New research being done on the link between ADHD and diet has begun to unveil some interesting findings that may have parents trying to change up their child’s diet before seeking a prescription for Ridalin or Adderal.

According to MSN,

ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorder in childhood, affecting from 5 to 7 percent of U.S. school-age children. Most parents and physicians treat ADHD with medication—in fact, the use of medication tripled worldwide between 1993 and 2003, with the United States prescribing more medication for ADHD than any other country. Yet some parents have taken a rigorous look at their child’s diet, as a substitute for or in conjunction with meds, in an effort to minimize symptoms and ultimately sidestep a dependency on drugs.

Medication can yeild much faster results which is preferred by many parents and teachers.

Clinical nutritionist Marcia Zimmerman, a former research scientist at Stanford University Medical Center and author of the book The ADD Nutrition Solution: A 30-Day Drug-Free Plan said, “It does improve behavior, it is easy, it is quick, but the problem is it doesn’t heal anything, and moreover, when a child has been on these meds for a period of time [they may] develop side effects and you have to use more drugs to relieve the side effects.”

There are many different diets to lesson the affects of ADHD such as the Feingold Method. The Feingold Method has sparked a little controversy with nutritionists because of its recommendation that you steer clear of select fruits that are high in natural salicylates. Another option is elimination diets, in which parents remove different foods from their child’s diet, and then reintroduce them one at a time to see how they affect mood and behavior.

Whatever path you choose to take, make sure that you talk the approach over with your doctor. Medication may be the best route to solving your child’s ADHD problem, but if you could remedy the problem naturally, Why not?