Adhd Supplements - Does The Magic Pill Exist ?

If parents think that supplements for ADHD are going to solve all their problems with hyperactive children, then they are in for a bit of a shock ! There is actually little proof that ADHD supplements will have any effect on children's behaviour or that they will reduce hyperactivity, impulsive behaviour or focus attention and concentration. Now studies have been done to show that zinc, magnesium, calcium and amino acids all have a positive effect on reducing ADHD symptoms. Most of these studies have been quite limited and therefore we cannot say that any one of them or any combination will provide the magic pill.

Sugar Found NOT Guilty !
I had a good laugh when I read about that the 'sugar causes hyperactivity in children' myth had been debunked. I laughed because it also emerged that parents who thought that the kids had been given a sugary snack (actually they hadn't) were convinced that they were more hyperactive than usual ! Good sense will dictate that too much sugar will cause cavities and obesity so really we are doing our kids a favour, whatever the effects on ADHD behaviour. I do believe that artificial colours, sodium benzoate preservative and certain E type food dyes do lead to increased hyperactivity. The majority of studies have confirmed this.

Omega 3
So, back to ADHD supplements. There is ONE supplement which has definitely passed all the tests and trials and that is Omega3 or fatty fish acids or fish oils. These are great for any age group - I take them myself for joint health but they are great all rounders in that they improve concentration and attention span (they aid nerve and brain cell formation) which is why they are great ADHD supplements. Now if you want these fish oils in their natural state you have to eat a lot of fish - the downside is that you may be scared of mercury poisoning, like me. Apart from fish fingers, kids are not great fish eaters and tend to go for beef jerky or white meat. So the safest thing is to add the Omega 3 or fish oils capsules every day or give them a multivitamin formula. I should add that this ADHD supplement is great for improving attention span in children but less so for hyperactivity and impulsivity.

Red Alert For ADHD drugs
The bad news is of course that while certain supplements for ADHD can ease symptoms, there is the vexed problem about which kind of ADHD meds to go for. In Canada,in 2005, Adderall ( a common psychostimulant for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) was withdrawn because it caused the sudden deaths of 20 patients, mostly children. Death was caused by a pre-existing heart condition which, when mixed with Adderall, proved to be a deadly cocktail. At Duke University,5% of college students are taking these drugs illicitly to help them improve memory and concentration. Most reported nasty side effects such as weight loss, insomnia and irritability.

Now that natural ADHD remedies are enjoying a well-deserved boom, parents are reassured that these homeopathic ingredients have no side effects and are a gentle aid to coping with ADHD. There are questions about how effective they are and what sort of supervision goes into their manufacture. The link below will answer all these questions especially the one about the company being approved by the FDA.

By: William Locke

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Robert Locke is a Health enthusiast who specializes in Children's Health. He has written extensively on ADHD. Discover what ADHD Alternative Therapy is available.