Could there really be a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow?
Yeah I know, it sounds weird right.
But research into dietary sources of treatment for ADHD have found that brightly coloured fruits in particular can help. And the results even show up in brainwave activity.
Studies show that Oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC’s), a variety of polyphenol, have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Polyphenol is a plant pigment and the most useful part of that for humans are flavonoids. Cranberries, blueberries, grapes & grape seeds, green tea, cacao, gingko biloba, peaches, plums and pine needles & bark all contain this substance.
Pycnogenol (from pine tress) is the most common form of supplementation of the tree based polyphenols.
It is well known that these types of antioxidants are good for our health physically and mentally.
Less known and more recent in discovery is that these forms of pigment can actually have a beneficial effect on people with ADHD and ADD. Most people with ADHD are treated with stimulants that have side effects.
Studies with natural substances often use blueberries and grapes.
Brain activity and ADHD
People with ADHD have an excess of Theta brainwave activity and a lack of Beta brainwave activity.
And interestingly, the positive effects of eating these high antioxidant fruits and foods show a corresponding drop in Theta waves and increase in Beta.
Brain training for ADHD has the same goal to normalise Theta and Beta levels and therefore attention levels.
Once considered a child’s condition, ADHD is now recognised as being prevalent in adults too.
The study below with blueberry concentrate was conducted with otherwise healthy adults. Significant improvements in cognition, attention and memory were noted.
Eat for colour
Research like this is not just encouraging for those with ADHD. And it’s not just polyphenols that are good for our mental and physical health. Orange and yellow colours indicate Carotenoids. Green indicates chlorophyll. And as we have discovered, blue, red and some brown/cream colours indicate flavonoids. And these are just a few. What they all have in common, is the ability to protect us from degeneration and the effects of ageing.
The lesson? Eat a colour filled pallet of foods for optimal health.
There really is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. 🙂
Blueberry supplementation effect on ADHD >>
OPC’s – bright coloured antioxidants and ADHD >>