Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is an extremely common and controversial childhood disorder characterized by a variety of behavioral health problems. Children diagnosed with ADHD have difficulty paying attention and staying focused, lack impulse control and are extremely hyperactive. All of these symptoms need not be present for a child to have ADHD. Some children exhibit only the inattention symptoms, while the primary symptoms in other children will be impulsivity/hyperactivity. There are some children that will exhibit both types of symptoms.
ADHD is usually diagnosed after a child has had persistent difficulties in school. Trouble keeping up with school work or retaining new information and frequent disruptive behavior are all common precursors to a diagnosis of ADHD. Controversy surrounds this disorder primarily because conventional treatment for ADHD is stimulant medications. The most notorious of these medications is of course Ritalin and it has been used for decades to treat the symptoms of ADHD. There are now a variety of both stimulant medications and non-stimulant medications available to treat ADHD but many people worry about giving these powerful medications to young children. These medications have numerous side effects and only treat ADHD symptoms and do not address the underlying cause of the disorder.
Unfortunately, the exact underlying cause of ADHD is unknown but research suggests that children often have a genetic predisposition to the disorder. ADHD does tend to run in families which supports this research. A predisposition to a disorder however does not mean that it will always manifest, which leads many to believe that external factors play an important role in the onset of many disorders, including ADHD. Recent research suggests that an overgrowth of Candida albicans, a typically benign type of yeast innately present in the intestinal system may play a role in the onset of ADHD.
An overgrowth of Candida albicans, also known as candidiasis occurs when external factors alter the delicate balance of the intestinal system. Overuse of antibiotics is the main culprit as it kills not only the bacteria that are making us sick, but the “friendly” bacteria that help to keep the body healthy. An important role that these ‘friendly” bacteria play is keeping the population of Candida albicans at bay and when they are eliminated the Candida albicans are able to multiply and morph into an opportunistic organism which then releases numerous toxins throughout the body. These toxins cause a wide array of both physical and mental symptoms such as joint pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic yeast infections, chronic sinus infections, anxiety, brain fog, depression. ADHD is actually one of the many symptoms of candidiasis. This is why treating candidiasis may help in alleviating symptoms of ADHD.
The cornerstone of treatment for candidiasis is the candida diet. The candida diet seeks to eliminate all foods that feed Candida albicans, thereby cutting off its food supply, killing it and restoring the proper balance to the intestinal system. When this is accomplished many people begin to experience alleviation of both mental and physical symptoms. Although candidiasis may not be the underlying cause of all ADHD cases if you are seeking alternative treatments it may be worth exploring.
For information on living yeast free by following the candida diet visit Yeast Free Living.
