Nutrition Interventions for ADHD and Emetophobia

Anxiety

Anxiety goes hand in hand with any number of mental health conditions, including nearly every type of eating disorder and most phobias. It also plays a major role in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

It’s thought that one in four children with ADHD also struggle with some form of anxiety, and one in four children with an anxiety disorder also showcase ADHD symptoms. This overlap includes all types of anxiety conditions, including phobias.⁵

History of Vomiting

There are several reasons why someone with ADHD might have a traumatic event connected to vomiting.

Many types of medication used for ADHD treatment, including both stimulant and non-stimulant medications, are connected to nausea. In particular, children who use these methods to help manage ADHD symptoms often report feeling nausea or the urge to vomit.

ADHD has also been linked to Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome, a condition that includes regular bouts of nausea and vomiting.⁷ And it’s possible someone struggling with this condition may also go on to develop a fear of vomiting.

Elimination Diets

An elimination diet, also known as the few-foods diet, involves adopting a very limited diet for a short period of time. The goal is to understand how certain foods may affect certain health issues. (For example, a person’s sugar intake may lead to worsening ADHD symptoms.)

Foods are slowly and thoughtfully reintroduced over certain periods of time to test people’s mental and physical reactions to these dietary changes. Once potential links have been identified, day-to-day dietary patterns can be adjusted accordingly.

Doctors developed the few-food diet to identify food allergies in patients. The method has since been expanded to help diagnose various diseases and disorders. Regardless, these programs should always be conducted under the supervision of a doctor or registered dietitian.

The Feingold Diet

The Feingold Diet, sometimes also known as the ADHD diet, was first introduced in 1974 after Dr. Ben Feingold, in partnership with the Mayo Clinic, published the seminal guide Why Your Child Is Hyperactive.

The program is a type of elimination diet for attention-deficit hyperactive children. It recommends eliminating foods containing artificial additives, including flavorings, food coloring, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, and certain salicylates, which are naturally occurring compounds in fruits and vegetables.

The Feingold Diet has been met with skepticism over the years, as it’s only undergone a limited number of clinical trials with small sample sizes. However, two studies—conducted in 2004 and 2007—have shed more light on the technique’s potential effects, showing positive results connected to hyperactive behaviors and removing certain food dyes, sweeteners, and preservatives.^8,9

Proteins

High-protein foods like meats, cheeses, nuts, and beans have been found to positively affect concentration, especially when consumed in the morning, and may even help ADHD medications work better.¹⁰

Still, when dealing with someone whose primary diagnosis is emetophobia, it’s better to proceed with caution when introducing new foods to their diet. Consulting with a nutritionist may be helpful in these cases.

Complex Carbohydrates

Although carbohydrates have a bad reputation in many diet circles, they are not one-size-fits-all. In many cases, the right kind of carbohydrates can be nutritionally beneficial, particularly for children with ADHD.

Complex carbs, like those found in vegetables and citrus fruits, have been found to be helpful for overall brain health. For people struggling with ADHD, consuming these types of carbs at night can be especially helpful, as they’ve been found to help alleviate restlessness, which is often a symptom of ADHD. Complex carbs can also help promote a good night’s sleep.¹⁰

However, make sure fruits are kept fresh and ripe, as mushy fruits close to expiring can trigger emetophobia in people.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are a known brain food, and several studies have linked them to better brain health.

When it comes to improving ADHD symptoms, these nutritional supplements have been shown to help with inattentiveness and a lack of focus in some children with ADHD.¹¹

Fish, walnuts, canola, and olive oil are good sources of this essential nutrient. The variety of sources of omega-3 fatty acids can also be useful when catering to someone with emetophobia.

Refined Sugars and Simple Carbohydrates

The body burns through refined sugars and simple carbohydrates quickly, which leads to a spike in blood sugar and a rush of dopamine to the brain. It’s thought that this latter effect may lead to many people with ADHD craving simple carbs, as the disorder has been connected to lower dopamine levels.¹² 

But what comes up must come down. Refined sugars and simple carbs also tend to lead to swift blood sugar crashes, which can cause moodiness and lethargy, among other symptoms. For children with ADHD, this aspect of these foods can be equally as damaging, as it can make focus and energy management even more difficult. 

It’s recommended that sugar of any type be limited for children with ADHD. Carbohydrates should be complex and fibrous to provide more long-lasting, focus-friendly energy.

Caffeine

Most experts do not recommend caffeine consumption for individuals with ADHD.¹³

For children, caffeine found in soft drinks and other beverages can become highly addictive due to the hit of dopamine that often accompanies its use. Once again, children with ADHD have an elevated risk of craving foods or beverages that cause this effect.

Furthermore, stimulants are already common in ADHD medication, so adding caffeine on top of the medication may cancel out the medication’s effects. 

Caffeine can also impact people struggling with emetophobia, as the substance has been connected to a number of stomach issues, which people with a fear of vomiting may find triggering.