Information On The Feingold Diet

Dr. Ben Feingold spent most of his adult life studying and treating children with allergies. In the course of his research, Feingold developed a diet that he claimed could eliminate many of the hyperactive behavioral symptoms in children. According to the "Gale Encyclopedia of Diets," believers and adherents of the Feingold diet carried on the doctor's research after his death in 1982.

History

Feingold studied medicine in the United States and Germany before serving as a naval commander in WWII. After the war, Feingold served as Chief of Pediatrics at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in California, according to the "Gale Encyclopedia." In 1975, he authored, "Why Your Child is Hyperactive," a book about the dangers of processed foods and chemicals additives in a child's diet. The advice from his book comprises what is now known as the Feingold diet.

Theory

The Feingold diet operates on the principle that additives and chemicals in food trigger attention deficit behavior in children that are allergic to these substances. In addition to easing the symptoms of hyperactivity, the Feingold diet claims to be potentially beneficial in reducing impulsive behavior and destructive tendencies in others. Clinical studies confirming these benefits are lacking.

Evidence

A 1977 study, conducted at the Pediatric Clinic in Philadelphia, monitored 59 children diagnosed as hyperkinetic, or hyperactive, with minimal brain dysfunction. Only 32 children followed the Feingold diet, but of those 32, 11 demonstrated distinct improvement. Additional clinical studies are necessary in order to confirm these results.

Process

The Feingold diet utilizes a two-step process. The first step is the removal of all types of chemicals and additives from the child's diet. In addition, the child cannot eat foods with salicylates, including grapes, peaches, oranges and other foods with naturally occurring salicylates. During the second step, one additive or chemical substance is reintroduced at a time, and the child is monitored for a recurrence of his symptoms.

Considerations

The Feingold diet may be difficult for some children to follow, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Since many foods contain additives and salicylates, parents must closely monitor everything their child eats.