ADHD and the EightFold Path: The Bodily Truths part three

The final Bodily truth is Right Nutrition. You need to start thinking about the things you put into your body. I'm not saying you need a special diet. What I do want to stress is that bad eating habits and poor food choices doesn't help you in the least. People with ADHD do have some special challenges in this area: we tend to be running late, so meals might be skipped, or fast food becomes a staple of the diet. We have a hard time planning, so grocery shopping and meal preparation can be spotty at best. This makes Right Nutrition even more imperative. By treating your body well, you are treating your brain well, and giving it the raw materials it needs to function effectively.

Here are the points I consider key to eating well:

1. Eat breakfast every morning. There are a number of studies that show kids who eat breakfast do better in school than those who don't. If you have ADHD this alone should motivate you to make sure you eat first thing in the morning.

2. Avoid Fast Food. It's not good for you, there's questionable content, and there are far better choices out there.

3. Avoid junk Food. Ditto on the above reasons. Human Beings do not need chips to survive.

4. Skip the Soda. Drink water instead. It's much better for you. If you miss the carbonation, drink seltzer water. If you need the caffeine, black coffee or tea will do just as well, and they have anti-oxidants to boot!

5. Eat fresh food as much as possible. Make sure you are eating fruits and vegetables every day. Eat Protein and Carbohydrates in balance with one another, and keep fat to a minimum. There's no mysteries here!

6. Don't drink alcohol if you're under age. Your brain is still developing, and booze is not something you need. If you're an adult, avoid alcohol in excess. If you find your days challenging as it is, throw a hangover into the mix with ADHD and see how productive you feel.

While this isn't nutritional advice per se, I'll just add it to the mix: smoking or using tobacco products, taking illegal drugs or misusing prescription medication is harmful to your body and your mind. People with ADHD have a much higher prevalence of substance abuse than the general population. The need for stimulation causes many people with ADHD to engage in risky behavior, including drug and alcohol abuse. You should seek help if you or someone you care about is abusing drugs and alcohol. Like ADHD, this is a treatable disorder.

The Bodily truths are the foundation for the successful treatment of ADHD. By getting your "house in order" so to speak, you will be ready and able to manage your ADHD far more effectively. Our next Posts will examine the Mental Truths: Right Acceptance/Forgiveness, Right Therapy, and Right Medication.