Food for Thought and so Much More

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution Vegetarian Chile: Link

It’s been said cashews are a natural anti-depressant, cranberries are good for urinary tract infections, cucumber and water melon are excellent anti-oxidant foods and eating cherries can reduce attacks of Gout. But what about ADHD? Is there a food that can help with that? Although health website, livestrong.com dedicates a page for Adult ADHD Diet (as well as one for ADHD kids diet) they report that there is very little scientific evidence to prove certain foods and diets can help with ADHD symptoms.

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution webpage

What they do suggest is a variety of brain foods containing Omega 3 fatty acids: tuna, salmon, ground flax seeds and walnuts, as well as a protein rich diet. And, of course, livestrong also suggests steering clear of foods that contain additives like sodium benzoate, yellow or red food coloring often found in candy, soda, ice cream, processed foods, etc.



 According to celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver, eating a healthy diet helps him manage his ADHD. Whether we have ADHD or not, we can never be reminded enough about the importance of a healthy diet. Though changing eating habits for some can be one of the most difficult tasks to undertake. However, after learning more about Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, we've discovered some of his tips to assist you with the challenge...


1) Clean up your kitchen! 
Jamie says "the kitchen is there to do a job." Remove all non- kitchen items and take back the space.

2) Dump those sugary sodas and unhealthy snacks!
These items should never ever be a substitute for water or food. If you do not buy them, then they aren't there to consume!

3) Team up with a friend or relative who knows how to cook!
Jamie makes a point of how there are generations now that don't know how to cook. He recommends teaming up with friends or relatives that know how to cook so you can learn from them.

4) Cook a fresh meal once per week!
 Once per week is baby steps, but really we should set the bar a little higher to 2 or 3 times a week.

5)  If you have kids, teach them to be more street smart when it comes to food

 The point being, parents teach children how to safely cross the road, so why not teach them about the perils of consuming a diet of unhealthy foods?

Jamie's Food Revolution has mostly been geared towards making changes in school lunch menus in the UK and the USA (and it has had some success). However, just looking at the photo above, it's easily translates to adults as well. Why not let it inspire all of us to instigate a revolution in our own kitchens? 

Summer time is a great time to start!


To learn more about Jamie Oliver, his ADHD diagnosis, etc, check out this Jillian Michaels interview with Jamie: click here

Mental Health Headlines

Although the above video was produced in 2010, we still have a ways to go with eliminating the stigma surrounding mental illness. Let's watch it and share it! 

Now for some recent Mental Health headlines...

Anderson Cooper tries out a schizophrenia simulator in order to understand what those afflicted with the disorder experience. Anderson's eye opening experience, with video 

Newsweek examines research into new ways to diagnose ADHD. Can MRI's Diagnose ADHD?

Television news reporter, Lisa Ling reveals ADHD diagnosis. ABC News has the interview and report.

An Addiction and Recovery blog at psychcentral.com addresses a challenging question for almost 58 million working American's with mental illness...To Disclose or Not to Disclose: Mental Illness at Work

Even the money obsessed publication that is Forbes.com bid a nice farewell to Maya Angelou... Good-bye Maya Angelou: Teacher, Warrior, Spiritual Leader

ADHD: Oh, the Places You Can Go! Part Two

Disney World

 Yes, Mr. Walt Disney was said to have ADHD. It practically goes without say the guy was a creative genius who also had the smarts to put his brother, Roy in charge of the business end of the growing Disney empire. Walt was competitive and driven to take risks with technology to make his dreams of animation a reality. 

photo from swimswam.com

Also competitive and driven are some of the greatest athletes of our time. However, despite an ADHD diagnosis, they figured out how to reach the pinnacles of their sports. Michael Phelps transformed a lack of focus and sitting still into an amazing career as a competitive swimmer, becoming the most decorated Olympic athlete ever.  

Michael Jordan's sports empire, built on his sublime talent for playing basketball continues to expand. Michael has taken "doing a million things at once" a common symptom of ADHD, and turned it into an art form, and a lot of cash.

Olympic Ice Hockey champion, and the first woman player to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, Cammi Granato channeled the restlessness and energy that comes with ADHD into her game making her one of the greatest women to ever play the game.

Albert Einstein

A young Thomas Edison

It has been often speculated that legendary minds, Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison had ADHD based on what was known of their behavior. Thom Hartmann authored a book titled the Edison Gene, which is like a nickname for ADHD. Sounds so much better to refer to ADHD as the “Edison Gene” doesn’t it? 

The introduction to Hartmann’s book contains an enlightening story about a trip he took to a very small place in India in 1993. On the train he sat with Indian businessmen and one Indian physician. Hartman decided to ask the physician about what we call ADHD in the western world, and if he was familiar with the brain disorder. 

Hartmann described the typical symptoms and behavior to the doctor. The doctor said. “Ah, yes, we know this type well.” The Indian businessmen nodded their heads in agreement. Hartmann asked the men, “What do you call these people?” The doctor said, “Very Holy. These are old souls on the end of their karmic cycle.” All the men nodded their heads in complete agreement with the doctor. The very holy ones! Isn’t that something? 

Now, ADHD people shouldn’t let this go to their heads, but this is yet another perspective on the disorder that most definitely could bring a little peace to anyone who is having a tough time coming to terms with an ADHD diagnosis. 

Perhaps that's why there are plenty of webpage articles in cyberspace listing famous and successful people with ADHD. These ADHD celebrities are a light that shines brightly on a still misunderstood brain condition. They may be attracting more acceptance in the name of ADHD, but, whether they realize it or not, they are also saying... 

if they can do it, so can you!

Successful People with ADHD: Link