Feingold Diet
Why Do People Follow This Diet?
Children, and some adults, diagnosed with or suspected to have attention deficit–hyperactivity disorder (ADD or ADHD), learning and behavior problems, and asthma often follow this diet. Some people follow it to avoid food additives.
What Do the Advocates Say?
The Feingold diet was developed on the premise that salicylates may trigger hyperactivity. In studies where markedly different levels of salicylates were investigated, a causative role for salicylates could be detected in some hyperactive children. As many as 10 to 25% of all children may be sensitive to salicylates. The success of the diet may depend on the degree of a person’s sensitivity to salicylates and food additives, and the amount of additives present in foods.
According to the Feingold Association, children under six years of age respond within one week of following the diet; children over six may need to follow the diet for two to six weeks to achieve positive results. This elimination diet is advocated as a more natural way of eating, the way people used to do before conditions such as ADD were so prevalent in society.
What Do the Critics Say?
In some studies, the hypothesis that salicylates contribute to hyperactivity does not appear to hold up. The Feingold diet is complex and requires guidance from either the Feingold Association or a healthcare professional familiar with the Feingold diet.