Caffeine Really Does Affect Adhd?
There's hardly a person out there who hasn't used caffeine, and who from time to time, has had too much of it. The conclusion? Often people report feeling jittery, nervous, and hyperactive when they have used too much. That is a result of caffeine acting as a stimulant! For others who use too much, they report feeling energized and focused.So if caffeine can be just like an amphetamine, can it be taken to treat attention deficit issues? The answers are mixed.A number of studies have been conducted to answer this question and the results are not conclusive in one direction or the other. Many trials contend that the consuming of caffeine caused ADDers to be less agressive, less impulsive, more focused, and results in improved motor skills. When teachers and parents were asked, they thought caffeine was equally as powerful as taking Ritalin. Still other studies have proven that the combination of Ritalin and caffeine gave the best benefit.Some may be thinking these results don't seem all that poor. However, ponder this. No one reacts to caffeine in the exact manner as the next person. You can't predict who may benefit and who may be harmed by giving caffeine. In fact, many researchers average the scores of ADHD kids on tests that look at concentration and hyperactivity. When these results get reviewed, it makes the general positives seem slight or void. Unfortunately, it does not take into account the children who are drastically effected.The amount of caffeine ingested when you have ADHD will make a difference in how you react, and it appears that the more you take, the worse you become! Let's also remember that the amount of caffeine you use is also related to insomina and addiction to caffeine! This cannot be a positive thing!A low dose of caffeine is thought to be about 158-160 milligrams. Examine the below items and think about how fast you can reach that amount.- Cola has 23 mgs. in 8 ounces- Diet Coke has 31 mgs. in 8 ounces- Brewed tea has 20-35 mgs. as instant tea products on average have 10-30 mgs. in 8 ounces- Chocolate milk has 5 mgs in 8 ounces- Semi-sweet chocolate (think chocolate chip cookies) has 5-35 mgs. in 1 ounceIf you are a normal adult, you probably drink several caffeinated beverages a day, so it doesn't take long before you have overdone it. For children that threshold is even lower. No one is saying you must give caffeine up. But if you or your family suffer from attention hyperactivity disorder, you cannot ignore that caffeine could have major effects on your behavior. Just because you believe it actually minimizes the bad symptoms, and maximizes the good, the balance of how much caffeine is the perfect dose will change from day to day. So don't let yourself be fooled into thinking caffeine is a safe alternative to treat ADHD symptoms.
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