Sugar increases a child’s hyperactivity by preventing blood sugar levels from stablizing.  It does not matter the type of sugar you use, all sugars are equal when it comes to the negative impact they have on an ADHD child.  Parents are advised to avoid artificial sweetener and foods that contain corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, sucrose, dextrose and fructose.

Foods such as blue bubblegum, goldfish crackers, and jello are visually delightful but dangerous for a child with ADHD.  The U.S Food and Drug Administration have approved several hundred additives that improve flavor, taste, and appearance, but the majority of these are not healthy for your ADHD child.  Make sure to be vigilant in limiting monosodium glutamate (MSG) consumption and try not to give your child any foods with artificial colors, dyes, and flavors. 

Caffeine removes minerals from your bone.  Things such as coffee and tea are acidic and lower the pH of the body.  This makes the body have to work harder to balance itself.  Children with ADHD sometimes consume too much caffeine, which robs the body of the minerals needed to assist nerve functions.

Bad fats inhibit healthy nerve functions.  The fats to avoid are trans fats and saturated fats.  Trans fats are not as common in today’s foods but saturated fats is still everywhere.  Look for healthy alternatives to trans and saturated fats by looking for flaxseed, canola, and olive oil.  A good rule of thumb is to stay around the perimeter of a grocery store as the center typical contains more processed foods with unhealthy fats.  

Similar to caffeine, salt can lead to the depletion of minerals in the body.  Sodium can cause high blood pressure and the depletion of minerals can imbalance the body’s internal chemistry.  Parents should try to reduce tortilla chips, pretzels, and other high sodium snacks and replace with potassium rich fruits and vegetables.