

But how do we strive to correct it (or ideally) prevent it?

There is much more to the ADHD brain than you may think. Recent studies show that individuals with ADHD and Autism are deficient in certain nutrients, including:

· Omega-3

· Iron

· Zinc

· Vitamin D

· Zinc

These are all nutrients that help with your immune system, emotional well-being and mental agility. Problems often associated with ADHD and autism. This makes the saying ‘You are what you eat’ hit a little closer to home. How do we increase these nutrient levels whilst also navigating medication side effects?