Adult ADD diagnosis and diet-URGENT

[riversmommy]

I have a twofold question: My younger brother (age 27) just recently got diagnosed with ADD. He's always had food allergies(dairy especially) but has never taken care of his body. His stomach is in very bad shape. Just about everything he eats makes him sick, and he's always suffered from sinus infections. He's thinking maybe wheat is causing problems too.

1) Any websites/books with ADD/diet/remedies designed for adults who don't cook much? Or even brands of gluten-free TV dinners(they've gotta make those somewhere, right?) or restaurant food options?

2)What should he start with to heal his stomach? Aloe vera juice I've heard is helpful. Any other ideas?

3)okay...it's threefold now...Do brain tonics and herbal supplements for ADD really work? And what in particular has worked for any of you in the past?

I'm really worried about him and he's open to ideas. Thanks guys!!!!

[mom0810]

I have a book I could send you....The ADD Nutrition Solution I think. PM me if interested.

[Satori]

I would have him tested for Celiac disease for the tummy issue.

[SandyMom]

I just read a really interesting 3 part article you may find useful:
Non-Drug Treatment of ADD/ADHD (Part 1)
If you read through it all there are lots of great suggestions and book recommendations as well.

Good luck.
Sandy

[lolablitz]

I'm 29 and was diagnosed with ADD about five years ago and lactose intolerance/IBS a few years before that. I went on Adderall for the ADD, quit dairy and took low doses of prozac for the IBS (common for treating IBS). The Adderall helped the ADD, but the prozac didn't help and my IBS got much worse. I lost weight and was down to about 100 lbs, had an emergency appendectomy but still felt awful was underweight, etc. I considered celiac disease, but had already cut out so much from my diet that seemed to trigger the symptoms, that I just couldn't handle the no-wheat thing, too.

Then I got pregnant. I quit smoking, stopped taking the adderall and prozac (dosage had been upped to combat the onset of depression), and Felt Better. It was incredible. I attributed it to pregnancy hormones and "the glow" and braced myself for the return of the uglies post-partum.

But my DD is one now and it's really not that bad anymore. The thing is, when I was taking the drugs and having all kinds of problems, I didn't cook. Ever. I was in grad school and broke and ate out of the freezer/microwave. Now I cook everything and try to keep things pretty healthy and whole. I also drink raw milk daily - no allergy to it because it contains the enzymes that pastuerization kill and that I need to digest milk. I swear it helps with my ADD. Although I'm still more spacey and have a more difficult time focusing than when I was on Adderall. But the lack of side effects make it very worth it.

So getting into cooking and eating more healthily might help him. If he smokes, tell him that one of the specialists I saw told me to stop immediately - that smoking can exacerbate IBS terribly. Of course, I didn't listen. Part of the problem is that Adderall tends to make quitting impossible and I read that something like 75% of adults taking the drug start smoking or continue smoking and there was one study on the side effects making quitting smoking nearly impossible. So if he's on Adderall and smoking, this could be part of the problem.

Anyway, pass my story along to your brother. I Completely Understand where he is - I was there and it is AWFUL. And it's hard to get people to understand just how bad you're feeling and you tend to feel like people think you're just complaining or more sensitive to things, or whatever, and your self-confidence suffers a little, I think. Anyway, I've been there and feel for him and think he's lucky to have an Awesome Sister like you

[kjbrown92]

Just from the title, I would have said go have dairy and gluten, so it's funny that you were thinking that from symptoms anyway. Whole Foods has some things that might be safe for him. Buy him some cookbooks. I have a blog with recipes searchable by allergen: www.kathysrecipebox.com. Does he want to try a diet fix? Because he needs to want to do it or else he won't adhere to it....