Missing Minerals in Kids with ADHD: What You Should Know

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are common neurological and behavioral disorders among children.

Approximately 5% to 20% of school-aged children are affected by these disorders.

Typical symptoms include restlessness while seated, easily distracted attention by external stimuli, motor perception impairments, coordination problems, difficulty following instructions, interrupting others, impulsivity, acting without thinking, memory and speech disruptions, and more.

Attention and hyperactivity disorders can occur separately or together.

These symptoms may be influenced by several factors:

• Food additives - especially dyes, flavoring agents, emulsifiers, and preservatives. One particularly problematic dye is tartrazine, a yellow color additive. Its use can lead to restlessness and sleep problems. Food allergies have been linked to behavioral and neurological disorders. An allergen-rich diet affects the brain's chemical balance.
• White sugar and its products, sweets, candies, ice creams, and soft drinks negatively impact children and exacerbate hyperactivity and attention disorders. These sugars enter the bloodstream and cause an increased insulin release, which lowers blood sugar levels. This condition heightens the release of stress hormones, primarily adrenaline, leading to blood vessel constriction and increased heart rate. Such a state is accompanied by nervousness and anxiety.
• Heavy metal poisoning, especially lead, cadmium, and aluminum, can cause attention disorders and damage the nervous system and learning processes.
• Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency among children and is clearly linked to listening ability, lack of concentration, and persistence issues.

It has been found that hyperactive children suffer from deficiencies in magnesium, zinc, copper, and calcium. A study conducted among 116 hyperactive children found that 95% of them were deficient in magnesium, which can lead to irritability, restlessness, muscle spasms, convulsions, learning disabilities, and nervous movements.

In our next article, b'ezrat Hashem, we will discuss treatment methods with nutritional supplements and medicinal herbs.

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