The Importance of Water for ADHD Kids

The treatment applied to ADHD children often consists of intricate schooling plans and invasive drugs. Fortunately, there are different holistic approaches which are easier to apply and have visible results. Dietary changes have done wonders for kids diagnosed with hyperactivity. Healthy food and balanced water consumption reduces ADHD symptoms and improved the child’s ability to focus.

What Do Scientists Say?

Kathleen Holton, a neurologist at the American University in Washington, claims that a healthy lifestyle makes a difference. The Journal of Attention Disorders published the interesting findings of her study. The scientist analyzed children with ages between 7 and 11 to whom she recommended changes in the daily routine. According to the American researcher, the hyperactive kids need:

•   at least one hour of physical activities per day
•   limited and parental controlled exposure to television, video games, and smart gadgets
•   9 to 11 hours of sleep per night
•   a balanced diet without artificially sweetened drinks and fatty foods
•   7 to 10 glasses of water per dayThe scientist also pointed out that lots of parents who have ADHD children do not want a treatment based on drugs. A wholesome lifestyle may replace medication. Some of these changes may lead to other healthy habits. For example, increased physical activity determines more water consumption, and enhances sleep patterns.Water is essential for the proper functioning of the human brain. This is the conclusion of research published by a group of scientists at King’s College in London.Their study was conducted on teenagers who did not display ADHD symptoms. The adolescents performed physical exercises then they were divided into two groups. One group received plenty of water to drink while the other was left thirsty. All teens had to solve some problems which required attention and complex operation. The test scores obtained by the dehydrated teens were lower. They all experienced brain fog which is a common symptom of ADHD.Lack of water hindered the abilities of children and teens who are not considered hyperactive. The logical deduction is that dehydration has a worse impact on ADHD children. Therefore, sweet drinks should be replaced with qualitative water.

How to Recognize a Dehydrated Child

Dehydration can occur slowly over time or suddenly. Do not wait until your child is excessively thirsty. The following signs indicate a severe lack of water in the body:

•  dry and sticky mouth
•   dry and chapped lips
    sunken eyes

•   diminished interest in playing
•   darker urine
•   cold and dry skin
•   fast breathing and increased heart rate
•   excessive irritability or agitation

  drowsiness or dizziness

In extreme cases, the child can get delirious or unconscious.

Tips on How to Hydrate Your ADHD Kid

Most kids are not aware of their thirst until it reaches the unbearable point. This behavior creates the perfect ground for dehydration. When children are involved in engaging activities they forget to drink water. There are lots of methods you can use to develop your child’s healthy habits:

• •   put a funny shaped straw in your kid’s glass
  •   make sure that your little one always has access to a bottle of water
  •   change the water taste by adding a slice of lemon, lime or orange; mint and ginger also have a positive effect

  freeze water cubes with fruit inside them and put them in the glass of water

To diversify the child’s hydration, you can give him/her tea, plant infusions, freshly squeezed fruit juice, and fruit puree. It is important to give your bundle of joy hydrating foods. They can replace up to 20% of the daily water intake.

Different types of fruit and vegetables are rich sources of nutritious and healthy liquids. Tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchinis, pears, apples, watermelons, and peaches are all examples of juicy foods perfect for a hydration diet.

Doctors advise us to offer kids proper hydration. This implies finding a middle path between too little and too much. Studies revealed that excessive water intake might harm cognitive abilities. Children must be encouraged to drink water and not artificially colored and sweeten juice when they are thirsty. Scheduled hydration might not have the desired outcome. Kids and teens may consider it an obligation and end up resenting their bottle of water.

Is Tap Water Safe to Drink?

This question triggers many heated debates in both academic and non-academic circles. Tap water has minerals which the human organism needs to function properly. At the same time, it contains other substances and even pollutants which might endanger your family’s well-being.

According to a study published in the prestigious magazine The Lancet, the fluoride added in the public drinking water systems may trigger behavioral disorders in children. The research was carried out by a group of scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health in collaboration with staff at Icahn School of Public Health.

