10/08/2025
A team of Dutch researchers wanted to test if some ADHD symptoms were caused by food. They put children on a strict “few foods diet” of rice, turkey, certain vegetables, pears, and water for five weeks - no processed foods, no additives.
Around half of the children, sometimes more, saw their ADHD symptoms nearly disappear. But when foods like dairy, wheat, corn, or artificial sweeteners were reintroduced, the hyperactivity quickly returned.
These findings, led by researcher Lidy Pelsser and published in The Lancet, showed that about 40–50% of kids with ADHD may have a diet-sensitive form of the condition. For those children, what they eat can be the difference between chaos and calm. It revealed that for many, managing ADHD might begin not with medication, but with what they eat.
Further, studies show that excessive screen time, especially before age 12, overstimulates dopamine pathways - the same ones linked to attention, impulse control, and motivation. Constant exposure to fast-paced digital rewards trains the brain to crave novelty and instant feedback, making slower, real-world focus (like reading or classroom learning) feel unbearable.
Kids who spend more time on screens tend to show higher rates of hyperactivity, poor sleep, irritability, and emotional dysregulation - all of which overlap with ADHD symptoms.
When screens are reduced, just like when certain foods are eliminated, many parents report noticeable improvements. We're talking better mood, deeper sleep, and more consistent focus. Some studies even found that lowering screen use, especially before bed, led to fewer ADHD diagnoses over time.
