ADHD & Nutrition

have you tried pumpkorn? we buy ours from givemefood.com website. there are 7 flavors. our favorite is the maple vanilla.

What is pumpkorn? Is it good tasting, fattening?

Check out the book “The LCP Solution,” by Jacqueline Stordy for information on the fatty acid research and supplements. Unfortunately, we have tried this with my son (the supplement Efalex recommended by Stordy) for over 7 months now, and it doesn’t seem to have helped so far. But my pediatrician said it can’t hurt and he likes to take them, so I guess we will try a bit longer.
Do your research, though, before you try anything, because some supplements are not the ones that the researchers have used.

Thanks everyone for the advice. We have seen pumpkorn in our local healthfood store, but I don’t remember the maple vanilla flavor. I’m delighted to find it online—and cheaper than my local store too!

Ditto, read Stordy’s book, very useful info. Efalex is on our list to try with our 11 year old NLD/ADD daughter.

My son has been taking Efalex for over a year with very good results. We read Dr. Stordy’s book and realized that he exhibited clinical signs of essential fatty acid deficiency, especially excessive thirst. Just as the book said, three days after he started Efalex he started to drink “normal” amounts of fluids.

Efalex improves his ability to concentrate on schoolwork, improves his mood, and reduces impulsive behavior including angry outbursts.

We are painfully being reminded of what a difference it makes because we have had to take him off it for 3 weeks due to impending surgery. Essential fatty acids in large amounts can thin the blood, and even though he is taking a “low” dose, our nutritionist and Dr. Stordy (we emailed her!) agree that as a precaution he should be off Efalex 2 weeks prior and one week after a tonsillectomy.

2-3 days after stopping Efalex, we saw an increase in his ADHD behaviors…and we still have 2 more weeks to survive!

Linda W.

Thanks everyone for the book reccommendation & advice. I’ll let you know how it’s going.
bekka

Not that familiar with omega-3 fatty acids. Regarding nutrition and ADHD, classic ADHD - attention deficit - is not viewed as a nutritional deficiency at all. As a generalization the one classification of medicines most closely associated with the temporary relief of ADHD symptoms/attention deficit is the central nervous system stimulants/alerting agents. Perhaps the strongest ADHD medicine is Adderall; the weakest known central nervous system stimulant/alerting agent is caffeine/caffeine compounds/coffee (which is known to help a tiny subpopulation of those with ADHD - although the vast remainder can require much stronger medicines like Ritalin/Adderall/other meds/other approaches).

The ADHD meds do not work for everyone.

Regarding good nutrition, a whole foods, additive-free nutritional approach baseline can be a general good approach towards health in general; that is a lot different than saying a whole foods, additive-free approach cures all of ADHD and those who say an additive-free approach cures all of ADHD are simply fibbing and are not to be trusted at all.

That’s my understanding.

Good luck.

If you don’t want to read the whole book (The LCP Solution: The Remarkable Nutritional Therapy for ADHD, Dyslexia and Dyspraxia by Jacqueline Stordy) you might want to go to borntoexplore.org and see the section called “fatty acid deficiency and ADD.”

It summarizes the research on brain development and essential fatty acids which will explain the neurological connection. EFAs are not a cure all for ADHD but the make a significant difference for many individuals.

We ordered the Pumpkorn (maple-vanilla & caramel). It came a couple of days ago. It’s really yummy! It’s sweet, without being too sweet. Thanks for the tip.

Everyone else: thanks for the book lead. Interlibrary loans are great!