Are you on the lookout for a diet that can help children with behavior and learning problems like ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)? Consider the Feingold Diet. This is a dietary approach to help children with these problems. It was developed in the 1970s by Dr. Benjamin Feingold who was a pediatrician and allergist. He argued that these problems can be caused by additives and preservatives found in foods and that symptoms can be eliminated by changing the diet of a child (1). If your child has ADD or ADHD, you can give the Feingold Diet a try.

The Feingold Diet is based on the hypothesis that sensitivities or allergic reactions to certain food types contribute to or cause symptoms of ADD or ADHD, including problems with:

• Behavior – marked hyperactivity, compulsive and impulsive actions, concerns with emotions;
• Learning – short attention span, perceptual and cognitive disturbances, neuromuscular problems;
• Health – physical complaints and problems with sleeping;

Dr, Feingold made this argument in his book ‘Why Your Child Is Hyperactive.’(2) Although not enough studies have been conducted to gain support for this theory, there has been research that suggests that certain food dyes can cause approximately 1 percent of people with ADHD to become hyper for an hour or so after being consumed. Red dye is especially known to have this effect. If a person with ADHD has this sensitivity, they obviously need to avoid it.

History Of The Feingold Diet:

The Feingold Diet Program was initially developed by Dr. Feingold to help a patient who suffered from a severe case of hives. Later, it was found that the diet helped immensely in improving the behavior of children who suffered from hyperactivity. Over the years, reports have been received by the Feingold Association of the United States (FAUS) from members about a vast range of problems that have either been resolved or improved when the diet was followed (3).

Parents often ask whether the Feingold Diet can also help children who do not have ADHD. Experts say that it can. The diet was originally developed for the treatment of eczema and asthma. Its effect on behavior was more of an accidental discovery in the 1960s when the everyday diet in America had become highly saturated with food dyes and a range of other food additives.

According to FAUS, the diet is of immense help for people with eczema, asthma, migraines as well as ADHD or behavior problems. People with symptoms of ADHD are also known to have other frequent physical problems such as:

• Hives
• Ear infections
• Congestion
• Bedwetting and daytime wetting
• Headaches and migraines
• Stomach aches
• Leg aches
• Diarrhea and constipation
• Seizures (if combined with hyperactivity or migraines)

Sleep problems include:

• Resisting going to bed
• Inability to fall asleep
• Restless sleep
• Night terrors and nightmares

The behavior problems that can be addressed by following the Feingold Diet Program fall under 4 groups. They are:

Marked Hyperactivity:

• Inability to sit in one place
• Constant moving
• Running instead of walking
• Inappropriate wiggling of hands and legs

Impulsive Actions:

• Unpredictable behavior, poor self-control
• Disruptive behavior
• Inability to respond to discipline
• Behavior that is abusive
• Little or no recognition of self-danger
• Behavior that is destructive
• Making noises that are inappropriate
• Loud or excessive talking, constant interruptions

Compulsive Actions:

• Aggression
• Excessive repetition of an activity
• Excessive physical contact with people or things
• Chewing on objects and clothing
• Biting, scratching and picking on skin
• Workaholic habits

Emotional Concerns:

• Low tolerance of frustration
• Irritability
• Depression
• Low self-esteem
• Mood swings
• Nervousness, quick to panic
• Overreaction to pain, touch, lights, sound, etc.
• Demanding, especially for immediate attention
• Suicidal thoughts
• Frequent crying

Learning problems fall into 3 categories that are as follows:

Neuro-Muscular Involvement:

• Prone to accidents
• Poor coordination of muscles
• Difficulty writing, also known as dysgraphia
• Reading problems, or dyslexia
• Eye muscle disorders like strabismus, nystagmus
• Difficulties or delays in speech
• Difficulty with sports and playground activities
• Tics
• Seizures

Cognitive And Perceptual Disturbances:

• Problems with auditory processing
• Problems with visual processing
• Difficulty with short-term memory and comprehension
• Problems with reasoning, such as meaning in words and simple math problems
• Spatial orientation disturbances

Short Attention Span:

• Distraction
• Impatience
• Inability to complete projects
• Failure to follow directions instructions
• Inability to listen to an entire story

It is a fact that these symptoms are experienced by everyone once in a while. However, their frequency and intensity indicate whether they are a sign of an abnormal condition. Medications are often prescribed to people who experience these symptoms, and it is important to have the supervision of a physician when they are changed. Although following the diet can be successful and make medications unnecessary, it is best not to stop them on your own.

If any of the symptoms mentioned above appear without warning or if they are very intense, experts recommend consulting a doctor. This is because it may be a sign or symptom of some other condition that is more serious. If your health care provider deems it fit to follow the Feingold Diet along with medications, you can go ahead and follow the program.

How Does The Feingold Diet Function?

