{"id":5927,"date":"2023-07-24T19:30:10","date_gmt":"2023-07-24T12:30:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=5927"},"modified":"2023-07-24T19:30:10","modified_gmt":"2023-07-24T12:30:10","slug":"a-psychiatrists-stimulating-sensory-snack-for-adhd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=5927","title":{"rendered":"A Psychiatrist\u2019s Stimulating Sensory Snack for ADHD"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"drop-cap text-big text-gray\"> <span class=\"drop-cap__first text-dropcap \">S<\/span>nap! Crackle! Pop! There\u2019s no denying that many of us are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/food-disgust-sensitivity-test\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/food-disgust-sensitivity-test\/\">instantly drawn by the crunch and textures of certain foods<\/a>. <em>Hellooo<\/em>, <em>Cooler Ranch Doritos<\/em>.<\/div>\n<p>Aside from the fun chomping sound emitted when chomping on these crispy-crunchy foods, researchers say snacking on foods that are texturally-complex and\/or have nuanced flavor (especially spice) is a smart way to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/food-texture\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/food-texture\/\">stimulate brain activity<\/a>. These &#8220;sensory snacks&#8221; figuratively tickle someone&#8217;s taste buds in a way that can activate their brain receptors, which can be a helpful concentration tool. And according to a gastrophysicist and psychiatrist, our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/why-i-crave-crunchy-food\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/why-i-crave-crunchy-food\/\">brains often correlate crunchiness with markers of freshness<\/a>, too.<\/p>\n<p>Ahead, a board-certified psychiatrist delves into how sensory <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/brain-boosting-nutrients\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/brain-boosting-nutrients\/\">snacks can help boost concentration and brain functioning<\/a> by stimulating brain activity. Plus: The expert&#8217;s own studied sensory snack she calls on when she needs to wake up her brain with a &#8220;focus crunch.&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/Ct1WxlUsXAU\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\"><\/blockquote>\n<h2><strong>Health benefits of sensory snacking<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/Ct1WxlUsXAU\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/Ct1WxlUsXAU\/?hl=en\">recent Instagram post<\/a>, board-certified psychiatrist and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/does-adhd-get-worse-with-age\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/does-adhd-get-worse-with-age\/\">ADHD<\/a> clinical specialist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drhamdanimd.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.drhamdanimd.com\/\">Sasha Hamdani, MD<\/a> shares that noshing on a crunchy, tasty snack is one of the easiest (and tastiest) ways to stimulate the brain. Then she shows how to make one of her go-to sensory concoctions: pickle popcorn made from microwaved popcorn tossed with <a href=\"https:\/\/clicks.trx-hub.com\/xid\/leafgroup_ca5e0_wellgood?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FPLANTERS-Cashews-Pickle-Flavored-Snacks%2Fdp%2FB0BSB15FKG%2F%3Ftag%3Dwgtrx1101-20%26asc_refurl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.wellandgood.com%252Fsensory-snack%252F%26asc_source%3Ddirect%26asc_campaign%3Dno-campaign&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fsensory-snack%2F&amp;event_type=click\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/PLANTERS-Cashews-Pickle-Flavored-Snacks\/dp\/B0BSB15FKG\/\">dill pickle-flavored cashews<\/a>. While some may find this combination rather surprising, Dr. Hamdani says that&#8217;s exactly the point.<\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content \" style=\"\" data-module-init=\"related-content\" data-module-immediate=\"\" v-cloak=\"\">\n<div class=\"related-content__wrapper \" v-cloak=\"\" :class=\"{'is-loaded':isLoaded}\">\n<p> <span class=\"inline pr-6 text-seafoam-dark\">Related Stories<\/span> <\/p>\n<p> <related-content class=\"related-content__links\" parent-article-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/sensory-snack\/\" current-title=\"5 Brain-Stimulating \u2018Sensory Snacks\u2019 That Can Help You Stay Focused and Productive, Says a Psychiatrist\" current-image=\"sensory-snack-425x285.jpg\" v-on:parsely-posts-loaded=\"onPostsLoaded\" start-date=\"2023-01-24\" tag=\"div\" inline-template=\"\" url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/sensory-snack\/\" secret=\"w5ztterVB03LGZJLfXS0hf3EvQBuFFIWew9hmVQxthU\" apikey=\"wellandgood.com\" limit=\"3\"> <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"related-content__card mb-[10px] sm:mb-[20px]\" :class=\"{'related-content__card--full':posts.length === 1}\" v-for=\"(post, key) in posts\"> <a v-on:click.prevent=\"trackLinkGA($event, key)\" :href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/sensory-snack\/post.url\" data-url-source=\"related-content\" class=\"related-content__link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content__card--image bg-tan\" :style=\"{ backgroundImage: 'url(' + post.image_url + ')' }\"> <img :src=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/sensory-snack\/post.image_url\" :alt=\"post.title\"\/> <\/div>\n<p> <\/a>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/related-content> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Dr. Hamdani came up with the creative combination based on her personal experience with ADHD and what\u2019s worked best for her in the past. \u201cI have ADHD myself, so I came about this snack when I was thinking about how I sustain myself,&#8221; Dr. Hamdani says. &#8220;People with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/manage-adhd-without-medication\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/manage-adhd-without-medication\/\">ADHD are often searching for stimulation<\/a>, whether intentional or unintentional.