In contrast, the western hemisphere is cosmopolitan, democratic and highly feminized.
What most people overlook is how the two hemispheres differ in their approach to nutrition and food psychology.
Western Life and ADHD
To say the west has become overcompetitive would be an understatement. Most Americans, Canadians and those in south and central America are overworked.
The frantic pace of living leads westerners toward fast food. Moreover, the West’s obsession with competition and individualism causes frustration that many offset with sugary and salty delights.
The West’s increasing dependence of fast food and microwaveable meals is fueling the ADHD epidemic.
Eating salty, sugary and simple carbohydrate-heavy meals on-the-go and in front of the TV is inherently unhealthy. Such a hastened approach to nutrition is also myopic, meaning shortsighted.
Enter nutritional psychology.
If Americans and other westerners took pause to reflect on food quality before eating, they would make better decisions. In particular, the hurried approach to eating is causing a dramatic rise in ADHD among adolescents.
The typical American tween and teen is in a rush to eat, largely because they are bombarded with stimuli from video games to internet, TV, school and part-time jobs.
Food is an afterthought to a growing number of youngsters who’ve become primarily interested in immediate dopamine rushes.
It is this hedonic treadmill of western living that is steering our youth toward unhealthy foods and impulsive decision-making.
The end result? ADHD at a clip never seen before.
A Nutrition Lesson From the East
The rise in ADHD diagnoses isn’t a global phenomenon. Though technology, including addictive video games, have zapped attention spans across the world, the East is thriving.
Why?
Psychologists and nutritionists point to the “healthy pattern diet” of eastern nations.
Countries in Asia and the Mediterranean take a more measured approach to nutrition and health.
It is the healthy pattern diet of the eastern hemisphere that appears to be the cause of their comparably lower rate of ADHD diagnosis.
As an example, the head researcher for the study on ADHD in the west, Dr. Wendy Oddy, states the following:
“We found a diet high in the Western pattern of foods was associated with more than double the risk of having an ADHD diagnosis compared with a diet low in the Western pattern, after adjusting for numerous other social and family influences.”
Dr. Oddy and her team analyzed nutritional patterns in adolescents, comparing diet information with ADHD diagnoses prior to the age of 14.
The findings were intriguing: of the 115 adolescents determined to have ADHD, 91 were boys and only 24 were girls.
Boys’ predilection toward fast food, finger food and energy drinks is the likely cause of the sex discrepancy in ADHD diagnoses.
Comparing the “Healthy” Pattern Diet to the Western Diet
The East’s healthy pattern diet is characterized by fresh vegetables, fruit, fish and whole grains. Such foods are jam-packed with vitamins, minerals, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber and folate.
In contrast, the West largely has an unhealthy pattern diet.
Many of the harmful food dyes and other additives in foods on western store shelves have been banned in the east. Moreover, the western diet is characterized by fast food, convenience store food, processed food, refined food and fried food.
The most popular food in the east, ranging from pizza to hot wings, hamburgers, fries and cookies are loaded with elevated amounts of unhealthy additives.
Take a close look at the ingredients of your favorite foods and you’ll likely find excess sodium, refined sugar, saturated fat and total fat.
Specific Western Foods Tied to ADHD
Contrary to popular belief, excessive TV, video games and internet are not the sole cause of the rise of ADHD in the west.
The little-known truth is that nutritional intake (or lack thereof) is just as important in causing ADHD as increasingly addictive electronics.
The foods most commonly linked to those diagnosed with ADHD include:
- Sugary treats
- Dairy products with elevated fat
- Red meat
- Processed meat
Such foods are more popular in the western hemisphere than the eastern half of the world.
The findings of the study referenced above indicate the eastern diet that is high in omega-3 fatty acids protects the mind and body. It is this protection that enhances brain functionality, ultimately reducing the chances of ADHD.
Alternatively, scientists believe the western diet has a suboptimal fatty acid profile. The lack of sufficient fatty acids appears to make the brain less efficient and highly vulnerable.
ADHD Prevention Begins With Your Shopping List
Westerners would be wise to proactively add omega-3 fatty acids to boost memory retention, mood and more. Omega-3 fatty acids also help reduce the risk of chronic disease and inflammation.
