Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is a common neurodevelopmental disorder typically associated with hyperactivity and impulsiveness. While it’s most commonly diagnosed in children the condition often persists over the course of people’s entire life. One of the larger problems with ADHD treatment stems from the fact that the underlying cause hasn’t been pinpointed yet.

However, doctors find that in addition to prescribed treatments, several lifestyle changes and natural remedies usually offer a measure of relief for people suffering from the condition:

1. Omega-3s fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are commonly found in oily fish. However, people can also simply take a supplement to obtain all the benefits found in this healthy brain food. Research on this substance’s impact on ADHD is still ongoing. However, early studies have shown that it can be about as effective as pharmaceutical-grade stimulants. While the substance is found in fish it’s generally better to go with a supplement. This is in large part due to the fact that our oceans have become so polluted. Too much fish may well come with a risk of mercury contamination. Therefore capsules with pure omega-3 can provide a safer alternative.

2. Exercise
A good workout routine can offer some tremendous benefits. One of the most obvious is that working out tends to exhaust us. ADHD sometimes feels like you’re over fueled. And burning off some of that energy can help us find a bit of calm. On top of this, there’s some evidence that ADHD is more severe in people with other health issues. Many of these problems stem from lifestyle issues that can be taken care of with a regular workout routine.

3. Zinc
ADHD often comes hand in hand with nutritional issues. For example, children with ADHD have a tendency to have lower levels of zinc in their body. Simply supplementing with the substance has been shown to help with ADHD symptoms. Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate has also been used to help regulate people’s diet. Supplements are often the easiest choice. But carefully cultivating dietary choices can also offer a path to higher levels of missing nutrients.

4. Magnesium
Magnesium is typically found in leafy vegetables, nuts and beans. And when people with ADHD get enough of it they tend to see a reduction in the severity of their symptoms. We’re not really sure why the mineral has a relaxing effect for people with ADHD. However, this isn’t uncommon for situations where we also lack a solid understanding of the root cause of an issue. For the moment it’s enough to simply accept the studies which show a correlation between intake of the mineral and improved health. Thankfully this has been shown to work equally well regardless of whether someone gets the substance from meals or supplements.

5. Electroencephalographic (EEG) biofeedback
Electroencephalographic EEG biofeedback is a complex name for a surprisingly calming experience. EEG involves using brain monitoring to show people the underlying state of their brains. As people watch the readout they can learn how different ways of thinking and feeling impact the physical state of their brain. The goal is to eventually learn how to mentally move the brain into a state of calm that would normally be difficult for someone with ADHD. This is one of the newer, and less easily obtained, forms of ADHD treatment. However, it also holds a lot of potential as EEG becomes more widespread over time.