&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cI have ADHD myself, so I came about this snack when I was thinking about how I sustain myself,&#8221; Dr. Hamdani says. &#8220;People with ADHD are often searching for stimulation, whether intentional or unintentional.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>In the case of pickle popcorn, she found that it was an easy, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/video-game-to-treat-adhd\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/video-game-to-treat-adhd\/\">intentional way to stimulate her brain<\/a> and stay on track during her daily activities. \u201cI\u2019ve found that when you eat certain foods, sometimes you can get a certain amount of stimulation from the food itself, which keeps you engaged and focused on attending to the tasks you&#8217;re doing,\u201d Dr. Hamdani adds.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>How to make the perfect sensory snack\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>While there are no hard-and-fast rules for designing your own sensory snack recipe, there are a few key factors that can help make yours as stimulating as possible. First and foremost, Dr. Hamdani says it ultimately comes down to personal preference. \u201cIt\u2019s highly dependent on the person\u2019s palate,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>However, despite this, Dr. Hamdani says you want to look for foods that will be as interesting to the mouth as possible. Think: Spicy, crunchy, sour things. \u201cFor example, when you need something to push you away from a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/panic-attack-pack\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/panic-attack-pack\/\">panic attack<\/a>, we recommend something to distract you from that moment, like super sour candy,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>All to say: If pickle popcorn isn\u2019t your cup of tea, don\u2019t worry. Dr. Hamdani says other sensory snacks like spiced nuts, spicy mango, and frozen grapes (which she then coats with fresh lemon or lime juice for added zip) will also do the trick. And ultimately, it all comes down to finding something that <em>your<\/em> brain truly enjoys.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Dr. Hamdani says other sensory snacks like spiced nuts, spicy mango, and frozen grapes (which she then coats with fresh lemon or lime juice for added zip) will also do the trick.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2><strong>When to eat your sensory snack<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>In terms of timing, Dr. Hamdani says it\u2019s important to understand your natural patterns. \u201cI eat it when I know I\u2019m slumping, or around two in the afternoon, when I could use that kind of stimulating snack,\u201d she says, adding that sensory snacks are especially necessary on weekends when she doesn\u2019t have as much of a set schedule (and needs something to help her stay on track).<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/CucHhK1Abbm\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\"><\/blockquote>\n<h2>Seafood is excellent for brain health, too<\/h2>\n<p>Dr. Hamdani concludes by sharing that seafood is another all-star dish for cognitive functioning. According to her, certain types of fish (like salmon) are packed with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/omega-3-benefits\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/omega-3-benefits\/\">omega-3 fatty acids, which are highly beneficial for brain health<\/a>. \u201cOmega-3 fatty acids are important from a neurobiological perspective because they help <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/dha-benefits\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/dha-benefits\/\">build up that fatty layer of the myelin sheath<\/a>, which surrounds neurons that help chemical transmission happen,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p><em>Need a midday energy boost? We&#8217;ve got you covered:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Need A Midday Energy Boost? Try These Herbs to Reduce Brain Fog  | Plant-Based | Well+Good\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xdTTaszE11I?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"disclaimers__after_content mb-[18px] mt-[16px] pt-[16px]\">\n<div class=\"outline-earmark relative mt-[8px] pt-[10px] pl-[20px]\">\n<p>\n            Our editors independently select these products. Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission.          <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async defer src=\"https:\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1675549\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Snap! Crackle! Pop! There\u2019s no denying that many of us are instantly drawn by the crunch and textures of certain foods. Hellooo, Cooler Ranch Doritos. Aside from the fun chomping sound emitted when chomping on these crispy-crunchy foods, researchers say snacking on foods that are texturally-complex and\/or have nuanced flavor (especially spice) is a smart &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5929,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5927","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5927","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5927"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5927\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5929"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5927"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5927"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5927"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}