The Carbohydrate-Specific Diet was originally popularized by Elaine Gottschall to eliminate the symptoms of autism and other gastrointestinal disorders, but experts recently discovered that this nutritional regimen can also benefit children with ADHD. Gut flora and gastrointestinal problems are co-morbid conditions with ADHD, and it turns out that the Carbohydrate-Specific Diet can normalize the gut flora ecosystem, drastically reducing symptoms of hyperactivity and inattention. This diet is not as widely used as the gluten-free, casein-free diet or the Feingold Diet , because its strict requirements make it more difficult to implement. However, parents have reported noticeable improvements where other diets failed to work.
The rationale behind the Carbohydrate-Specific Diet is that the imbalance in gut flora is caused by the presence of complex carbohydrates from sucrose, lactose, and grains. These carbohydrates, also known as disaccharides and polysaccharides, contain millions of units of sugar, as opposed to monosaccharides, which have only one unit of sugar. Children with ADHD may have trouble breaking down complex carbohydrates efficiently, and the undigested substances that remain in the gut allow harmful bacteria like yeast to flourish. Since complex carbohydrates have millions of units of sugar, they also take a lot longer to digest, which means glucose enters the bloodstream too slowly to be utilized immediately. The overgrowth of harmful bacteria also triggers an overproduction of mucus, which makes it even more difficult for the gut to heal itself and to break down undigested substances.
The aim of the Carbohydrate-Specific Diet is to break the cycle of harmful bacteria overgrowth and the ADHD symptoms it triggers by eliminating complex carbohydrates. At the same time, the diet is designed to promote the growth of good bacteria like lactobacilli so the gut can digest and absorb nutrients more efficiently. During the diet , all foods containing complex carbohydrates are removed, and diet is restricted to simple carbohydrates like fructose and glucose or foods that contain no carbohydrates. This diet is probably best for older children, since it needs to be strictly observed before any benefits can be derived from it.
Below is a list of foods that your child can and cannot eat on the Carbohydrate-Specific Diet .
Foods to eliminate:
Sugar. All processed sugars like table sugar, as well as molasses and sucrose.
Vegetables. All canned and processed vegetables.
Grains and legumes. All grains like wheat, oats, corn, and soy, as well as some legumes like soybeans, chickpeas, and bean sprouts.
Starchy foods. Starchy root crops like yams, parsnips, and potatoes.
Meat. All processed meats, sausages, and canned meats.
Dairy products. Most dairy products, including buttermilk, commercial yogurt, and sour cream. Restrict cheese with high lactose content like white cheese and mozzarella.
Miscellaneous. Other foods that must be eliminated include wheat-based products like pasta and bread, ice cream, canola oil, chocolate, balsamic vinegar, commercial ketchup, commercial nuts, commercial mayonnaise, and foods containing whey.
Foods allowed by the diet :
Sugar. Honey only.
Vegetables. Most fresh vegetables, including lettuce, broccoli, carrots, onions, zucchini, and watercress.
Legumes. Peanuts in their shell, unroasted cashew nuts, string beans, peas, natural peanut butter, and lentils.
Fruits. Most fruits, including coconuts, apples, bananas, tomatoes, cherries, grapes, and tropical fruits.
Miscellaneous. Unflavored gelatin, coconut oil, olive oil, vinegar, and fruit juice with no artificial additives or preservatives.