A number of dietary interventions for ADHD have been studied, including the elimination of artificial food colorings, diets high in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and the few-foods diet (a type of elimination diet that gradually reintroduces foods based on how a person’s symptoms change).[1] High-PUFA diets aren’t likely to improve ADHD symptoms, but the few-foods diet is promising. More research on dietary artificial food coloring intake is necessary before it can be recommended for treating ADHD.
How could diet affect ADHD?
Written by:
Fact-checked
by:
•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
Dietary interventions for ADHD include elimination of artificial food colorings, high-PUFA diets, and the few-foods diet, and the latter has shown promise. However, high-PUFA diets are unlikely to improve symptoms, and more research is needed on the effect of artificial food coloring.