My 8-year-old son has been diagnosed with ADHD. Do any foods contribute to this condition or improve it? I’d like to avoid putting him on drugs.

Many researchers and parents of children with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), who don’t want to use medication, report great progress with dietary changes.

Recommendations that seem to get good results are: eliminating all processed sugars, soda, caffeinated drinks, and desserts from the child’s diet; drinking five to six glasses of alkaline water (pH>8.5) a day; and exercising at the same time every day for 30 minutes.

Make sure your son is on a regular, consistent schedule that includes getting up, eating meals, doing schoolwork, and going to bed at the same times every day.

Limit use of television, computers, phones, and loud music to 30 minutes total a day. Don’t allow television during meal time — allow only one activity at a time.

Make sure he sleeps nine to 10 hours every night and has a one-hour nap in the afternoon if possible.

Give him omega-3 fish oils (500 mg/day), vitamin C, B complex, and glutathione supplements.

Encourage him to read and have quiet time as much as possible.