ADHD Diet

What's the best ADHD diet? Attention-deficit hyperactive disorder, or ADHD, has numerous treatments available, but many people believe eating the right foods and avoiding the wrong ones can help keep the mind focused.

While there is no specific cure-all ADHD diet, experts believe that brain-boosting foods can help with ADHD symptoms. Nutritionists and health experts agree that more research is needed into how an ADHD diet can be effective, but they also agree that altering a diet based on behavioral changes can help in treating ADHD symptoms. At the very least, it can help medication work better.

It should be no surprise that the consensus on and ADHD diet is similar to good nutrition in general—with natural, unprocessed foods like fruits, vegetables and lean proteins. A high-protein diet can improve concentration, while complex carbohydrates can help sleep.

Foods in a Positive ADHD Diet

• Proteins: lean meats, cheeses, beans, and nuts.
• Fruits: apples, oranges, pears, tangerines, and grapefruit
• Vegetables: the greener the better
• Healthy fats: omega-3 fatty acids found in cold-water fish and olive oil

Foods in a Negative ADHD Diet

• Sugary foods
• Simple carbohydrates—skinless potatoes, corn syrup, white flower, and white rice
• Processed foods

Recent research shows that certain food additives—like colorings and preservatives—can worsen ADHD symptoms in children. Those include sodium benzoate, yellow No. 5, 6, and 10, and red No. 40.

The use of small amounts of caffeine in an ADHD diet is mixed. While the initial rush might have some benefits, the side effects might outweigh the positives.

View the ADHD Learning Center.