Why Processed Foods Are Worsening Your ADD and ADHD Symptoms

Mark Hyman

Oct 7, 2024

Episode description

Did you know changing your diet can dramatically reduce ADD/ADHD symptoms? In this episode, I look back on my conversations with Dr. George Papanicolaou, Dr. Jaquel Patterson, and Dr. Uma Naidoo on how sugar, gluten, and toxins like heavy metals are disrupting brain function and fueling these chronic disorders. You’ll discover the power of nutrient-dense foods, gut health, and functional medicine in managing ADD and ADHD naturally. If you're looking for solutions beyond medication, this episode gives you the tools to start healing from the inside out.

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Full-length episodes of these interviews can be found here:

Why ADHD Is Not A Psychiatric Disorder Or Brain Disease with Dr. George Papaicolaou

What’s Fueling Our Mental Health Crisis and How Can We Fix it? With Dr. Jaquel Patterson

Is Food to Blame for Your Anxiety and Depression?

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Mindsip insights from this episode:

Avoid bottle-feeding to reduce risk of toxic metabolites

Unlike breast milk which promotes anti-inflammatory compounds, bottle-feeding can lead to high levels of propionic acid, a metabolite linked to autistic behaviors in animal studies.

#autism

#children

Reframe ADHD as a body-wide disease impacting brain health

ADHD should be viewed not as a primary brain disease, but as a body-wide disease that affects the brain, with root causes often found in diet, gut health, and inflammation.

#ADHD

#gut

Incorporate curcumin to boost stress resilience

One recent study showed that having curcumin in your diet increases stress resilience by four and a half times, likely due to its anti-inflammatory effects on the brain.

#stress

#supplement

Manage histamine levels with quercetin to alleviate anxiety

Histamine is an excitatory neurotransmitter that can worsen psychiatric symptoms like anxiety, so managing it with natural options like quercetin can help calm the system.

#anxiety

#supplement

Leverage Akkermansia to boost natural GABA levels for anxiety relief

The beneficial gut microbe Akkermansia has been found to produce high levels of GABA, an anti-anxiety neurotransmitter that functions like the body's natural Valium.

#GABA

#microbiome

Reconsider oatmeal as it may elevate stress hormones

A seemingly healthy breakfast like oatmeal can increase stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, putting your body into a fight-or-flight state.