When I was completing my nutrition degree in 2002, I wrote my master’s thesis on the “Role Toxins, Nutrient Deficiencies and Poor Nutrition Play in ADHD.” Twenty-two years later, ADHD has become a condition that I commonly work with. No longer is this just a childhood issue. The numberof adults being diagnosed with ADHD and prescribed Vyvanse in the past few years is staggering. In fact, depression, anxiety, food addiction, binge eating and ADHD often present together.
I still believe toxins, nutrient deficiencies and poor nutrition play a significant role in ADHD and other presenting conditions. I also believe we can add to the list: electromagnetic overload, excessive cell phone and screen use, chronic stress, overuse of social media and sleep issues. According to Dr. James Greenblatt, founder of Psychiatry Redefined, “ADHD is a circadian dysregulation disorder.” The symptoms of ADHD are very similar to the symptoms we experience when we are in a sleep deficit - memory and learning challenges, increased production of stress hormones, irritability and other mood changes, impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, decreased productivity and difficulty with focus and concentration.
Dr. Greenblatt also explainsthat “ADHD, food addiction and binge eating disorder share 4 common themes: impaired response inhibition, increased impulsivity, emotional regulation deficits and circadian dysfunction.” When working with clients with ADHD, the goal is to support clients by balancing the stress response, balancing mood and optimizing attention.
Unwanted eating behaviors, food cravings, addictions and binge eating are more frequent with ADHD. There is a significant association between ADHD, increased caloric intake and obesity. This may be due to impulsivity, or it may be due to strong cravings for substances that increase energy, motivation, drive and focus - caffeine, sugar, energy drinks being the most consumed. Increased caloric intake is often also associated with sleep dysregulation. What I often hear from my clients is that when they are fatigued, can’t focus or concentrate, or if they feel impulsive and emotionally dysregulated because the haven’t slept well, they will often turn to food for energy, stimulation, focus, relief, comfort or mood elevation.
In the past year I have been doing extensive training in Neuro-Nutrient Therapy with Dr. James Greenblatt (Psychiatry Redefined) and Julia Ross (Neuro Nutrient Institute), and have developed expertise in the targeted nutrient therapies that can correct mood imbalances and disorders suchas anxiety, depression, mood swings, OCD, ADD/ADHD, food cravings, food addictions and eating disorders, including Binge Eating Disorder, Bulimia and Anorexia. By nutritionally enhancing the brain’s neurotransmitter functions these conditions may be improved.
Neuro Nutrition or Neuro-Nutrient Therapy, is all about feeding the brain the powerful amino acids, vitamin and mineral co-factors that produce neurotransmitters which control how we feel, think, function, and behave. I focus on using the power of food and natural and safe nutritional supplements and essential oils to optimize brain function and improve many symptoms and conditions. I do thorough Neural Nutrient assessments through questionnaires to determine what nutrients a client is deficient in and why they may have become deficient and set up a path and protocol to help replete those deficiencies.
Often, we need to start with sleep regulation and helping people experience deep restorative sleep. We also need to work on lifestyle practices to get into structure, rhythm and routine with nourishing meals, daily relaxation and disconnection from social media ands creens and spending more time in nature to help with circadian regulation and to counterbalance electromagnetic exposure.
We focus on optimizing nutrition with nutrient dense whole food, increasing protein and essential fats and balancing blood sugars throughout the day. We also remove from the diet processed, packaged, refined food, and neurotoxins like food additives, dyes and preservatives. Removing common food sensitivities and allergies is also important as we improve the health and integrity of the digestive system a shealing the gut is essential for healing the brain. These foundational practices are key for circadian regulation, mood regulation, focus and concentration and preventing cravings and bingeing. Once we find balance, cravings and bingeing begin to reduce and it becomes easier to focus on eating healthy and avoiding nutrient void food, refined sugar and fast food.
We also layer in the nutrients through supplementation to help correct the presenting deficiencies and replenish the deficient neurotransmitters that are often at the root of ADHD and other conditions like GABA and catecholamine deficiencies. It is also common to see amino acid deficiencies, omega 3 deficiency, Vitamin B deficiency (especially B6 - B vitamins are vital for brain function), trace mineral deficiencies such as lithium orotate, zinc (“zinc so you can think!”), and magnesium. In fact, many of the symptoms of ADHD like hyperactivity, overstimulation of the mind, being fidgety and restless, easily distracted, inability to focus and insomnia are also signs of magnesium deficiency.
We can also incorporateadditional supportive nutrients. For example, I have recently come to learn about a nutrient that may help ADHD. Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins (OPCs) are types of polyphenols that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anti-stress and mood boosting benefits. Highly concentrated sources of OPCs are found in pine bark, grapeseed extract, cacao, curcumin, green tea extract and blueberry extract. OPCs specifically have a calming effect, increase mental alertness and focus, reduce aggressiveness, restlessness and impulsivity and improve cognitive performance. OPCs increase beta waves in the brain which help with focus and organization and decrease theta waves which influence inattention, distraction and day dreaming. The goal when working with someone with ADHD is to increase beta waves and decrease theta waves in the day while strengthening delta waves in the middle of the night with deep restorative sleep.
There is nourishing hope when it comes to ADHD and any other condition mentioned above. If you would like to learn more about natural solutions that can help with ADHD and other related conditions and get to the root of why you may be experiencing these symptoms and have a road map to help you achieve a more balanced state, please contact me for a consultation.
Yours in health &vitality,
Amy
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