The Feingold Diet - Help for ADHD

Can Diet Affect Behavior?

Dec 15, 2007 Melissa Hincha-Ownby

The Feingold Diet details the health effects of BHA, BHT, TBHQ and other food additives. Learn more about this ADHD diet created by Dr. Ben F. Feingold.

Dr. Ben F. Feingold, former Chief of Allergy at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in San Francisco, California, has helped to transform many families through his Feingold Diet. The Feingold Diet, sometimes called the ADHD Diet, isn’t a weight-loss plan; instead it is a healthier way of eating achieved through an elimination diet. Dr. Feingold has attested that through his plan children facing certain behavioral issues can see improvements through simple dietary change. Dr. Feingold passed away in 1982 but his legacy lives on through the Feingold Association of the United States.

What behavioral concerns does the Feingold Diet address?

The Feingold Diet has seen success in managing impulsive actions such as disruptive behavior, poor self-control, inappropriate noises, and excessive or loud talking, Individuals following the Feingold plan have also noticed a decrease in compulsive behaviors; perseverations, skin-picking, and chewing on non-food objects can all be helped with the plan. Additionally the plan can improve hyperactivity issues as well as emotional problems.

Are any health issues improved through use of the Feingold Diet?

People experiencing the following health concerns have noticed marked improvement since starting, and following, the Feingold Diet: enuresis, asthma, ear infections, migraines, eczema, congestion, and even seizures.

Can the Feingold Diet help with my child’s learning issues?

In addition to the behavioral and health benefits of the Feingold Diet, participants have also noticed certain educational benefits from the program. People who have experienced auditory and visual memory issues, problems with spatial orientation, and short-term memory problems have also noticed improvement after starting the Feingold Diet.

What are the Feingold Diet basics?

The Feingold Diet cuts out all artificial colors, artificial flavors, and the artificial preservatives BHA, BHT, and TBHQ. Additionally, certain people may be sensitive to foods that contain high levels of salicylates. These high-salicylate foods include almonds, apples, all types of berries, coffee, grapes, peppers, tomatoes, and many more. One person may find that they only react to apples and grapes but almonds, berries, and peppers are fine. Determining what you are sensitive to happens as part of a gradual process.

Is there scientific support of this diet?

The simple answer is yes. There is a plethora of published studies on the success of this plan. Dr. Feingold noted a 70% success rate but the Feingold Association reports a 90% success rate among their subscribers. A list of the studies that support the claims made by Dr. Feingold can be found on the Feingold Association website.

As with any intervention, there will be a population that won’t be successful with the Feingold Diet. However, this is one of the oldest and most-studied diets that addresses certain behavioral and health concerns. More information about the program can be found at the Feingold Association of the United State’s website. The Feingold Association was founded in 1976 and is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Sources

Mothering Magazine

Feingold Association

The copyright of the article The Feingold Diet - Help for ADHD in ADD/ADHD is owned by Melissa Hincha-Ownby. Permission to republish The Feingold Diet - Help for ADHD in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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