The Feingold diet was put together by Dr Benjamen Feingold in the 1970's and is still popular today.
Dr. Benjamen noticed greatly how children's diets affected their behavior, especially in cases of ADD, ADHD, and Hyperactivity.
I was about 12 years old when a family friend told my mother about the Feingold diet. My parents became interested because the studies showed a decrease in autistic behavior. At the time my younger brother would have 'meltdowns' in which no information or words could pass between him and other people. He also had sensory issues, speech delay, and comunication difficulties.
I remember coming home from a friend's house one late afternoon and my mom was tearing things out of our pantry.
“Mom! What are you doing?”
“Oh I'm looking for foods that have artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, and salicylates.”
Dinner that night was very bland and none of us were looking forward to the next week.
I had no idea what artificial stuff was or what salicylates were, but that didn't last long. I soon became an expert with my mom on reading food labels.
Turns out artificial colors and flavors are synthesized from petroleum and are “legally permitted to be contaminated with toxic byproducts such as lead, mercury, and arsenic.” (Feingold Association) In many countries, these colors and flavors are banned or at least have a warning label. Not in the U.S. Besides that, the reason they're added is to make a processed mess of food look and taste appealing.
Salicylates (Sally- Sill- Ates) are a certain compound found in plants that are protective to the plant against infections and disease (a natural pesticide). However, some individuals react to them, especially, so it seems, do autistic children. Dr. Feingold, a pediatric allergist, noticed that when salicylates were removed, behaviol issues improved.
According to my mom, the diet did make a difference. My brother's meltdowns were fewer, and the sensory issues went away. However, after about a year of the diet, family issues came up, and the diet was abandoned. Fits increased again, though not enough to awaken major diet change. After puberty, many of his issues were resolved, which is kind of interesting to me, because it often seems mental issues change around that time in life.
Looking back, I see my parents were also faced with the common issue of having to 'force' my brother to eat the healthy stuff, because, especially during teenage years, it is hard to look cool eating “special” hotdogs, when everyone else is eating “normal” ones. So it was easier to just abandon the diet.
Based on the year when my family ate according to the feingold diet and on my current research I see pro's and con's to the diet.
Pro's:
-Removing additives, preservatives, and salicylates from the diet are beneficial to people within the autisim spectrum, according to Dr. Feingold's research and my own experience. In some cases, it is the determining factor on behavior.
-There are lots of delicious recipes included in the cookbook, including the homemade lemonade, a recipe my family still uses. :)
-There is a huge support network for Feingold participants, especially parents of autistic children.
Con's:
-The feingold diet is NOT a cure-all for everyone. Remember, a diet that works for someone else won't necessarily work for you.
-The diet does target things that do affect people such as preservatives and artificial dyes. However, what about sugar, modified wheat, and the starchy carb based diet that autistics normally cling to? This is a large part missing for me in their research.
-There will be a struggle to get your child to change their diet, whether they are children or teens. Be prepared and don't be afraid to look for support.
-Nutrient depleations, yeast overgrowth, and weak detoxification systems are often problems for people with mental complications. These are other things that aren't looked into and could be helpful to research.
Dr. Benjamen noticed greatly how children's diets affected their behavior, especially in cases of ADD, ADHD, and Hyperactivity.
I was about 12 years old when a family friend told my mother about the Feingold diet. My parents became interested because the studies showed a decrease in autistic behavior. At the time my younger brother would have 'meltdowns' in which no information or words could pass between him and other people. He also had sensory issues, speech delay, and comunication difficulties.
I remember coming home from a friend's house one late afternoon and my mom was tearing things out of our pantry.
“Mom! What are you doing?”
“Oh I'm looking for foods that have artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, and salicylates.”
Dinner that night was very bland and none of us were looking forward to the next week.
I had no idea what artificial stuff was or what salicylates were, but that didn't last long. I soon became an expert with my mom on reading food labels.
Turns out artificial colors and flavors are synthesized from petroleum and are “legally permitted to be contaminated with toxic byproducts such as lead, mercury, and arsenic.” (Feingold Association) In many countries, these colors and flavors are banned or at least have a warning label. Not in the U.S. Besides that, the reason they're added is to make a processed mess of food look and taste appealing.
Salicylates (Sally- Sill- Ates) are a certain compound found in plants that are protective to the plant against infections and disease (a natural pesticide). However, some individuals react to them, especially, so it seems, do autistic children. Dr. Feingold, a pediatric allergist, noticed that when salicylates were removed, behaviol issues improved.
According to my mom, the diet did make a difference. My brother's meltdowns were fewer, and the sensory issues went away. However, after about a year of the diet, family issues came up, and the diet was abandoned. Fits increased again, though not enough to awaken major diet change. After puberty, many of his issues were resolved, which is kind of interesting to me, because it often seems mental issues change around that time in life.
Looking back, I see my parents were also faced with the common issue of having to 'force' my brother to eat the healthy stuff, because, especially during teenage years, it is hard to look cool eating “special” hotdogs, when everyone else is eating “normal” ones. So it was easier to just abandon the diet.
Based on the year when my family ate according to the feingold diet and on my current research I see pro's and con's to the diet.
Pro's:
-Removing additives, preservatives, and salicylates from the diet are beneficial to people within the autisim spectrum, according to Dr. Feingold's research and my own experience. In some cases, it is the determining factor on behavior.
-There are lots of delicious recipes included in the cookbook, including the homemade lemonade, a recipe my family still uses. :)
-There is a huge support network for Feingold participants, especially parents of autistic children.
Con's:
-The feingold diet is NOT a cure-all for everyone. Remember, a diet that works for someone else won't necessarily work for you.
-The diet does target things that do affect people such as preservatives and artificial dyes. However, what about sugar, modified wheat, and the starchy carb based diet that autistics normally cling to? This is a large part missing for me in their research.
-There will be a struggle to get your child to change their diet, whether they are children or teens. Be prepared and don't be afraid to look for support.
-Nutrient depleations, yeast overgrowth, and weak detoxification systems are often problems for people with mental complications. These are other things that aren't looked into and could be helpful to research.