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Daily Mail
14 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Parents are 'causing ADHD in their children' with key nutrition mistake, claims top professor
A leading professor has waded into the debate about ADHD being 'caused' by poor diet choices—and shared a totally new perspective. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a behavioural condition defined by inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. It affects around five per cent of children in the US. Some 3.6 per cent of boys and 0.85 per cent of girls suffer in the UK, with the majority of diagnoses coming between the ages of 6 and 12. Symptoms typically appear at an early age and become more noticeable as a child grows. These can include constant fidgeting, excessive movement or talking, acting without thinking and having little to no sense of danger. ADHD's exact cause is unclear but is thought to involve genetic mutations that affect a person's brain function and structure—although many experts (and naysayers) have linked the hyperactivity element of the condition to diet. Professor Emeritus David Benton, of Swansea University, explained that while people have previously focused on telling the parents of ADHD children to avoid E numbers and additives, perhaps they should look at the bigger picture. Writing for The Conversation, he asks why the focus hasn't been on what foodstuffs the chemicals are typically present in—which are predominantly ultra-processed foods (UPFs). He explained: 'Having a high intake of additives correlates with a high intake of ultra-processed food—usually a diet high in sugar and fat, while low in fibre, protein, vitamins and minerals. 'So, why assume that additives are the problem, and not the rest of the diet?' UPF is an umbrella term used to cover anything edible made with colourings, sweeteners and preservatives that extend shelf life. Ready meals, ice cream and tomato ketchup are some of the best-loved examples of products that fall under the umbrella UPF term, now synonymous with foods offering little nutritional value. They are different to processed foods, which are tinkered to make them last longer or enhance their taste, such as cured meat, cheese and fresh bread. Numerous studies have uncovered links between fizzy drinks, biscuits and ready meals and a catalogue of health problems, including heart disease and even some cancers. Professor Benton continued that low-income parents often rely on UPFs in order to feed their families due to cost restrictions, and it might be no coincidence that ADHD is often diagnosed in children from this demographic. He said: 'Eating ultra-processed food—and therefore additives – is more common among low-income families, who are also at greater risk of ADHD. 'To some extent ADHD may be an indication of poverty, and a generally poor diet, reflecting the financial need to eat cheaper ultra-processed foods.' However, if you think swapping your child to a diet of whole grains, fresh produce and dietary basics like milk and eggs will help reduce their hyperactivity, Professor Benton disagrees. He explained that previous studies revealed that even 'clean' diets had the potential to cause changes in behaviour. Citing a study from 1985 in which children were fed a very limited menu before certain foods were gradually reintroduced to see what triggered a reaction, it wasn't just sweets and fizzy drinks that left them bouncing off the walls. Professor Benson writes: 'It found that at least one of the children reacted adversely to 48 of the foods in their diet with signs of hyperactivity. 'With cows' milk this was true for 64 per cent of children in the study. 'For grapes it was 49 per cent, hens' eggs 29 per cent, fish 23 per cent, apples 13 per cent and tea 10 per cent. 'These are not ultra-processed foods, but we need to explore whether they contain chemicals that influence the biology of some individuals.' He added that nearly 80 per cent of them 'reacted to a preservative and a colouring, although the doses used were greater than would be normally consumed'. And, crucially, 'no child reacted only to these additives, and different children reacted to different foods, only removing additives wouldn't eliminate symptoms'. Professor Benton concluded that frustratingly, when it comes to reducing hyperactivity in children with ADHD it's not a one size fits all solution, and parents need to address their children's overall diet, not just focus on avoiding certain things. 'For parents concerned about their child's ADHD, it's worth remembering that food additives are unlikely to be the sole cause,' he said. 'If a child's behaviour seems linked to diet, keeping a food diary can help identify patterns. 'But any elimination diet should be approached with care and expert advice, to avoid doing more harm than good. 'Ultimately, every child is different, and what works for one may not work for another.' The UK is the worst in Europe for eating UPFs, which make up an estimated 57 per cent of the national diet. They are thought to be a key driver of obesity, which costs the NHS around £6.5billion a year treating weight-related disease like diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. Last year, disturbing data also suggested that children who ate lots of UPFs show early signs of poor heart health and diabetes risk factors from as young as three years old. WHAT IS ADHD? Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a behavioural condition defined by inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. It affects around five per cent of children in the US. Some 3.6 per cent of boys and 0.85 per cent of girls suffer in the UK. Symptoms typically appear at an early age and become more noticeable as a child grows. These can also include: Constant fidgeting Poor concentration Excessive movement or talking Acting without thinking Inability to deal with stress Little or no sense of danger Careless mistakes Mood swings Forgetfulness Difficulty organising tasks Continually starting new tasks before finishing old ones Inability to listen or carry out instructions Most cases are diagnosed between six and 12 years old. Adults can also suffer, but there is less research into this. ADHD's exact cause is unclear but is thought to involve genetic mutations that affect a person's brain function and structure. Premature babies and those with epilepsy or brain damage are more at risk. ADHD is also linked to anxiety, depression, insomnia, Tourette's and epilepsy. There is no cure. A combination of medication and therapy is usually recommended to relieve symptoms and make day-to-day life easier.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Welsh teenager researching medical cannabis to study at Oxford
A teenager who has secured a spot at the University of Oxford says the way cannabis has helped her mother's condition "opened my eyes to its medical potential".Ariana Howells, 17, from Barry in Wales, who achieved three A*s and one A in A-level biology, chemistry, maths, and English literature, plus 97% in her Extended Project Qualification, will now take her place at St Hilda College to study interest in medical cannabis has highlighted the drug's promise, as well as gaps in existing said that despite "stigma and strong media opinions", science was about "being open to where the evidence leads". Ariana, who is a scholarship student at Cardiff Sixth Form College, examined the extent THC, a component of cannabis, can "negatively affect sleep architecture" as part of her studies."There were only seven studies worth citing," Ariana said."I expected clearer answers, but what I found was a real need for more in-depth, unbiased research. "This is something I want to keep exploring at university and beyond."Her mother lives with Crohn's disease, an incurable chronic inflammatory bowel believes medical cannabis has played a crucial role in improving her quality of parents run Cannabis Clinic Cardiff where the teenager has spent the last two years helping with admin and learning about the evolving science behind the plant-based treatment."Seeing my mum's condition and the way cannabis helped her and the patients who visit our clinic really opened my eyes to its medical potential," she said."My dad is also a senior psychiatrist, so I've grown up in a household where science and care come together."Outside of school, she has earned gold in the Biology Olympiad and is a competitive ice preparation for Oxford, Ariana plans to channel her energy into drug development and mental health research, and she is especially interested how medical cannabis could one day transform care."There's still stigma and strong media opinions," she said."But science is about asking difficult questions and being open to where the evidence leads." You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Cambridge science campus expansion could see homes demolished
Homes could be demolished to make way for the expansion of a science and research Hay, chief operating officer of Babraham Research Campus Ltd - which manages the site near Cambridge - said existing houses could be knocked down to make way for more than 80 new ones as well as additional laboratories and added that the development company also had ambitions to add new shops, a café and a nursery to the site over the next 15 Hay said at a meeting with South Cambridgeshire District Council on Wednesday that new homes would be available for current occupants before they had to move, unless they had already left at the end of their term. He said there was "reasonable demand" for housing on the site from people who worked there, meaning his company must follow a selection process based on need and availability. But some homes were "not of the best quality", Mr Hay said, and the new ones - also primarily for staff - would be better quality, with some offered at a discounted updated councillors on the company's vision for the site and answered their questions ahead of planning applications being formally Babraham Research Campus, founded in 1998, is a mixture of laboratories, offices and homes and specialises in bioscience, or the study of the biology and chemistry of living are more than 60 startups, businesses and charities on the site, with about 2,000 employees and 300 academic researchers, as well as about 40 homes. There were plans to increase that number to incorporates the historic Babraham Hall manor house and extensive Ray, an architect working on the expansion plans, said at the meeting that developers were also looking at ways to encourage sustainable travel to the campus, rather than private said they also wanted to encourage "community use" through the new shops and café if plans were approved. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