The Feingold Diet Program is a type of elimination diet in which foods that contain harmful additives are removed and then replaced with foods that are similar but do not contain any of those additives. It is a lot more comprehensive than other diet programs and works in two stages. In Stage 1, chemical and salicylate compounds that are present in certain food additives are eliminated. Stage 2 involves the identification of salicylates that can be tolerated.

Recent research has found that significant improvements in behavior and focus have been experienced by many people with ADD/ADHD who follow the Feingold Diet Program. In the early 90s, studies showed that approximately 75% of children made improvements when they were put on a diet in which additives were restricted.

The Feingold Diet eliminates the following chemicals and additives:

• Artificial flavoring which are combinations of a number of synthetic and natural chemicals – such as vanillin, an imitation flavoring of vanilla (4);
• Artificial sweeteners such as sucrolose and aspartame;
• Artificial preservatives such as TBHQ, BHA and BHT that are made from petroleum;
• Synthetic coloring which are also made from petroleum or crude oil;
• Salicylates which are a group of chemicals that naturally occur in certain food plants;
• Food dyes such as Blue 1 and 2, Red 3 and 40, Green 3 and Yellow 5 and 6;
• Other undesirable food additives such as MSG, sulfites, nitrites and sodium benzoate;

The Feingold Diet Program also acts as a diagnostic tool that helps in determining if there are certain foods or additives that trigger a part of or the entire problems that people with ADD or ADHD experience. It can be used as a treatment on its own or combined with other required medical treatments.

Benefits Of The Diet:

Children gain many benefits by following the Feingold Diet as it is a balanced diet that includes a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Because this diet program eliminates artificial additives in various forms, it may help in limiting the amount of processed foods that are available for consumption (5). This leads to a diet that is more balanced and enriched with foods that are more nutritious.

Although the diet eliminates many fresh fruits during the First Stage because of naturally-occurring salicylates, it includes many other healthy options. As improvements are made, the eliminated foods can slowly be included back into the diet so that children, as well as adults, gain all the benefits that unprocessed foods have to offer.

Improving Symptoms With The Feingold Diet:

As mentioned earlier, the Feingold Diet Program believes that eliminating certain food additives can help with the improvement of ADD/ADHD symptoms. If you notice improvement in your child’s behavior several weeks after eliminating the additives, you can start to restore one eliminated ingredient or food at a time every few days. If a problem arises, repeat the elimination process two or three times so that you can confirm that the food is indeed the culprit for the behavioral change and other symptoms.

If the child’s behavior does not show any changes after eliminating foods and ingredients, you may need to go on what is known as the “few-foods diet”. The restrictions in this diet are far more extensive than the Feingold Diet. There have been several studies that have shown that there are children who are sensitive to certain foods, apart from additives. These foods include:

• Eggs
• Milk as well as other dairy products
• Wheat
• Chocolate
• Corn products such as corn syrup and sugar
• Soybeans and foods made from them, such as tofu

It is important to eliminate as many of these foods as you possibly can as it can help improve the child’s condition. Needless to say, artificial coloring and other food additives need to be eliminated as well. You can serve foods such as fresh poultry and meat, all vegetables (with the exception of corn and soybeans), fresh fruits and fruit juices (excluding citrus fruits and juices), oats and rice to the child.

Examples Of Permitted Vegetables:

• Beans
• Beets
• Broccoli
• Brussel sprouts
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Lentils
• Kale
• Mushrooms
• Potatoes

Examples Of Permitted Fruits:

• Mangoes
• Pineapples
• Bananas
• Grapefruit
• Kiwi
• Dates
• Cantaloupe
• Papayas
• Watermelon

More On Additives That Need To Be Eliminated:

Here is a more detailed look at the food additives that the Feingold Diet eliminates:

Artificial Flavorings, Colors And Preservatives:

As you know, the Feingold Diet does not permit the consumption of petroleum-based artificial flavors, synthetic food colorings and preservatives like TBHQ, BHA and BHT. Children may also be sensitive to other food additives such as MSG, nitrites, sulfites and sodium benzoate. It is important to note that you can be easily misled by food labels. However, you can refer to the food list published by FAUS which is updated every month. This food list acts as a shopping guide for parents.

According to a review of studies, 15 double-blind clinical studies that were conducted on children with ADHD showed a significant increase in hyperactivity (6). This increase was associated with ingestion of artificial food colorings. Additionally, 297 children were put through a placebo-controlled study and it was found that there was an increase in hyperactive behavior after they consumed drinks that contained artificial colorings.

Artificial Sweeteners:

The Feingold Association does not have any data that supports the widespread belief that hyperactivity is caused by sugar. However, it is a fact that treats loaded with sugar contain large amounts of artificial colors. This diet program permits sugar and stevia but strictly prohibits artificial sweeteners like saccharine, sucralose, aspartame and neotame.

