If you are like me, when you first heard about ADHD medication, you were very concerned about giving it to your child. ADHD is an issue that a rapidly growing number of families are facing in the western world. They have experienced the stress and frustration that accompanies ADHD and are looking for the best solution for their child-one that is both safe and effective. Many choose medicine for ADHD, but a growing number of families are choosing to address ADHD issues from a natural approach.
Typically when a doctor diagnoses ADHD in an individual, he will immediately recommend stimulant ADHD medication. Doctors will tell you that children with ADHD make a complete turn around in school. For many children, it is true that grades and behavior improve when a child begins taking medicine for ADHD. The conflicts decrease, and grades increase, but at what cost.
It is unbelievable to me how little a doctor will discuss the importance of sleep and nutrition to a child with ADHD. Some professionals believe that 80% to 90% of ADHD issues are due to poor nutrition. Since most medicine for ADHD actually acts as an appetite suppressant, it may only make things worse.
The result is that a child who was very likely a picky eater in the first place, now almost stops eating completely. And what he does eat is usually void of nutrition. Most of the families I am familiar with whose children take ADHD medication have had serious weight loss issues to deal with soon after beginning medication. The solution the doctor often gives is to provide the child with protein shakes as often as they will drink them. Some children become malnourished to the point of developing physical health problems.
The other major problem with ADHD medication is that it is a stimulant and thus the primary side effect is that it affects sleep pattens. Many people take this same type of medication to stay awake through the night if studying for exams or driving all night. And because of the addictive nature of medicine for ADHD, it is a controlled substance.
With these problems associated with ADHD medication, what is the best way to address ADHD? To begin with, make sure your child is getting adequate amounts of sleep. Children typically need between 11 and 13 hours of sleep each night.
If they are having problems falling asleep, as many children with ADHD do, there are many natural herbal products that can help. Also removing as much sugar and red dye from the diet as possible will usually help. All children will benefit from getting more sleep, and most will show great improvement in ADHD symptoms. Medicine for ADHD will almost always decrease the amount of sleep a child gets.
Because ADHD medication is an appetite suppressant, your child's nutritional intake will drop off and they will not receive the vitamins, minerals and amino acids that are so important to brain development. Before trying medication, see to it that your child is getting balanced nutrition. Begin each day with protein and avoid the empty carbs. A breakfast of waffles and syrup is a recipe for disaster while a breakfast of mostly protein and whole grains will help improve focus and concentration.
Lastly, instead of turning to medicine for ADHD, supplement the diet with a broad based nutritional supplement to provide what is missing in the diet. The importance of vitamins and minerals cannot be overstated.
Also target the specific type of ADHD with natural products. If the main symptom your child displays is hyperactivity, you may want to look into some herbal ingredients that have a calming effect. Herbs such as ginkgo help the brain receive more nutrients from the blood, thus improving concentration and behavior.
There you have it. Skip the ADHD medication until you have tried a more holistic, natural approach. Remember, the decision is yours, not the doctor's. Try various things to improve the amount of sleep and the quality of nutrition your child is getting. You will also find that natural remedies are very effective and can provide quick results. Following this plan will give you the peace of mind of knowing that you are providing the best and safest treatment for your child with ADHD.
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