No. 1 Deficiency for ADHD = Iron

Childhood ADHD 

Iron delivers oxygen to the brain -kids with an iron deficiency can test lower in cognitive function and motor skills.

Iron is an essential mineral and a deficiency is when there's not enough iron in the body.  Iron deficiency in children is a common problem. It can occur at many levels, from a mild deficiency all the way to iron deficiency anaemia — a condition in which blood doesn't have enough healthy red blood cells. Untreated iron deficiency can affect a child's growth and development and is crucial for proper brain development and function. 

Iron deficiency in children under two years of age can have significant and irreversible effects on brain development. This can lead to negative consequences on learning and school performance later in life.

Typical Low-Iron Indicators for Children

• Irritability and inattentiveness.
• Sadness or other mood changes.
• Poor memory.
• Doesn’t eat red meat, poultry, and fish (major sources of iron).
• Picky eater or poor appetite.
• Pica (cravings for usual food such as dirt, ice, chalk etc.)

Types of Iron to Support Children's Health

The body can't make iron, so your child needs to get it from their diet. If they don’t  like eating iron-rich food, they will develop a deficiency,  This is the number 1 deficiency in ADHD and the most common nutritional disorder in the world.

There are two types of iron found in food: haem and non-haem. 

• Haem is found in animal flesh such as beef, pork, lamb, chicken (especially darker flesh), turkey and fish. This type of iron is easily absorbed, approximately 2 to 3 times more so than non-haem iron.
• Non-haem is sourced from plants and includes nuts and seeds, egg yolks, sea vegetables (nori and kelp), lentils, chickpeas, apricots and green leafy vegetables.

How much iron does your child need?