The Feingold diet is intended primarily to treat behavioral disorders in children, particularly attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. This diet option eliminates food additives, dyes and salicylates, but allows a wide variety of natural and healthy foods in a less processed state. Advocates of the diet claim that it has improved or corrected a variety of conditions along with ADHD, including asthma, autism, bedwetting, aggression and headaches, reports Feingold Association of the United States.
History
Dr. Ben Feingold was a pediatrician and the Chief of Allergy at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in San Francisco. In the 1960s and 1970s, Feingold noticed a connection between salicylate sensitivities and other sensitivities, eventually developing a diet based on the Lockey diet for allergies developed and used at the Mayo Clinic, according to the Feingold Association of the United States. Feingold found that approximately 50 percent of children diagnosed as hyperactive improved on this diet.
Types
The Feingold program does not eliminate most foods in their natural state, but may eliminate many processed foods. Artificial food colorings and flavorings are eliminated, as are artificial sweeteners like aspartame. Artificial preservatives are avoided and initially foods containing salicylate are avoided, according to the Feingold Association of the United States. Some fruits and vegetables contain salicylate, but after a time on the diet, these may be tolerated. Fragrances and non-food items containing the potential triggers are also eliminated on the Feingold program.
Function
Advocates of the diet at the Feingold Association of the United States claim that the diet will improve behavioral, learning and physical symptoms in up to 90 percent of children with attention-deficit disorder or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. A review of studies on the Feingold program by Jeffrey A. Mattes, MD in the "Journal of Learning Disabilities," June 1983 showed limited and inconsistent positive results. More recent work suggests that food dyes may be problematic, particularly for children with ADHD, according to consumer safety correspondent for CBSNews, Nancy Cordes.
Considerations
The Feingold diet encourages foods eaten in their natural form, and includes protein, grains, fruits, vegetables and dairy products. You can feed your child a healthy and nutritionally complete diet while adhering to the Feingold program. Speak to your health care provider about appropriate nutritional guidelines for your child and the suitability of a diet program like this before making changes to your child's diet.
Warning
While the Feingold diet can be used along with medications, you should not stop medications or change dosages without the approval of your child's physician, recommends the Feingold Association of the United States. Maintain a food diary and behavior log to share with your health care provider if you do find the diet beneficial and feel that reducing medications is an option.
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