My research on this topic has convinced me that since the focus of treating ADHD is the management of its symptoms, alternative treatments such as changes in diet and nutritional supplements can provide an option for parents who are uncomfortable with prescription medication. Certain dietary changes have been said to alleviate ADHD symptoms. These changes can include the consumption of foods rich in magnesium, iron, vitamin d, vitamin b6, zinc, and omega-3 and 6 fatty acids. Nutritional supplements such as St. Johns Wort, ginseng, gingko biloba, and L-carnitine have also been said to help manage the symptoms of ADHD (Herbal Therapeutics Library).
vitamin D, vitamin B6 – capital
ginseng – small
St.John’s wort – capital and small.
April 13, 2010
Do I capitalize Vitamin D or vitamin d, ginseng or Ginseng..etc?
July 4, 2009
Is there any proof that a healthy diet improves pregnancy outcomes?
No, I’m not trying to find an excuse to eat junk food — I eat pretty well, always have.
But I can’t find any actual proof that healthy eating habits actually do much.
I don’t mean "as opposed to eating utter garbage and not taking a vitamin supplement." Nutritional _deficiencies_ = problems, yes.
Back in the day when obstetrics was a relatively new profession (1800’s or so and I’m talking about men and "obstetrics" not midwifery)
they believed that the baby was basically a parasite that fed off the mother and would get all it needed to grow from the mom. Dr’s encouraged moms to gain as little weight as possible and didn’t encourage or suggest dietary changes at all during pregnancy. (Doctors would even tell over weight women that they would need to lose weight during the pregnancy if only to have an easier time at getting back to the "ideal" weight post pregnancy.) As a result of this there were babies who were either born premature, very low birth rate, or even still born.
There was even an epidemic of women dying during childbirth because of poor nutrition. This caused rickets and resulted in women’s pelvises being abnormally shaped and babies could not be born.
At the same time, women who were under the care of midwives, who, as a general practice, even today, encourage a good healthy diet and gaining weight to support the baby. These midwives were not having issues with low birth weight babies or sickly mom’s not able to give birth- although, of course, exceptions occurred, but in general the midwives were having better outcomes as a result of encouraging a healthy diet and adequate weight gain.
Today all Ob’s and midwives know that women must gain at least 20-25 pounds (some gain more which is normal) during pregnancy to have a healthy weight baby. But studies have also found that a good nutritious diet can prevent heath problems in moms as well. Like avoiding gestational diabetes, and pre-eclampsia by eating a balanced diet high in protein and vitamins.
So diet plays a large role in the health of you and your baby.
I’m not saying to avoid junk food- but choose a candy bar with nuts so you can get your protein and eat all natural ice cream to get your calcium without all the other additives and extra sugar that other ice creams have.
And of course, eat your veggies 