Page 18 - Florida Sentinel 6-22-18

Health
FISH/SEAFOOD
ENERGY DRINKS
According to the site ADHD Awareness Month, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is usu- ally diagnosed by physicians in African Americans at a high rate.
ADHD is more common in school-age children than adults, and in boys than girls.
Experts say that some foods can worsen ADHD symptoms, including inattention, hyperactiv- ity and impulsivity. These specific foods can mimic the signs of ADHD.
Here are some of the foods to avoid for anyone living with ADHD or who may be displaying signs of it:
Fish and other seafood can contain traces of mercury, which can worsen ADHD symptoms in the long run. Try to avoid king mackerel, swordfish, shark and tilefish.
Experts say energy drinks can worsen ADHD symptoms, too. They are packed with sugar, arti- ficial sweeteners, artificial colors caffeine and other stimulants. These drinks are becoming popu- lar among teens, so be sure to talk to your teen about the risks of drinking energy drinks.
CANDY
CAKE FROSTING
Yes, you guessed it! There’s a ton of artificial sweeteners and artificial col- oring in cake mixes and frost- ings, too.
Keep this in mind before having a big plate of birthday cake.
SODA
Sugar and artifi- cial colors are a bad combination for chil- dren and adults with ADHD.
Candy can lead to hyperactivity. NO CANDY.
Eliminate soda from your diet completely.
Soda shares the same sugars and sweeteners as most candies.
The high- fructose corn syrup and caf- feine in soda is also bad for any child with ADHD.
FROZEN FRUITS AND VEGGIES
Fruits and veggies are sup- posed to be healthy, right?
Well, in this case, frozen fruits and vegetables contain artificial colors, which can be bad for an ADHD diet. Experts say these foods are treated with chemicals for insect control, which can cause neurologic-based behavior problems. If you’re serving fruits or vegetables for dinner, stick to the fresh ones.
OTHER FOODS TO LOOK OUT FOR
Common foods such as milk, chocolate, soy, eggs, beans, toma- toes, grapes and oranges can trig- ger a food sensitivity leading to ADHD symptoms.
If you notice that these foods are affecting your attention span, talk to a physician. You may have to eliminate these foods from your diet to avoid worsening your symptoms.
A 2013 study
showed that children who drank too much soda exhibited slightly more aggression and social withdrawal.
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