I find that a low carb high protien diet helps with my ADD

Hi Tara,
Can you give any specifics? Do you work with dieting and medications or ?

Thank,
David

I'm just about to start on the Atkins program, so this really caught my attention. Do you have any resources available that would solidify your position?

Knowing what I do know about the low carb/hi protien diet, I would imagine it would have a HUGE impact on ADD/ADHD.

Carbs have a big impact on our hormone balance, so it would make sense that they could have a big impact on the testosterone levels in our ADD/ADHD boys.

I don't know if she talks about it, but Dr. Schwartzbein wrote a great book about hormones and diet. I know it's available on Amazon. I used to run her radio show.. VERY INFORMATIVE!

Anyway, let me know what the rest of you find out. This could be a VERY good topic.

Paul

I was actually on the Atkins diet and found no added benefit (other than weight loss) from the low carbs diet.

Apparently this doesnt work for everyone. :(

post will go though

I don't go to anything as extreme as the Atkins or Feingold diet.

Maybe instead of saying low carbs I should have said better Carbs

Some examples are:

Brown rice instead of white
12 grain bread instead of instead of white bread

I try to watch my intake of processed flours and sugars.


Also I have added sources of Omega 3, 6, and 9 to my diet. I try to eat fish like salmom at least twicea week. Of course that's doesn't always happen so I have added the Suppliments:

Flax Seed Oil
Evening Primrose Oil
Grape seed Extract

Also a great book that I have been reading is:

THE LCP SOLUTION: The Remarkable Nutritional Treatment for ADHD, Dyslexia, and Dyspraxia by B. Jacqueline, Ph.D. Stordy, Malcolm J. Nicholl, Jacqueline Stordy

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0345438728/ref=nosim/livingwithadd

I've had a fair amount of success with the high protein low carb diet for my daughter. This started when she was 3 and now she is almost 5 1/2. I've learned several things along the way.

Protein high in the beginning of the day (70/30), okay to be more carbs for dinner, after which brain function is not so important.

Omegas seem to be really important for my daughter. Flaxseed oil daily. Salmon is great but beware! Farm-raised salmon does not have the ideal ratio of omegas. I've read that lots of add kids have 15:1 or even 50:1 ratio of 6's to 3's (or is it 3's to 6's?). I buy frozen salmon from rather than farm raised fresh salmon. I notice a great difference if we eat it more than 2 times a week, otherwise not much diff.

Now for the latest - I was finding my daughter had dark circles, hurting tummy with the high protein breakfasts (usually the high protein is in the form of nuts like almonds, or eggs). I found out that a lot of these high protein foods are hard to digest and are also allergenic to sensitive kids. I found two great sources of protein that are good as substitutes:

1. Goatein from Garden of Life (www.gardenoflifeusa.com) Predigested goat's milk protein, easy to digest, 12 grams of protein per tablespoon, not cheap but very pure - no hormones, antibiotics, etc.

2. Glutamine from BIOS - glutamine powder in water on an empty stomach passes the blood/brain barrier - pure protein with no need to digest! Also, glutamine is to the colon walls as probiotic is to the bacteria structure in the colon.

My best response now from my daughter in the way of clarity, focus, and calmness is to start the day with a shake -

Goatein
Glutamine
Vitamin C powder (buffered or will upset the stomach)
fruit
ice
mix in blender

The taste is a bit unusual but even I'm used to it now.

Hope this helps someone.

I should also note that my daughter has had a lot of improvement over the last 8 months due to elimating ALL gluten and ALL cow's products (dairy) from her diet.

I have been using a diet called "The Zone" developed by Barry Sears (sp?) that has helped out. A high carb diet will make anyone feel sluggish and that's why I originally started this particular one. Eating more protein than carbs is also supposed to increase mental alertness and I found that it got me through my afternoon classes. Also, I have family members who have suffered from migraines for years, but haven't had any since using this diet. My brother tried the Atkins diet but it never made sense to me to eat that much meat. So, I can lower my life expectancy either by being obese or I can just increase my cholesterol and die of a heart attack. I don't know what the lesser of the 2 evils are!! Anyway, I love the zone diet and would stay on it regardless. It's worth a try since there's nothing radical about this diet like some of the other ones. Hope this helps.

I was doing the Atkins diet for most of January and February. I really felt great on it. I was also drinking a few cups of green tea a day too instead of cofee.

Of course I went off of it a couple of weeks ago and and have yet to get back on. In these past couple of weeks I have felt really sluggish and kind of "out there"

Without a doubt the best thing I have done for myself is switch to a high protein diet.

I used to eat a lot of sugar in the morning, drink caffeine, and then crash in the afternoon. If this sounds familiar try this simple nutritional change for 2 weeks:

Breakfast – eat eggs or other foods high in protein (limit caffeine to 6oz of coffee)
Mid morning – drink a protein shake
Lunch – More protein – Peanut butter sam’iches are a staple for me – fruits low in sugar
Mid afternoon – You guessed it more protein – protein shake
Dinner – Eat whatever you want

I drink Soy Isolate protein powder (no flavorings) in water. It’s cheap and does the trick.

Since switching to this a high protein diet, I do not get tired in the afternoons and I feel great. I have also begun working out after work since I have more energy.