Dealing With ADHD Jane has two sons, both diagnosed with ADHD.
Sounds pretty daunting. But her sons are now 20 and 25, and in an e-mail she sent, Jane says they made their way through it with dietary changes and nutritional supplements. Now she says, "I just wish I had learned about the glycemic index when my boys were younger as I think low glycemic index foods would have made a difference." The glycemic index (GI) was developed to help diabetic patients control their blood glucose levels. In a nutshell: Low GI carbohydrates (such as fruit) slowly increase blood sugar, while high GI carbs (such as a bagel or a baked potato) increase blood sugar quickly.
Jane asks: "Has Dr. Spreen done any research to see if there is any improvement in the behavior of children with ADHD if they are fed diets with low glycemic index? I wonder because we so often hear that sugar worsens the behavior of those with ADHD when it may not be white sugar but foods with a high glycemic index." That's an excellent question, and when I asked HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., about it, he added that it was also a tough question. Here's how he explains it:
"The difficulty has to do not only with some problems with the glycemic index, but also the fact that ADHD is not from a single cause. First of all, I think a low GI diet would help, all by itself. In cutting out sugar and refined flour products you're pretty much onto a low glycemic index diet anyway. "Difficulty one comes with goofy items in most GI lists. Ice cream, for example, is lower on the list than some really good foods (the cream [fat] slows the action of the sugar). Bear in mind, however, that the kid still receives 'naked' calories from the sugar, meaning he gets refined sugar calories without the nutrients necessary for their absorption and assimilation. That means body stores have to be drawn from for that purpose. If the stores happen to be low (from many previous 'withdrawals' from the store account), that's when disease (of whatever type the body decides is its own weakest link) rears its ugly head. Naked calories need to be avoided, whatever the source and whatever the glycemic index (though most nutrient-dense foods are lower GI foods, as a rule).
"Next comes the issue of food allergy, which I believe is huge. This area also includes (to me, anyway) artificial colors, dyes, preservatives, herbicides, fertilizers, insecticides, hormones, what-have-you, that can set a sensitive kid off. These are important to keep in mind in dealing with ADHD. Doris Rapp, M.D., Ben Feingold, M.D., William Crook, M.D., and Lendon Smith, M.D., all have excellent books on the subject. (Lendon Smith is maybe the most entertaining, followed by Billy Crook, but all should be mandatory reading for anyone trying to deal with this problem.) "So, to answer the question with the short version, yes, low glycemic index is a great start. Just be aware that it's usually only a start. Read, read, read!!!"
And to that reading list I would also add Dr. Spreen's fascinating book "Nutritionally Incorrect: Why the American Diet is Dangerous and How to Defend Yourself" (Woodland Publishing). Not only does it contain a wealth of information on nutrition and vitamin supplements, but it's also written in Dr. Spreen's lively style. To Your Good Health, Jenny Thompson
Health Sciences Institute |
