As parents learn more about nutrition, a growing number are turning to ADHD supplements to help their children suppress symptoms, succeed in school and create better relationships with friends and family. This is because when a child's brain gets the nutrition it needs, it starts to function properly. In this article, you'll learn about three supplements to give your child along with healthy food in order to begin this process.

Supplements for ADHD

• Omega 3 Fatty Acids are at the top of the list because they are important for neural communication which means they are essential for brain health. Of course, Omega 3's are also important for the heart.
• A healthy multivitamin/multimineral supplement will give your child the nutrients needed to support overall health. Taking a daily supplement creates what I refer to as a "climate of health" which keeps your child's bodily systems running smoothly, supports immune function and wards off sickness and disease.
• ADHD supplements that suppress the symptoms of ADHD like agitation, irritability, temper tantrums and outbursts, while calming the nervous system and helping your child to focus are a crucial aspect of this protocol. Even if you give your child the first two supplements on this list, without this one, natural treatment will not be successful because you first need to suppress the symptoms in order to help your child experience what it feels like to be relaxed and focused.

The best supplements for ADHD have proven ingredients that have been shown to reduce symptoms just as effectively as drugs without the side effects. Best of all, with daily use over time, these supplements actually give the brain the nutrition it needs to heal, so that eventually, your child will no longer need the supplement.

Although you should look for quality ingredients in omega 3 and vitamin and mineral supplements, finding quality ADHD supplements is not as easy. This is because some manufacturers' products have been shown to be subpar. While this may make finding a quality supplement a bit more challenging, there are good companies out there that manufacture their products according to exacting standards under the supervision of a pharmacist.

What if I told you that it may be possible to help your child's ADHD without using potentially risky drug therapy? Read on and get some encouraging advice regarding diet for ADHD from Dr. David Perlmutter, MD, author of Raise a Smarter Child by Kindergarten.

Dr. Perlmutter, a Board-Certified Neurologist and Fellow of the American College of Nutrition, only uses drugs to treat ADHD as a last resort. Along with other non-drug options for dealing with ADHD, he has developed some strategies utilizing diet for adhd that have been highly effective at helping children control impulses, focus, and generally succeed in school.

- The number one tip is to go organic. Dr. Perlmutter believes it's best to feed your children organic whole foods starting from infancy. Although prepared organic baby food is available, it can be expensive. If that's not financially feasible, you can make your own. Organic foods avoid the additives, toxins and pesticides that hinder concentration and increase hyperactivity in some children.

- Fish containing high levels of mercury are to be avoided. Mostly all shellfish and fish contain at least some mercury which, according to Dr. Perlmutter, can affect a child's ability to think and to concentrate. It's interesting to note that these side effects occur with much lower levels in children than in adults. Some examples of fish with high levels of mercury are swordfish, shark, king mackerel and tilefish.

- Have your family doctor run a blood test to check for gluten sensitivity. Even though only about 1 percent of the general population is sensitive to gluten, Dr. Perlmutter has discovered that percentage to be much higher in children. When a child is sensitive to gluten, removing it from a diet for ADHD has been known to produce incredible and almost immediate results. Gluten can be found in rye, wheat and barley and is usually associated with bread products.

- Taking DHA supplements may be advisable. DHA is an omega-3 essential fatty acid that is necessary for brain function. Dr. Perlmutter recommends 400 mg per day of a marine algae-based DHA supplement for ADHD kids with low DHA levels in his practice.

- Add multi-vitamins to the diet for ADHD. Dr. Perlmutter believes all children should take a multi-vitamin, and especially those with ADHD. Have your family doctor perform an Intracellular Vitamin Analysis to determine which vitamins and minerals need to be supplemented.

- There are other nutrients for the brain that may be lacking in the ADHD child. Besides DHA, Dr. Perlmutter prescribes 5 supplements in his diet for ADHD. They are Phosphatidylserine, Alpha lipoic acid, N-acetyl-cysteine, Coenzyme Q-10, and Ginkgo Biloba. Not only has he had success with them in his practice, but they have been clinically proven to not only protect the brain, but to enhance brain function as well.

So there you have it. Here is the view from a medical professional on diet for ADHD. It's encouraging to see that the medical community today is increasingly touting the benefits of diet and neutraceutical supplementation in treating various illnesses and disorders. More and more, holistic remedies are being recognized as playing an important part in achieving and maintaining good health.