Is it Really Necessary for Someone With ADD/ADHD to Avoid All Grains?

There are numerous studies linking ADD/ADHD and gluten. There's even one study linking celiac disease directly to ADHD. So it may be that avoiding all grains containing gluten is essential for the natural management of ADHD.

In my experience, removing all grains matters because there are no truly "safe" grains in this country. Two reasons.

First, I don't trust the cross-contamination potential of non-gluten and gluten-free grains. They're normally transported, processed, and stored in the same plants and containers that have or had gluten-containing grains in them. So how gluten-free they actually are is suspect.

Second, and more importantly, it's probably not just the gluten causing the problem. The real troublemaker for anyone sensitive to gluten is gliadin. Gliadin is a portion of the gluten protein, but it's also found in other grains: buckwheat, bulgur, wheat, rye, oat, barley, and oatmeal.

Gliadin is the main protein that causes the toxic reaction in your intestine. This reaction causes the normally tight gap junctions between the cells of your intestine to loosen. It may sound horrible, but it's actually a protective mechanism. The opening of those junctions releases water into the intestine, attempting to flush the toxin out as quickly as possible. The longer gliadin is present, the looser those junctions get.

The problem is that this loosening of tight junctions (leaky gut) allows larger proteins into the body. These proteins present to the immune system as foreign invaders. And doing what immune systems do, it starts attacking them. The mechanism behind leaky gut and food sensitivity development is well documented at this point.

The reason I say there aren't any safe grains is a phenomenon called cross-reactivity. The gliadin protein looks a lot like other proteins, especially those in other grains, to the immune system. When those proteins look similar, the immune system attacks both, assuming they're all foreign invaders.

The foods most often part of this cross-reactivity: corn, rice, yeast, casein, millet, soy, and quinoa. That covers a significant portion of the grain alternatives. Which is exactly why going "gluten-free" often doesn't resolve the symptoms. You swapped the grain but kept the cross-reactive foods.

So yes: if you have a tendency toward ADD or ADHD, you'll be much better off avoiding all grains. And honestly, even if you don't have that tendency but want your gut and brain working at full capacity, cutting grains from your diet will benefit you tremendously.

The gut-brain connection here isn't subtle. Your gut produces approximately 90% of your body's serotonin. When gliadin is chronically loosening your gut junctions and driving immune reactions, serotonin production is affected. Mood, focus, and behavior follow.

For comprehensive guidance on removing inflammatory grains and supporting gut and brain health, visit the Eating Right: Nutrition Primer.

If you're in Frisco, Texas and dealing with focus, mood, or behavioral issues that haven't improved with conventional approaches, Applied Kinesiology can identify the food sensitivities and gut dysfunction that may be driving the pattern.

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