While prior studies explored what kinds of diet has been shown to worsening of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), study published in Nutritional Neuroscience suggests a diet high in fruits and vegetables can reduce symptoms of ADHD.

The study, an 8-week double blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 134 children with diagnosed ADHD based on DSM-5, not on any medications. For children who were on medications, they had remained abstinent for 2 weeks prior to the study initiation.

Based on questionnaires from caregivers, admittedly a limitation of the study, the researchers evaluated the quality of the diets using the HEI-2015 (Healthy Eating Index-2015).

Researchers found that children who had high intake of fruits and vegetables were less prone to inattention symptoms.

While a small study, it does point to the importance of what we feed our children early on in their lives can make a big difference in the outcomes of their future. Of course, don’t just feed your children fruits and vegetables to get an outcome of better attention. This is an incorrect way of approaching healthy diets. Rather the whole family needs to engage in this as a way of living to develop good habits and as part of a child’s healthy development. Be a good father and not a dead-beat one by feeding your children correctly.

LM Robinette et al. Fruit and vegetable intake is inversely associated with severity of inattention in a pediatric population with ADHD symptoms: the MADDY Study. Nutritional Neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.1080/1028415X.2022.2071805