Functional Nutrition for ADHD & ADD

The Hidden Triggers of ADHD & ADD

To begin to really understand why ADHD and ADD occur, you have to know what the word epigenetic means. Epigenetics is a broad medical field, but it basically refers to how genes can be influenced by environmental factors. Different genes “turn on and off” depending on what you eat, how much you sleep, where you live, and so on. Gene expression will directly impact your ability to think, focus, and concentrate effectively.

Environmental factors include things like the 4×4 burger, animal-style fries, and Neapolitan shake you had at In & Out for lunch. It’s not simply about the genes and not simply about the environment. Both are factors that contribute to biochemical imbalances in the brain, which in turn can affect your functional capacity.

As a functional nutritionist, it’s my job to understand your epigenetics and create a wellness plan that helps you avoid certain triggers and counteract triggers you can’t remove.

Imbalances Are Making Your Symptoms Worse

Like autism, OCD, anxiety, and other conditions, ADHD and ADD often present alongside underlying imbalances. Individuals diagnosed with ADHD can have any of these underlying causes:

• High Copper Levels
  High levels of copper in the body, also known as copper toxicity, often contribute to symptoms associated with ADHD and ADD. Excess copper disrupts neurotransmitter balance, specifically dopamine and norepinephrine, which play an important role in attention and focus issues.

• Undermethylation
  Undermethylation refers to a biochemical imbalance in the body where there is inadequate methylation (too few methyl groups). A large portion of my ADHD and ADD clients exhibit undermethylation, which causes low levels of the important neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, potentially leading to imbalances that contribute to attention and mood issues.

• Overmethylation
  On the other hand, overmethylation refers to a biochemical imbalance where there is excessive methylation (too many methyl groups). Overmethylation leads to an overproduction of the important neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, potentially causing hyperactivity and anxiety, which can be associated with ADHD and ADD.

• Yeast Toxicity
  Yeast toxicity, often associated with an overgrowth of Candida albicans in the gut, can also contribute to ADHD symptoms. As an alcohol producer and mast cell activator, the toxins release by yeast can affect the central nervous and digestive systems, and lead to behavioral and cognitive issues.

• Pyrrole Disorder (Pyroluria)
  Pyrrole disorder, also known as pyroluria, is a condition where the body produces an excessive amount of pyrroles, which bind to vitamin B6 and zinc, preventing their absorption by the body. This can lead to deficiencies in these important nutrients, which are essential for neurotransmitter function. Some individuals with pyrrole disorder experience symptoms similar to ADHD and ADD.

Thankfully, all of these imbalances can be addressed at Eat for Life. My goal is to provide you or your child with resources and solutions to overcome them (I know these are unusual words, but don’t let them scare you). Feel free to read my journal entry here on fixing these imbalances in children that struggle with ADHD.

Let’s See if Functional Nutrition is Right for You

If you’ve been to doctors for ADHD or ADD treatment and have been left feeling frustrated, then let me tell you – functional nutrition is not like that!

I am not going to recommend a one-dimensional pill or behavior-training exercises. Instead, I’m going to recommend a collection of highly personalized nutrients and dietary therapy to balance the brain.

Healing ADHD and ADD naturally is possible. For example, if copper is high, this can short-circuit the brain’s processes. Keep in mind copper is a conductor of energy. A good analogy I Iike to use is the energizer bunny that keeps going and going and going. This over-excitability is what creates inattention and hyperactive behaviors in individuals with copper overload.

Hope is around the corner. Many people who are able to “turn down the volume” on their ADHD symptoms, experience deep relationships, excel in their careers, and become experts in their favorite hobbies. I want that for you! Let’s talk more on a discovery call.