Research indicates that 1 in 10 children suffer from ADHD, short for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. If your child suffers from ADHD, you would most likely have faced the idea of treating him or her with Ritalin, a controversial yet highly peddled drug.

Ritalin is almost equivalent to cocaine, as both drugs look and act in the same manner. As such, Ritalin has been quipped as “kiddy cocaine”. However, not all ADHD sufferers have to undergo treatment with Ritalin. An intake of certain vitamins and minerals can actually act as an alternative treatment.

A great deal of research has been done on ADHD and several studies found that children with ADHD had improved conditions when sugar and simple carbohydrates were absent in the body, and consumption of leafy green vegetables and fruit was increased.

These same studies found that taking a B complex supplement that contains B1 (Thiamin), B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacin), B5 (Pantothenic Acid), B6 (Pyriodxine), B12, Folic acid, and biotin showed impressive improvements in terms of symptoms in children sufferers of ADHD.

It is important that the B vitamins are taken together so that they compliment each other and correct deficiencies more effectively. Directions on the bottle and prescriptions by your doctor should be followed closely.

Omega 3 fatty acids have also proven to be beneficial in curing ADHD. Research has shown that children with ADHD are not able to chemically convert Omega 3s, thus they need to ingest higher supplement dosages. However, it is vital to main a 1:1 ratio of Omega 3:Omega 6, as an imbalance will exacerbate the condition.

Zinc is another promising supplement. The level of zinc in children with ADHD is very low, thus an intake of a high dosage supplement will show significant improvements. You should talk to your pediatrician about you child’s exact condition.

The power of vitamins and minerals is often underestimated. However, this should not be the case, as many diseases are the result of vitamin deficiencies, and ADHD is just one of the possibilities.