The Link Between Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Adult ADHD

by | Mar 31, 2011 | General

yellow fish oil capsules in glass bowl with clipping pathOmega-3 Essential Fatty Acids are considered one of the miraculous health discoveries of our time. Doctors recommend them to decrease the risk of heart disease, cancer and a wide range of conditions that are caused by inflammation. Yet along with the general health benefits, people with Attention Deficit need Omega-3 fatty acids for optimum brain functioning.

Let’s investigate the connection between Omega-3 fatty acids and reducing ADHD symptoms. We’ll start with a brief explanation of the most widely accepted theory of what causes ADHD in the first place.

What Causes ADHD?

Scientists believe that both Inattentive ADD and Hyperactive ADHD are caused by a genetic deficiency of a neurotransmitter in your brain called Dopamine. Brain chemistry is complicated. All most of us need to know is that Dopamine is a brain chemical strongly connected with the classic ADHD symptoms.

Dopamine effects your ability to:

  • Focus,
  • Pay attention,
  • Be motivated, and
  • Follow-through on a task.

Simply put, without enough Dopamine, Attention Deficit rules the day.

Even more simply put, the name of the game in reducing the symptoms of ADHD is to increase the amount of dopamine in your brain.

How To Reduce ADHD Symptoms By Increasing Dopamine

There are many ways to increase dopamine levels.

Taking a stimulant medication, like Adderall or Ritalin, typically prescribed to treat ADD / ADHD are one. Eating protein and exercise are others. So are some not so good ways, such as high-risk behaviors, cocaine and smoking. Scientists also believe Omega-3 fatty acids increase dopamine levels in the brain, therefore reducing ADHD symptoms.

In a nutshell, the more dopamine you have available to your brain the more you can focus, be motivated, pay attention and follow-through. In addition, the more natural ways you can find to increase your dopamine levels the less ADHD medication you have to take for optimal functioning, if you need medication at all.

Along with getting organized, creating routines and systems, and outsmarting ADHD symptoms, I help my ADHD Coaching clients learn to manage their dopamine levels.

The problem is many folks have a deficiency in Essential Fatty Acids because the typical American diet has become more highly processed over the past decades.

Now you know the link between Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Adult ADHD. In my next post, I’ll share easy, affordable sources of Omega-3s to treat ADHD. It isn’t as difficult as you might think.

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