Dr. Benjamin Feingold, an allergist with Kaiser-Permanente, industrialized the K-P Diet that eliminated food additives and synthetic flavors in the 1960s. While Dr. Feingold passed away in 1982, the program is carried on by volunteers who are members of the Feingold Association.
This book by Jane Hersey has many testimonials that I will not try to reproduce, but I will feature the program. There have been some studies done that address some of the pieces of the Feingold Diet, but no one has studied the pure program.
Kaiser Medical
Symptoms that Feingold families testify to having seen improvement:
(These symptoms will not improve for everyone. It depends on the fundamental cause.)
Easily upset, incessant crying, temper tantrum Not hearing what is being said Motor stuck on fast forward Repeated behavior You sense that behavior cannot be controlled Other children avoid playing with your child Difficulty interacting Fine one minute, next exiguous out of control Demands his way and rules for a game Off in own world Always losing things Homework lost, forgotten or mutilated regularly Hard time insight subtle cues, facial expressions Laugh too loud or inappropriately Has lots of labels Hyperactivity Attention problems Screaming after eating At home fine, school too much Learning Disabilities Fine Motor difficulties Thyroid problems and mood swings Asthma / Allergies / Hives Arthritis Social Skills Autism / Aspergers Headaches Sleep issues Nail biting Workaholic Earaches and ear infections Digestion problems Bedwetting Depression Developmental Delays Sensory Integration Disorder Vision Problems Seizures Nasal Polyps Tics
What is the Feingold Program?
1. A test - "for any weeks, you use only foods that are free of synthetic dyes, synthetic flavors and three preservatives, as well as a group of foods know as 'natural salicilates.'" p. 16 Keep a record of foods eaten and behaviors seen.
2. All of the remaining foods are regularly well tolerated. "If this trial results in an revision in your child's behavior, or in other target symptoms, then the test becomes a treatment." P. 16
3. "After a few weeks of success you can moderately enlarge the food choices, adding back natural salicylates one at a time, and watching for any return of old behaviors." P. 16
How to begin....Becoming a member of the Feingold relationship is very helpful because they are continually researching the ingredients in a wide range of products and keep the members up to date on changes from the Foodlist that comes in the packet. Membership Packet includes:
Foodlist & Shopping Guide The Feingold Handbook Medication List Recipes & Two-Week Menu Plan Pure Facts - 10 issues of newsletter Faus Counseling Line Salicylate/Aspirin Senstitivity program Gluten/Casein-free diet information and resources List of mail order resources for hard-to-find products For more information and current membership fee: http://www.feingold.org or call 1 800 321-3287
Eliminated on Feingold Program:
Artificial Flavorings
Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal -trademarks)
Bha (butylated hydroxyanisole) - antioxidant preservative
Bht (buytlated hydroxytoluene) - antioxidant preservative
Citrus Red # 2 - synthetic coloring
Cyclamate - synthetic sweetner
Ethyl vanillin - synthetic (artificial) flavoring
Fd&C colors - synthetic (artificial) coloring
Msg (monosodium glutamate)
Saccharin - synthetic (artificial) sweetner
Tartrazine - Fd&C Yellow # 5, synthetic (artificial) coloring
Tbhq - (tertiary butyl hydroquinone) antioxidant
Vanillin - synthetic flavoring
Other food dyes.
Natural Salycilates
Almonds, oranges, all berries, tangerine, cherries, nectarine, peach, apricot, apple, plum, prunes, grapes, raisins, cranberry sauce, juices from these fruits, peppers (bell and chili and red), tomato, cucumber or pickles, cloves, currants, coffee, tea, aspirin, oil of wintergreen (methyl salicylate).
Many families have found this and other diets helpful with behavior, coping and learning. Before you invest in a membership, why not give it a trial in your house for at least three weeks? If you find that behavior or focus or learning improves in any member of your family, then you will know that a house membership will benefit you.
go to the website A Book Review: Why Can't My Child Behave? Why Can't She Cope? Why Can't He Learn? By Jane Hersey
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