A significant number of experts have long noted that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or commonly called as ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by poor attention, impulsive behavior, and hyperactivity. A new research suggests that there is a feasible association between low adherence to the Mediterranean diet and an increased risk of ADHD.
The study finds that such dietary patterns of the Mediterranean diet can be related to a lower diagnose of the disorder. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also revealed that nearly 11 percent of children whose age is between 4 and 17 in the US have already been diagnosed of ADHD, which makes it as one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood.
Mediterranean Diet And Its Properties
In one of her statements reported by Medical News Today, study lead authors María Izquierdo Pulido, a Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences of the University of Barcelona, and José ángel Alda, Head of the area of Psychiatry at Sant Joan de Déu Hospital (Barcelona) has recently revealed that there are no studies that examined the potential relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and ADHD, thus, they will technically be the first team to do the research about such association. Known as a diet that is typically made up of fruits, vegetables, fish, whole grains, nuts, and legumes, and low in red meats, eggs, dairy products, and sweets, Mediterranean diet is considered by many experts as the best kind of meal plan that induces good health, with studies linking this eating pattern to reduced risk of heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, and some types of cancer.
ADHD Risks Prevented By A Mediterranean Diet
Meanwhile, according to reports revealed by Science Daily, experts have highly emphasized that although mechanisms that link a low-quality diet and ADHD are still unknown, previous scientific research have already associated some dietary patterns with ADHD. The study authors have also said that the research doesn't necessarily establish a cause-effect relation between dietary patterns and ADHD.
However, it is seen to have the ability to help determine certain specific dietary strategies to improve the quality of life for both the affected patients and their families. Ultimately, experts have suggested that clinicians should instead focus on diet and not with the expectation of dietary changes improving behavior but with the concern that children with ADHD are more likely to be eating unhealthy diets.
