I can't seem to find any threads about how low carb affects AD/HD. I hope it's alright to start a thread here.
I come from a family with quite a few members who have varying forms of attention deficit disorder, myself included. I have had it my entire life---mom says even as a baby she knew I was "different" than my siblings.
Well, after going grain-free and sugar-free in recent months, I find I am able to think clearly and and concentrate sooooo much better----without any AD/HD prescription meds. Point being---I am amazed and pleased that a grain-free/sugar-free diet is calming and conducive to learning and concentration.

Has anyone else experienced this or had a friend or relative with AD/HD improve on a low carb/grain-free/sugar-free diet?

I got my brain back by going gluten free. I used to have terrible brain fog and memory issues.

Good question. I wonder if LC would help my 11yo- but for now, it's enough of a struggle just to get her to eat regularly, and her mood is all over the place when she forgets to eat- I just can't see putting additional restrictions on her that may not be necessary.

She's definitely harder to live with when she has too much sugar, but I think that's because she ends up eating candy or cookies in place of real food, and then she gets moody from not eating enough real food.

I highly recommend the book "The Brain Trust Program" there is a very interesting story in there about how a ketogenic diet and supplements helped a young college man to focus on his school work an was able improve his study habits. My son is ADHD. He is in college and continues to struggle in school. I might have to read the story to him. He told me he opened the book and there were just too many words. That kid is such a crack-up.

You know what, I'm going to go downstairs and get the book. The example presented in the book was about a young man with ADHD, he was the same age as my son and came to the realization that his study skills were lacking, to say the least. The ADHD, also added stress to the learning process. He agreed to give up junk food and consume, meat, fruit, milk yadda, yadda, yadda. Dr. McCleary, authur of the book and friend of the Eades,design a dietary regimen including higher doses of B vitamins in conjunction with a-lipoic acid, CoenzymeQ10 ( COQ10 ), a pretty strong dose of magnesium, dimethylaminoethanol ( DMAE ) and huperzine A. These last 2 ingredients that I have never heard of, have shown to prolong and increase focus when taken in the necessary amounts.

Not only did his study habits improved, he was even able to ace a couple of tests. I will need to find a doctor who will help my ADHD son.

http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/...-and-menopause/

Hi Black57
Thank you for the information. A "clean" diet and the supplements you mentioned---sounds like a really good idea.
I an identify with your son's dificulties. I'm glad he's doing a lot better.

Sveltecelt, Try and get the book if you can. I don't have my son on this regimen but I am going to try and get him to discuss this with our doc. I wish I had this book when DS was in elementary school.

I am ADD (inattentive type*) and I am less of a space cadet on low carb.

*not formally dxed, but I have a life time of evidence to prove there is something wrong with me...LOL

Black57
Thanks for the recommend about "The Brain Trust Program"---I looked at some reviews---sounds excellent. It's on my "buy soon" list.

Cool. I love the book. I have even emailed Dr. McCleary regarding other neurological disorders.

I have known several families with children who have ADHD and who have greatly benefitted from being gluten-free. I personally have Lupus and have never felt better in my life that when I am gluten and sugar free.

Hi all,
Isn't amazing how far reaching the effects of gluten are? I only wish this knowledge was available 50 years ago---it could have benefitted our parents or grandparents. In my family there's a family history of diabetes, alzheimer's/dementia,bowel cancer, ataxia, learning disabilities/ADHD and classic childhood celiac. I think they are all related to gluten. (And too, I wish some brilliant scientist could research as to why it seems to hit most frequently in people of northern European descent. With my family tree it is English, German, and northern French.) Why is there supposedly far less gluten intolerance in mediterranean countries, for instance???? all that pasta and crusty bread....

There actually isn't less. About the only place it seems pretty rare is in Asia. Italy has a huge gluten free population, they get their gluten free replacement products from pharmacies.

I think there are a lot of countries where gluten issues are just not well-known or tested for. I'm sure they've got them too, they're just worse at identifying them. Over all, Europe is doing a much better job with gluten than the US is. Our doctors are pretty ignorant over here.

I think it is because humans, in reality, do not tolerate gluten well. Those countries with the most gluten in their food will suffer the most. But again this topic is in the Brain Trust Program. There is also a very interesting chapter about vitamin D defiiciency which has cropped up over the past 30 years. This defieciency is associated with rickets but is now being questioned in association with autism and ADHD.

I'm hearing that gluten intolerance in Africa is actually worse than anywhere else. And here we are giving wheat to Africans who can't properly digest it. You see those pictures of kids with the enormous swollen bellies and skinny limbs and butts, that is the classic manifestation of celiac disease in kids. No wonder they go on to die even after getting sufficient calories!

Hi,
My son has ADHA/Tourettes/Aspergers

One thing we found out when he was only diagnosed with the ADHA was that the feingold diet helped enormously.

Thefeingold diet removes, BHT/TBHQ/BHA--preservatives, as well as artif. food colors ad flavors, and certain fruits and veg that are high in salicilates : apples, peppers, grapes, etc.
We even avoid fragrances, which is hard to do if you want to go to church, or almost anywhere b/c of perfume, airfreshners, candles, laundry detergent. Most these fragrances are petroleum based, which is something that affects him.

We did not limit gluten or wheat, just kind of went natural.

What we found after a week was the preschool teacher telling us that we now had a different child. And that if he had a purple charms lollipop he went loopy, including his tourettes tics increasing.

Then obviously, there is the whole gluten research for special diets for thoses on the autistic spectrum.

I just think that the more processed the food, and the less natural....it can affect your nervous system as much as your brain and your weight

Maggie