Examples of foods loaded with omega-3 fatty acids include fish, walnuts, flaxseed, chia seeds, soybeans, anchovies and cod liver oil.
The best fish to eat for omega-3 fatty acid are as follows:
- Mackerel
- Sardines
- Caviar
- Herring
- Salmon
- Halibut
- Bluefish Tuna
- Rainbow trout
- Striped bass
- Whitefish
Zero in on food with ample micronutrients for proper brain functionality and you’ll find your concentration and attention span increase.
Breaking the Feedback Loop of ADHD
Most westerners know at least one person struggling with attention span, be it a son, daughter, niece or nephew.
Instead of addressing the problem with a focus on reducing screen time, look to nutritional solutions.
There appears to be a connection between ADHD impulsivity and poor food selections. The fast pace of western life characterized by destructive hyper-competitiveness and individualism leads to rushed decision-making.
Rushing through decisions when choosing meals and snacks leads to low-quality food consumption, worsened ADHD and a nearly unbreakable cycle. Breaking this feedback look is easier said than done.
Here’s how to do it: plan your weekly meals on Sunday nights.
Prepare lunches and dinners on the weekend, possibly going to the extent of pre-making them and refrigerating/freezing them for the workweek ahead.
Be sure to add a daily omega-3 fatty acid supplement to your breakfast. Such fish oil supplements are especially important for those with seafood allergies, vegetarians and vegans.
Proactively Acknowledge ADHD
It is no secret that technology and food have changed the way our brains function. Attention spans have shrunk in recent decades as we’ve transitioned from fresh and healthy food toward those laden with additives, dyes and processed ingredients.
The onslaught of technological distractions has worsened the ADHD crisis all the more. Instead of burying your head in the sand and pretending there isn’t a problem, acknowledge the rise of ADHD.
In particular, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, tweens and teens should be aware of the increase in ADHD diagnoses. Proactively combatting shrinking attention spans requires willpower and knowledge.
As an example, parents should monitor their kids’ snacking habits after school. Most tykes, tweens and teens rush home to play video games, surf the web or watch TV while scarfing down salty snacks. Such a hurried approach to sustenance leads to poor health outcomes.
Parents and other guardians are encouraged to understand the importance of food psychology. Prepare healthy snacks helps prevent kids from falling into the trap of convenient yet unhealthy satiation.
When grocery shopping, sidestep the chips, pretzels and cookies. Instead, choose celery sticks, peanut butter, baby carrots, raisins and prunes. If your kids insist on eating carb-laden snacks, make sure they are of the complex variety as opposed to the simple variety.
Professional Guidance With Food Psychology
When in doubt, consult with a nutritional psychiatrist, your family doctor and/or your child’s pediatrician. These medical professionals understand human physiology better than laymen.
A nutritional psychologist’s insight into food selection ensures parents don’t eliminate items from dietary intake that are essential for brain functionality and attention span.
Nutritional psychiatrists also provide invaluable insight into the role of minerals and vitamins. Several studies suggest the intake of omega-3, vitamin B, iron, zinc and magnesium supplements decreases ADHD symptoms.
If you know or suspect you or your child, tween or teen are deficient in the minerals and vitamins listed above, take action with the help of a food psychologist.
For example, it is wise to put one of each supplement in a plastic bag and place it on the kitchen table every night. You and your child will see the bag the next morning, serving as a reminder to take the day’s supplements.
The only caveat with the supplementation approach to lessening the impact of ADHD is to be mindful of potential toxicity. An elevated dose of vitamins, minerals and other supplements has the potential to poison children.
Ask for Help from a Nutritional Psychiatrist
As is often said in life, the quickest way to learn something is to ask an expert. Tap into the guidance of a food psychiatrist.
As an example, chickpeas, broccoli and leafy greens contain brain-boosting vitamin B yet you might not know it unless you asked an expert.
Food psychologists also highlight the cognitive benefits of foods like poultry, meat, soy and nuts that contain magnesium, iron and zinc.
Your nutritional psychologist will steer you and your family toward the best foods containing the minerals and vitamins essential for minimizing or even preventing ADHD.