In a study conducted on rats, aspartame was put into their drinking water. It was found that after 3 to 4 months, the rats were unable to find the reward in a previously-mastered T-maze (7). The study found that the long-term consumption of this artificial sweetener altered enzymes and receptor cells in the brain.

Foods With Salicylates:

As mentioned earlier, salicylates are present in food additives and aspirin (8). They also occur naturally in fruits and vegetables. They may be elevated in foods that are concentrated like tomato ketchup and sauce, fruit juices and in produce that is reaped early and transported long distances. Foods that have a high content of salicylates include apples, almonds, cherries, berries, avocados, broccoli, citrus fruits, cucumbers, coffee, kiwis, raisins, plums, prunes, peaches, pickles, peppers, olive oil, rose hips, tea and dried fruits.

The effects of salicylates that occur naturally depend on the dose that is taken. If food additives are no longer a part of children’s daily diets, they may be able to eat a piece of fruit without experiencing an adverse effect on their behavior. As you monitor the effects, you can gradually add healthy foods back into the diet. According to experts, natural salicylates have a lower effect on larger bodies which means that many children outgrow intolerances and sensitivities to food.

Beginning The Feingold Diet:

As mentioned earlier, a food list is published and updated every month by the FAUS (9). It also has cookbooks and shopping guides that are of immense help when you need to create recipes and navigate your way through the many foods that are forbidden and permitted. The first step to take when beginning the Feingold Diet Program is to check the food lists, guides and cookbooks to ensure that you follow it correctly. Needless to say, if you do not, the diet will not work and there will be no improvements in behavior.

When you are at the first phase of the diet, identifying all the forbidden foods and additives in all the various forms on labels and learning the diet’s rules can take quite some time. Maintaining a chart can be helpful as you can consult it whenever required.

Monitoring Your Progress:

If symptoms and problems improve after eliminating all the suspected foods, medications, fragrances and other items, you can slowly start to reintroduce them. Do not reintroduce the artificial ingredients. As you do this, keep a journal of the improvements you notice to help you monitor your progress as you continue with the diet.

Every few days, include one of the items that has been eliminated, healthy fruits and vegetables in particular. If there are no repercussions that are negative, you can serve the same item a couple of times before you progress to reintroducing the next.

Points To Remember:

Feingold Diet adopts the food elimination approach (10). This makes it stricter than many of other diets. While following this diet, you need to keep the following points in mind:

1. The diet is highly time intensive. As mentioned before, it takes a long time to learn the rules and also to identify all the different additives that are forbidden. It takes even more time when children need to follow this diet as parents need to identify exactly which foods are permitted and also educate children on this complex issue.
2. Older children will need to be watched carefully as they make more of their own decisions when it comes to eating. It is important to teach them to read labels and identify forbidden foods and ingredients. They also need to learn how to develop coping skills to be able to explain to other children, as well as adults, who may offer them food.
3. For the diet to be successful, strict adherence is necessary. Symptoms that last up to 72 hours could be triggered by just one bite of the wrong food.
4. As mentioned already, education is important when children need to follow this diet. By educating them, you make it easier for them to understand why they cannot eat foods that their friends can. Take measures to prevent an antagonistic relationship between you and your child.
5. To make sure that children follow the diet religiously, you may want to inform their teachers, babysitters and other people in their lives to make them aware about the new diet that your child is on. This too can take some time but it can be helpful as they will be able to keep a watchful eye and make sure that the diet is followed diligently.

Questions To Ask Your Health Care Provider:

Before getting your child to start following the Feingold Diet, there are a few questions that you should ask your doctor. These include:

• Are there symptoms of ADD, ADHD or other issues that my child has that can be helped by following this diet?
• Can the diet benefit the entire family?
• While on this diet, will my child get all the required essential vitamins and minerals?
• In addition to diet, are there any other appropriate ways to help my child during this time?
• Are there any signs or symptoms that are an indication of problems while the child is on this diet?

Risks:

Starting any diet comes with some risks. There are no significant risks that are scientifically documented for starting the Feingold Diet. However, there is a chance that a child could feel isolated because they feel different from everyone else around them. Stress on the family is also a risk as the diet is a strict and time intensive one. Tension in relationships between parents and children can also occur as some children may react negatively to the diet or resent the fact that they cannot eat what others can.

Although the Feingold Diet is required to be followed strictly, takes a lot of time and can put a lot of pressure on families, it is worth following if you want a food management approach to improving symptoms of ADD or ADHD. It is known that this diet has a high success rate as studies conducted in the 1990s showed a success rate of 70% for positive changes in behavior in children with these disorders. As it works well for both adults and children, it is worth giving a try. However, you should remember to consult a doctor before starting to make sure that you do not suffer from any conditions or take any medications that the diet could interfere with.

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by Maanasi Radhakrishnan via STYLECRAZE