HYPERACTIVITY
AVOID
1. Self-treatment with high-dose vitamins and minerals
2. Diets that eliminate entire food groups.
Parents often describe the hyperactive child as being in perpetual motion-always on the move, disruptive, impulsive, and unable to concentrate. Many researchers theorize that an imbalance in brain chemistry is responsible for the abnormal behavior, but a precise cause has not been identified.
In recent years, diet has been suggested as a possible cause of hyperactivity-a claim discounted by many experts. Although some nutritional deficiencies can certainly affect behavior, these almost never occur in industrialized countries, where malnutrition is seldom a problem.
Although some reports suggest that an additive-free diet helps a few children. Dr. Fein-gold's finding of marked improvement in a significant percentage of cases has not been duplicated in scientific studies. Some pediatricians advise parents to try elimination foods that are especially high in preservatives, dyes, and other additives-for example, hot dogs and other processed meats and some commercial baked goods- to see if there is any improvement. But avoiding all foods that contain natural salicylates is more problematic; there is not evidence that this actually helps, and it can lead to deficiencies of vitamin, C beta carotene, and other nutrients.
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