Prescriptions for Ritalin have skyrocketed over the past decade with 90 percent of all prescriptions worldwode consumed in the United States. While ADHD drugs can help improve symptoms by enhancing and balancing brain activity, medications can cause some serious potential side effects including:

 

• Heart problems

• Loss of appetite

• Mood swings

• Difficulty sleeping

 

As more parents become skeptical of this traditional medical approach to ADHD, doctors of chiropractic are offering attractive alternatives with non-drug treatments to retrain bain activity. At Affinity Chiropractic, we encourage parents to try nutritional and lifestyle changes at home including:

 

• Remove as many food dyes, preservatives, additives and sugar from your child's diet as posisble. Certain food colorings and preservatives may increase hyperactive behavior in children. Avoid foods that contain:

  • Sodium Benzoate

  • FD&C Yellow No. 6 (sunset yellow)

  • D&C Yellow No. 10 (quioline yellow)

  • FD&C Yellow No. 5 (tartrazine)

  • FD&C Red No. 40 (allura red)

 

• Shop for natural, organic foods. Avoid as many pesticides and herbicides as possible.

 

• Experiment with an elimination diet to try and determine if your child has an allergy -- start with dairy and gluten. In our Minnetonka office, we find that diets that restrict possible allergens are one of the best ways to improve behavior in children with ADHD. Other common allergens include:

  • Chocolate

  • Milk & Eggs

  • Chemical Additives/Preservatives like BHT & BHA

  • Foods containing "salicylates" like berries, chili powder, apples & cider, grapes, oranges, peaches, plums, prunes and tomatoes

 

• Stop using pesticide sprays in the house. You may also consider replacing commercial-based cleaning products with natural citrus-based cleaning solutions, unscented soap, and borax to avoid toxins in your home.

 

• If you are pregnant, avoid taking medications, micotine, alcohol and other drugs that could harm the fetus. Also be sure to find ways to relax during pregnancy. Stress can affect an unborn baby's health as well.