Hyperactivity and Nutrition

If you complain that your child is very active and aggressive and has a concentration disorder, consult a physician. In children diagnosed with hyperactivity, behavioral disorders such as restlessness, impatience, loss of attention, forgetfulness, and learning difficulties were detected. It has been observed that hyperactive children can exhibit abnormal behaviors as a result of brain chemistry imbalances, but the cause is still not fully defined.

Hyperactivity is more common in boys than girls, and children's distraction usually starts at the age of 3. If it is ignored and not taken under control during these periods, problems that will affect your child's future life negatively arise. This causes the child to experience a more turbulent and unsuccessful adolescence period.

Scientific studies prove that hyperactivity in children increases after the consumption of foods with additives and excessive sugar. In addition, studies reveal that children who do not eat enough and healthy nutrition are hyperactive.

If you have a hyperactive child, you don't have to panic, be observant, and pay attention. If they are more active after consuming some foods, especially sugary foods, and if they are unable to stay in place and if they have a concentration disorder, you should limit the consumption of such foods. In addition, many of the hyperactive children show much more sensitivity to salicylates and phenolic compounds, so those with low salicylate should be preferred.

Low salicylate fruits; banana, peeled peach, and papaya.

Low-salicylate vegetables; cabbage, chickpeas, peas, lettuce, and potatoes.

Salicylate content is low in meat, chicken, fish, eggs, dairy products, and cereals. But their consumption should be paid attention to because your child can show sensitivity to these foods.

Foods to be considered in consumption;

Acidic beverages and ready-made fruit juices, confectionery and dyed foods, milk, and dairy products with white sugar, snacks such as chips, canned food, instant soup, and spice mixes, delicatessen products (such as sausage, salami, sausage), broth tablets, instant pudding and all foods containing preservatives and additives such as cakes should be avoided.

In addition, beverages containing caffeine should be avoided. Adequate and balanced consumption should be made from all food groups required for health.

Suggestions;

· You should acknowledge that your child is more active and poor in concentration than other children, and you should pay close attention to everything from nutrition to education, from exercise to behavior.

· You can plan 30-minute activities every day of the week to get his attention.

· You should pay attention to fish consumption twice a week. Especially omega-3 found in oily fish causes significant decreases in hyperactive behaviors.

· Studies have shown that the addition of zinc and iron minerals to the daily diet of hyperactive children provides positive changes in behavior.

· Significant reductions in hyperactive behaviors were observed with the exclusion of food preservatives and colors from the diet.

· Since chocolate, sugar and caffeinated foods increase the release of insulin and therefore adrenaline in hyperactive children, the consumption of such foods should be limited.

· When excessive adrenaline is secreted, it may be recommended to give additional magnesium to prevent insufficiency of rapidly consumed magnesium.