Attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are disorders of metabolism, digestion and nutrition that in turn affect neurological function. 

 

Symptoms of AD/HD:

 

Inattention:

• no attention to detail, careless mistakes, not listening when spoken to, failure to follow / understand instructions, oppositional behaviour, easily distracted and forgetful, often loses things need for tasks

Hyperactivity:

• fidgety, runs around and climbs when it is inappropriate, talks excessively, trouble enjoying activities quietly, constantly “on the go”

Impulsivity:

• has trouble waiting ones turn, blurts out answers or interrupts when others are speaking

 

It is now well documented that many food colourings can directly cause AD/HD.  Many parents have resolved their children’s condition simply by removing colours and other food additives from the diet.  Sometimes other factors involving digestion can also cause AD/HD. 

 

Conditions such as leaky gut syndrome, or dysbiosis (imbalance of beneficial and opportunistic bacteria and other gut microbes) cause inflammation in the digestive tract.  This can then allow larger molecules to be absorbed into the blood stream that can then affect behaviour.  Due to the structure of the nervous system in the digestive tract, any inflammation there can also affect brain function. 

 

Additionally malnutrition resulting from either a poor diet or poor digestion, can lead to imbalances in neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers between nerve cells, thus affecting communication between brain cells.