Taking into consideration the studies published in 2006, which pointed out that fluorine is a neurotoxin, the new research included a meta-analysis of 27 additional studies on the effects of fluorine. According to these, the chemical substance lowers the children’s IQ.

Following a detailed analysis, the researchers established that fluorine obstructs the natural development of the brain and may lead to conditions belonging to the autism, dyslexia, and ADHD.

What Can You Do to Have Pure Water in Your House?

Lots of people drink tap water because they are convinced that it is free of pollutants, but studies revealed that it contains chlorine and other elements with a negative impact on human health. Water is also often contaminated by old, rusty, and dirty pipes. Therefore, many families have opted for bottled water. The major drawback is that plastic bottles eliminate chemical compounds in the water when exposed to heat. Plus, used plastic containers are an important environmental issue.

Whether you get your tap water from a well or a public network, you must apply it filtration, softening, and purification processes to make it healthier for you to drink.

A Brief Explanation of the Reverse Osmosis Process with Trace Minerals

Reverse Osmosis is a top-notch filtration technology which clears away up to 98,8% of organic and inorganic water impurities. It also removes salts and bacteria. The RO systems have an osmotic membrane and several filters.

The coarse impurities and the chemical substances are eliminated during the pre- filtration process. The liquid goes through the membrane which keeps away elements dimensions equal to 0,0001 microns. This purified water goes through the post- filtration stage. Minerals which are good for the human body are added in the right amount. Both water taste and natural properties are enhanced.

Other Water Filtration Procedures

Most modern filters and water purification systems use several filtration methods. These function according to the waterfall principle making the connection between the water sources and purified water.

Reverse Osmosis with Traced Minerals is not the only methods to provide your kid with pure water without ADHD triggers.

The Capillary Membrane – Ultrafiltration

A widespread water filtration process is the one which implies the use of cartridges with a capillary membrane. The procedure is called ultrafiltration and eliminates particles with dimensions ranging between 0,01 and 0,03 microns. It is not as effective as a reverse osmosis system and it does not remove calcium and magnesium salts.

Fortunately, not all minerals disappear and water preservers its pH. It has a 100% yield and water is not wasted. These are under the counter filters and have an extra tap. The filters with capillary membranes occupy little space. This allows you to add:

•   polypropylene filters with different dimensions
•   a filter with silver which functions as a bacteriostatic agent and

  a filter with active carbon

Different vendors have on their offer filters functioning on this system. So, there is plenty for you to choose from.

Ceramic Filter or Microfiltration

If you want something more accessible in terms of price, consider ceramic filtration. The filters can be washed under a water jet and can be reused. This is impossible with reverse osmosis and capillary membranes. You can filter only a certain amount of water so it is important to know when you have to change it.

The eliminated particles have dimension ranging between 0,3 and 0,8 microns. Smaller particles like magnesium and calcium salts remain in the water but giardia and cryptosporidium are removed. This should suffice if you live in an area with a qualitative water source.

There are two types of ceramic filters:

 simple and

 with an activated carbon core

The more advanced models have zeolite resin for the removal of heavy metals like lead. Specialists recommend complex filters which can eliminate chemical substances, sediments, and other harmful contaminants.

These are over-the-counter filters which have a diverter tap plugged to the cold water pipe.

Nanofiltration

From a technological perspective, a nanofiltration membrane is like the one of a reverse osmosis system. However, it removes only 50% of the magnesium and calcium salts. Thus, lots of sellers advertise it as a water softener. This is an ideal product for people who want to consume water with fewer minerals but do not desire to remove them completely.

Ionization

Besides the above water purification technologies, there is the alternative of getting therapeutic water. An ionizer delivers you ionized or alkaline water. This device offers you a pure liquid only in combination with ceramic or capillary pre-filters.

The installation water filtration system allows you have healthier water. Plus, you no longer need to worry about its source and freshness.

Hydration comforts your hyper-energetic child and reduces ADHD symptoms. Once again pure water proves to be invaluable. Harmful human activities have infested rivers and lakes with different pollutants. Filtration systems are a wise investment for your family’s health.

References:

https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-015-0003-1 https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/full/10.1289/ehp.9504 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1087054716646452 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/hbm.20999 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/cphy.c130017