In the UnRitalin Solution, we place a lot of importance on diet and proper nutrition as a key to overcoming ADHD. Research shows that artificial additives and certain other food substances can aggravate the trademark symptoms of ADHD, including inattention and hyperactive behavior. These foods cause adverse reactions that impact the brain wave patterns in specific areas of the brain, which in turn triggers the ADHD-like symptoms.
Although very few researchers have looked into the actual mechanisms by which food allergies affect ADHD symptoms, a small study done in 1997 was able to document the phenomenon well. Researchers from Australia’s Institute for Child Health Research investigated the changes in brainwave patterns when participants with ADHD ate foods they were allergic too. The results are very telling and support the theory that an intolerance to certain foods are responsible for ADHD-like behaviors.
Before moving on to the study’s main points, it might help to have a brief discussion on how ADHD is traditionally diagnosed. Since the three hallmark symptoms of ADHD are also symptoms of other disorders, simply checking them off a list is not enough. One other widely-used diagnostic tool is called the Conner’s Rating Scale. This numerical scale is usually filled up by parents or teachers to provide an objective measure of the ADHD symptoms. The higher the numerical score, the more intense the ADHD symptom is. Using a certain cut-off point, the clinician can determine if a child qualifies for ADHD. Aside from that, the symptoms should have been present for over six months in at least two different environments. Although other professionals use different tests to make the diagnosis, the Conner’s Rating Scale plays an important role in screening ADHD from other behavioral disorders.
In the Australian study, twelve children with known mild to moderate food allergies had their brain wave activation patterns mapped by a Quantitative Electroencephalography (QEEG). You might want to read our article on the QEEG test to understand the differences in the ADHD mind’s brain wave patterns. The QEEG scan was done twice – once after five days of consuming the allergenic food, and once after two weeks of avoiding these foods. In addition, the children were made to take the Conner’s Rating Scale twice – once after eating the allergenic foods, another after the two week period of avoiding the allergenic foods.
Below is a table of the children’s Conner scores. In the version of the scale used by the study, the cut-off score for ADHD is 15.
As you can see, ten of the participants had scores above the threshold for ADHD once allergenic foods were introduced to their diets. It seems that consuming foods that provoke allergies is enough to cause ADHD-like symptoms when they weren’t there before. The researchers also noted that the most common allergenic foods among the children were wheat, milk, food colorings, and beet sugar.
Aside from that, the QEEG scans showed the changes in sixteen different brain regions after eating the allergenic foods and after avoiding the allergenic foods. To help you understand the results, below is a table of the brain wave types and activity levels.
Of all the brain waves, the researchers noted that the beta-1brainwave was most affected by the food allergies. The frequency changes were highly concentrated in the temporal and right frontal regions of the brain – the brain regions most associated with ADHD.
Although the population of the study is very small, the findings pose interesting questions as to how many cases of ADHD are actually caused by food intolerances and can be treated with the right ADHD diet. Of course, food allergies are just one potential cause of ADHD, but studies like this one lend credibility to the effectiveness of eliminating gluten, casein, and food additives from a diet.