In this episode, we’re joined by mental health nurse and advocate Helen Duyvesten, to discuss attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), and how nutrition can be used to improve symptoms, functioning, and quality of life if you’re impacted by it.

ADHD is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder in children and adolescents, affecting around 5–8% of the population worldwide.

It can cause significant impairment and disability if not recognized and treated, yet access to diagnosis and treatment is often challenging.

While genetics plays a large part in ADHD,  standard treatment usually involves medications, nutrition and lifestyle interventions can play an important role too - with increasing evidence showing our gut microbiome is also involved.

We chat to Helen about exactly how and why nutrition can impact on ADHD symptoms and severity; foods that have the potential to exacerbate it; the key nutrients to be aware of that may help; and what to eat if you want to try improve ADHD with diet.

We loved this episode, and we know you will too!

Helen Duyvesten is a registered nurse who has worked in acute psychiatric services in South Auckland for over 20 years. After observing the limited success of conventional treatment when it comes to mental illness, Helen went on a journey to discover what else we could do to 'do mental health' better. She started up ‘One Life’, which approaches building resilience and supporting our mental health through nutritional and lifestyle medicine alongside (or sometimes instead of!) the traditional treatment of medication and talk therapy. Helen now lives in the beautiful Bay of Plenty where she speaks & educates corporates and individuals on supporting mental well-being from a holistic approach.

Helen has a Diploma in Nursing, an Advanced Diploma in Nursing (Mental Health), a Master in Health Science, Adv. Cert Nursing & is a certified life coach. She's also certified in DBT and other mental health modalities.

You can find out more about Helen and her business here: https://www.onelifenz.com/

Podcast edited by Jacob Barrow.