The cause and treatment of hyperactivity is controversial and confusing, particularly in connection with diet. I frequently get questions from both parents and professionals wanting a special diet that will help hyperactive children. Before even looking at diet you must look at many other factors and sort out reasons for your child's inattentive, hyperactive behaviour. Once your child is diagnosed with hyperactivity, providing a structured home and school environment is often the key to improving behaviour. Diet is certainly worth looking at, particularly if you are convinced that food X causes your child to go ballistic.
Studies show that changes to a child's diet helps only a few hyperactive kids.
There is evidence that the behaviour of some children is affected negatively by adverse food reactions. Some common food allergens include milk, tomatoes, eggs and peanuts. Even if children respond well to changes in their diet, the problems unrelated to diet will not improve. Also, eliminating too many foods from a child's diet could put them at nutritional risk. Therefore, diet is not a universal remedy.