23 April 2024 , 14:50
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A neuroscientist has recommended a 'superfood' that could help reduce ADHD symptoms in children.
Dr Miguel Toribio-Mateas, a clinical neuroscientist, says kefir, which is available at most supermarkets, may be linked to gut health and the neurological condition. Speaking on Alex' Partridge's ADHD Chatter Podcast, Dr Mateas said: "The food is called kefir. And I've actually done some research on it myself as a scientist, looking at the effects on the gut, and then how the effects in what's going on in somebody's gut with ADHD transfers to the brain. It can have a beneficial impact on their ADHD symptoms."
He added: "We've looked at young adults, children and young adults, to 18, and we gave them kefir for six weeks, as well as very basic dietary guidelines. Basically, along the lines of do not eat ultra-processed foods. So fresh food as much as possible and have 200ml of kefir a day. We noticed improvements in impulsivity, improvements in hyperactivity, and also better sleep."
The research, published in the BMJ Open journal, aimed to explore how kefir impacts ADHD symptomatology, sleep, attention and gut microbiomes in children diagnosed with ADHD. For six weeks, the participants were given a kefir daily in a double-blind study, reports Gloucestershire Live.
The participants were also given the advice to swerve foods that are "most likely to provoke sensitivities". They were nudged to go for whole-food items like lamb, chicken, potatoes, rice, bananas, and apples too. The investigation delved into whether "compromised" gut microbiomes could pave the way for unwanted bacteria, viruses and fungi in the digestive tract, risking seeping into the bloodstream. This could then voyage to the brain, potentially impacting behaviour.
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The study prescribed: "We propose that kefir consumption may enhance composition of the gut microbiota in children with ADHD and could lead to a reduction in ADHD symptoms and improvements in sleep." The research pointed out that it will boost further examination into the effect of kefir on kids with ADHD.
So what precisely is kefir?
As explained by Webmd, Kefir is a drink made from the fermented milk of a cow, a goat, or sheep. You can snatch up kefir at supermarkets and health food stores or whip up your own batch.
Kefir boasts around 60 unique varieties of probiotics, the "friendly bacteria" that amp up gut health and could be beneficial for digestion. The most prevalent are lactobacillus, lactococcus, streptococcus, and leuconostoc.