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The Feingold Diet
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The Feingold DietThe Feingold Diet was published in the late 1970s and continues to be a best-seller today. The author was a noted doctor and researcher who spent much of his medical career developing and promoting a dietary approach to ADD. The Feingold Diet is based on the premise that ADD symptoms are the result of allergic reactions or sensitivities to certain types of foods. Since it original publication, many ADD sufferers have reported dramatic improvements in focus and behavior by following Dr. Feingold's recommendations.
An early pioneer in mapping the relationship between food and ADD was Dr. Benjamin Feingold, a research and practicing pediatrician and allergist. Dr. Feingold's book on the Feingold Program is a classic for parents with ADD children and provides a detailed description of the dietary approach he developed. The book is entitled "Why Your Child is Hyperactive." The Feingold Program is a very regimented program and you should buy or borrow a copy of Dr. Feingold's book if you are interested in implementing the entire program. It is discussed here in summary form to help you begin to understand the linkage between food and ADD. The genesis of Dr. Feingold's program is an interesting story and provides a good basis for understanding the effect of nutrition on behavior. In the early 1970's in his regular medical practice, Dr. Feingold had an adult female patient who was being treated for allergies. This patient had a secondary problem with extreme aggressiveness and lack of self-control. She was placed on a medically prescribed diet for her allergies and an amazing side effect occurred - all traces of her aggressive behavior disappeared and she became a completely normal, well-functioning adult. From this unexpected beginning, Dr. Feingold continued to study the effects of certain foods on behavior. He soon realized the importance of this application for ADD children and adults. He spent the rest of his career until his death refining and promoting the Feingold diet. It remains a popular approach for parents of ADD children today. In the Feingold diet, the primary foods linked with behavior problems include artificial colors, flavorings and preservatives, as well as a naturally occurring substance known as salicyates which is found in foods such as raspberries and tomatoes. Over the 30 years since the development of the Feingold Diet, it has been scientifically and clinically tested many times and has generally proven to have a success rate of between 50% and 70% of the children and adults who are tested. Nature's Plan for ADD Success
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