The diet also requires that all forms of artificial
flavoring be removed from the diet. The Feingold Asso-
ciation believes that many of these additives have not
been studied carefully and can cause unwanted behav-
iors in children. Of special concern is the artificial
vanilla flavoring vanillin, which is often made from
by-products of paper production.
The Dr. Feingold diet also requires the elimina-
tion of aspartame, an artificial sweetener sold mainly
under the brand name NutraSweet. This restriction is
not as limiting as it may have been in the past because
of the introduction of low calorie sweeteners derived
from sugar during the mid 2000s.
Artificial preservativesare also eliminated com-
pletely when on this diet. These include the preserva-
tives BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole) and BHT
(Butylated Hydroxytoluene), which are derived from
petroleum. The purpose of these preservatives is
mainly to delay the oxidization offatsin foods. It is
this oxidization that makes fats go rancid, so these
preservatives give foods a longer shelf-life.
During stage one of the diet many salicylates are
removed from the diet, but may be reintroduced later
during state two. Salicylates are a group of chemicals,
some of which are naturally occurring, which are related
to aspirin. This eliminates certain natural foods such as
apples, berries, grapes, oranges, peaches, plums, tanger-
ines, and tomatoes, along with many others.
The Dr. Feingold diet can be very time consuming
to follow, especially at first, because many of the for-bidden substances occur under a variety of names on
labels, all of which must be learned. The Feingold
Association of the United States produces a set of
materials intended to help people beginning the diet,
including an 150 page food guide. These can be ordered
for a fee from their website, http://www.feingold.comFunction
The Dr. Feingold diet is generally used for children,
although it may be effective for adults as well. It is
intended to remove substances that some people believe
cause ADD and ADHD. According to the Feingold
Association of the United States it can also be effective
in reducing or eliminating impulsiveness, compulsive-
ness, disruptive behaviors, poor self-control, abusive or
unpredictable behavior, and destructive behaviors.
They also believe it can change workaholic habits, chew-
ing on clothing or other inappropriate objects, depres-
sion, frequent crying, irritability, panic, low self-esteem,
mood swings, impatience, distraction, inability to follow
directions, poor muscle coordination, speech difficul-
ties, tics, seizures, and difficulty with comprehension.
The association also states that it can help physical
problems such as ear infections, asthma, bedwetting,
andconstipation, and sleep problems such as resist-
ance going to bed, difficulty falling asleep, and
nightmar! es.Benefits
There are many benefits for children who eat a
balanced diet including manyfresh fruits and vegeta-
bles. Because the Dr. Feingold diet excludes many
forms of artificial additives, it may limit the amount
of processed food available to consume, leading to a
more balanced diet with more healthful food. This is
not necessarily the case however, as many fresh fruits
must be eliminated during stage one because of nat-
urally occurring salicylates. The diet may result in
reduced symptoms of ADD and ADHD and is
reported by the American Feingold Association to
be able to resolve other psychical, emotional, and
sleep complaints.Precautions
When starting any diet there are some risks, espe-
cially when beginning a diet that is very restrictive.
Although the Dr. Feingold diet does not restrict very
many types of foods, it is inflexible on the point that all
foods containing offending additives or compounds be
completely eliminated from the diet. This can limit the
availability of convenience and processed foods espe-
cially, although many other foods are forbidden asKEY TERMS
Calorie—A measurement of the energy content of
food, also known as a large calorie, equal to 1000
scientific calories.
Dietary supplement—A product, such as a vitamin,
mineral, herb, amino acid, or enzyme, that is
intended to be consumed in addition to an individ-
ual’s diet with the expectation that it will improve
health.
Mineral—An inorganic substance found in the
earth that is necessary in small quantities for the
body to maintain a health. Examples: zinc, copper,
iron.
Vitamin—A nutrient that the body needs in small
amounts to remain healthy but that the body cannot
manufacture for itself and must acquire through
diet.Dr. Feingold diet