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The Feingold diet aims to manage symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism.
It gained popularity during the 1970s and was created by Dr. Benjamin Feingold, a pediatrician and allergist. He first designed this diet for people with allergic conditions, like hives, asthma, and eczema. This diet was introduced to children with ADHD, autism, dyslexia and other behavioral issues after he observed significant behavioral improvements.
The Feingold diet eliminates artificial colors, sweeteners, salicylates, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and tert-Butrylhdryquinone (TBHQ). In this article, we bring you an insight into the diet conceptualized by Dr. Feingold along with a list of foods to include and avoid.
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What are ADHD and autism?
People with ADHD struggle with maintaining attention, losing track of conversations and forgetting important details.
They also experience mood swings, irritability and low tolerance. According to the CDC, ADHD is also associated with a lack of concentration, trouble organizing tasks and activities, and losing more daily use items than usual.
As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, autism spectrum disorder is a chronic illness that's associated with certain behavioral traits like repeating words or phrases more than usual, getting upset by minor changes and delayed language and movement skills.
It's also associated with gastrointestinal issues, including constipation, unusual eating habits and delayed cognitive skills. The Feingold diet aims to help improve cognitive skills and reduce behavioral issues by removing certain substances that could cause these issues.
Foods to include in Feingold diet for ADHD
According to Dr. Feingold, ADHD symptoms can be managed by a healthy lifestyle. Foods low in salicylates can be included in this diet, like:
- Fruits: bananas, cantaloupe, dates, grapefruit, honeydew, kiwi, lemons, mangoes, papaya, pears, pineapple and watermelon
- Vegetables: bean sprouts, beets, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, kale, lettuce, mushrooms, onions, peas, potatoes and sweet corn
- Legumes: beans and lentils
Foods to avoid in Feingold diet
The following foods are high in salicylates and must be limited or avoided while following this diet:
- Fruits: apples, apricots, berries, cherries, currants, grapes, nectarines, oranges, peaches, plums, prunes, raisins, tangerines and tomatoes
- Vegetables: broccoli, chicory, cucumbers, eggplant, endives, okra, peppers, pickles, radishes, squash, sweet potatoes, spinach, watercress and zucchini
- Nuts and seeds: almonds, chestnuts, and other nuts and seeds
- Grains: breakfast cereals containing preservatives and colors
- Spices: allspice, anise seeds, cayenne, cinnamon, cloves, curry, cumin, dill, ginger, mustard, oregano, pimento, rosemary, tarragon, thyme and turmeric
- Drinks: coffee, tea, diet soda and fruit juices
- Other items: jams, jellies, chewing gum and other foods with artificial coloring or additives
If a person is suffering from allergies, foods containing gluten or casein may also be avoided in the Feingold diet.
Substances and additives to avoid
The Feingold diet eliminates chemical food additives, including artificial sweeteners, food coloring and other additives.
Try to eliminate the following substances:
- aspirin
- butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)
- butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)
- tert-Butrylhdryquinone (TBHQ)
- blue 1 (Brilliant Blue)
- blue 2 (Indigotine)
- green 3 (Green S or Fast Green)
- orange B
- red 2 (Citrus Red)
- red 3 (Erythrosine)
- red 40 (Allura Red AC)
- yellow 5 (Tartrazine)
- yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow)
- vanilla
- peppermint (toothpaste and mouthwash)
- strawberry, raspberry
- aspartame
- sucralose
- saccharin
- acesulfame-K
- synthetic pesticides
- perfumes and fragrances
It has to be kept in mind that certain healthy sugar substitutes, like stevia and sugar alcohol, are considered safe to consume in the Feingold diet.
Is Feingold diet for ADHD effective?
Although there are several success stories, concrete evidence is required to prove its efficacy.
As ADHD and autism are complex neuronal disorders, it's not easy to find a solution or cure without extensive research and clinical studies. There are many food additives, and each of them needs to be studied to prove any adverse effects.
However, it's always good to go for natural and fresh foods instead of processed ones. A proper diet and routine visits to the doctor can help people with ADHD and similar disorders.
Indranil Biswas is a nutritionist and personal trainer with a diploma in dietetics and personal training with a specialization in sports nutrition and strength training.
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