Several studies show that replenishing deficient minerals is a more effective treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder than stimulant medication. One of the most common mineral deficiencies is zinc, an essential mineral that aids in a number of bodily and neurological functions. Because of zinc's properties, zinc supplements are also recommended along with other natural remedies for ADHD. Below are just some of the benefits of zinc supplements to ADHD children.
Protects omega-3 essential fatty acids from oxidation
Omega-3 essential fatty acid supplements are one of the most effective natural remedies for ADHD. However, omega-3 supplements by themselves cannot stimulate neurotransmitter production and aid brain functioning. Essential fatty acids are very fragile and vulnerable to oxidation, which means that the fats could break down and disintegrate before they reach the bloodstream. Thus, essential fatty acids need to be taken with natural antioxidants. Nutritionists discovered that zinc supplements are a potent antioxidant that preserves omega-3 essential fatty acids until they are absorbed by the nervous system.
We've known for years that omega-3 fatty acids are good for the heart. These healthy fats down-regulate inflammation, and may help reduce the risk and symptoms of disorders influenced by inflammation, including heart attack, stroke and several forms of cancer. Now researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, have found another action of omega-3s that may help explain why they offer benefits for the heart. The investigators found that the more omega-3 consumed by patients with coronary heart disease, the slower the structures called telomeres at the ends of chromosomes shrank. (Telomeres have been likened to the caps on the ends of shoelaces that prevent the laces from unraveling. In cells, telomeres prevent chromosomes from fusing with one another or rearranging - undesirable changes that could lead to serious diseases.) The more times a cell divides, the shorter telomeres become, a change that makes them a marker of biological age. The California investigators followed about 600 patients with coronary artery disease and measured their blood levels of omega-3s and telomere length at the beginning of the study and again five years later. They found that the higher the blood levels of omega-3s, the slower telomeres shortened, suggesting that the rate of biological aging - as mirrored by telomeres - decreased.