By Robert Winterson
First, the bad news. There are really no suitable vitamins which are specifically for ADHD. The good news is that there are lots of vitamins and minerals which can really help the brain to function better. That is what ADHD vitamins are all about.
ADHD is just a mere malfunctioning of certain brain transmitters. We know that certain foods make the brain work better. Others actually inhibit it. For example, if we give our kids junk food all the time which is highly processed and fill of additives and preservatives, then the actual nutrients and vitamins have all been processed out. That is why junk food gets its awful name.
But there are lots of vitamins which really help the brain to function better. Let us have a look at the principal ones here in this article. If you are already giving your child a perfectly balanced diet with lots of minerals and vitamins, then there is no need to read this article. The Vitamin B group is one of the best vitamins for ADHD. There are two main reasons for this. The first is that these great vitamins can actually help to optimise the metabolism of carbohydrates so that glucose is produced and that is important for feeding the brain above all.
Lots of ADHD kids get sugary cereals for breakfast which does the same job but it produces an uneven supply of glucose leading very often to crashes because it does not convert the carbohydrates properly. This is another reason why protein should always be given to kids at breakfast. It can also stop these spikes happening. These just add to the hyperactivity and the restlessness. That is going to lead to a much calmer and more fruitful morning at school.
Vitamin B can also help in keeping the central nervous system in great shape. That means that the balance of neurotransmitters is kept in check. There is neither depression nor hyperactivity. One researcher decided to give a group of 100 kids with ADHD large does of Vitamin B1, B5 and B6. After just three days, these kids were better focused and able to pay attention for much longer than those who were given the placebo. They were also better behaved.
Another one of the great Vitamins for ADHD is Vitamin D as it can help to get the glucose supply to the brain quickly. It is also helps in co-ordination as a lot of ADHD kids find it hard to do up zips and cut out shapes and so on. One of the neurotransmitters which helps us to pay attention is acetylcholine and Vitamin D can help in its production in the brain. There are lots of other vitamins which can all help, so having a balanced diet supplemented with Vitamins B, C and D will really make a great difference.
What are the right ADHD vitamins? Will they really make a diference? The answer is a resounding yes! Robert Winterson has written on ADHD for many years.