Leena Watts
The Feingold diet is an elimination diet initially devised by Benjamin Feingold in the 1970s to eliminate food additives that were linked to hyperactivity. The diet eliminates artificial colours, flavours, preservatives, sweeteners, and salicylate-containing foods. It is purported to manage symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism. While the diet is controversial, some studies have supported a few of its key points. There is no evidence that caramel colour, a common food additive, is allowed on the Feingold diet. In fact, it is likely prohibited as it is an artificial colour additive.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To improve behavioral problems in children by eliminating food preservatives, colors, sweeteners, and salicylate-containing foods |
| Target Audience | Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, and other learning disabilities |
| Foods to Eliminate | Artificial colors, sweeteners, preservatives, and salicylates |
| Foods to Include | Fresh, whole produce that's low in salicylates, such as fruits and vegetables |
| Effectiveness | Research about the diet is mixed, with some experts saying it may help some children but not all |
| Limitations | May be costly and boring, difficult to follow, and prepare meals from scratch |
| Support | The American Academy of Pediatrics wrote in their Grand Rounds in 2008 that a "trial of a preservative-free, food coloring-free diet is a reasonable intervention." |
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What You'll Learn
Caramel colour is a food colouring
The diet is based on the hypothesis that artificial food colours, additives, preservatives, and natural salicylates can trigger ADHD symptoms or learning difficulties. It is meant to be followed strictly and for a lifetime, with whole families adopting the diet to support the individual being treated. The Feingold Association provides resources and support for families following the diet, including a Foodlist & Shopping Guide that lists brand-name products free of unwanted additives.
While the diet has seen some positive results, there is limited research to support its effectiveness. Some studies have found a link between food additives and hyperactivity, but the overall evidence is weak. The Royal College of Psychiatrists, as of 2014, stated that there is no good evidence that food colouring causes food intolerance or ADHD-like behaviour in children.
Caramel colour, as a food colouring, would be prohibited on the Feingold diet. However, natural alternatives such as fruits and vegetables that are low in salicylates, like bananas, grapefruit, and watermelon, are allowed.
Overall, the Feingold diet is a controversial and challenging diet to follow, but some families have seen improvements in their children's behavioural issues and continue to swear by it.
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Food colouring is banned on the Feingold Diet
The Feingold Diet is an elimination diet that was initially devised by Benjamin Feingold, a Californian pediatrician and allergist, in the 1970s. It is based on research that linked food additives with hyperactivity and aimed to improve behavioural problems in children by eliminating food preservatives, colours, sweeteners, and salicylate-containing foods.
The Feingold Diet is designed to help identify food intolerances and sensitivities that may be causing behavioural issues or health problems such as asthma, eczema, and hives. It is purported to manage symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, dyslexia, and other learning disabilities. The diet is followed by eliminating certain foods and ingredients and then slowly reintroducing them to observe any changes in symptoms.
While the Feingold Diet has seen some positive results, it is considered controversial. There is mixed research about its effectiveness, with some studies supporting a link between artificial food colouring and hyperactivity, while others find no evidence of a connection. The diet can also be challenging to follow due to the strict elimination of certain foods and the time and effort required to prepare meals from scratch.
Overall, the Feingold Diet is a restrictive diet that eliminates artificial food colouring, among other substances, to improve behavioural and health issues. While it has shown some positive results, there is a lack of conclusive evidence supporting its effectiveness, and it may not be suitable for everyone.
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The diet is an elimination diet
The Feingold diet is an elimination diet that was initially devised by Benjamin Feingold, M.D., in the 1970s. It was based on research that linked food additives with hyperactivity and aimed to alleviate the condition by eliminating these additives and various foods. The diet eliminates artificial colours, flavours, sweeteners, preservatives, and some salicylates (naturally occurring compounds found in some fruits and vegetables). It is purported to manage symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism and was popular in the 1970s.
The diet is designed to help children with symptoms of ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning disabilities. It involves avoiding certain foods that some people believe make symptoms worse. Supporters of the diet believe that eliminating artificial food colouring, sweeteners, preservatives, and some fruits and vegetables from a child's diet can help with focus and behaviour. The diet is controversial, with some ADHD experts dismissing it, while others support it or create their own treatment versions based on Dr. Feingold's work. Certain families have seen positive results and continue to use it.
The Feingold Association provides resources and support for families following the diet, including cookbooks, a Foodlist & Shopping Guide, and other materials. The diet is not meant to replace a child's ADHD medications or therapy, but some families have found that they can achieve the same results with a smaller dose of medication while following the diet. While the diet has seen some positive results, there is limited research to support its overall effectiveness, and it is recommended to consult a pediatrician before making major changes to a child's diet.
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It is intended to improve behavioural problems in children
The Feingold diet is intended to improve behavioural problems in children. It was initially devised by Benjamin Feingold, a Californian pediatrician and allergist, following research in the 1970s that appeared to link food additives with hyperactivity. The diet is purported to manage symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, autism, and other learning disabilities.
The diet eliminates artificial colours, flavours, sweeteners, preservatives, and some salicylates (naturally occurring compounds found in some fruits and vegetables). Salicylates are a group of chemicals related to aspirin, and Feingold believed that people allergic or sensitive to aspirin may also be intolerant of salicylate-containing foods.
The diet is designed to be followed strictly and for a lifetime, with whole families observing the diet's rules. It involves avoiding certain foods that some people think make symptoms worse, including artificial food colouring, sweeteners, preservatives, and some fruits and vegetables. The diet encourages fresh, whole produce that is low in salicylates, such as bananas, cantaloupe, dates, grapefruit, honeydew, kiwi, mangoes, papaya, pineapple, and watermelon.
The Feingold Association researches brand-name foods to create lists of products free of unwanted additives, publishing a Foodlist & Shopping Guide that includes more than 13,000 brand-name products that are acceptable for the diet. While the diet has seen positive results for some families, there is little evidence that it improves behavioural problems in children with ADHD or other conditions.
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There is little evidence the diet improves behavioural problems
The Feingold diet is an elimination diet that was initially devised by Benjamin Feingold following research in the 1970s that appeared to link food additives with hyperactivity. The diet eliminates food preservatives, colours, sweeteners, and salicylate-containing foods. It is purported to manage symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism. However, despite some anecdotal reports, there is little evidence that the diet improves behavioural problems in children with ADHD or other conditions.
Feingold believed that people allergic or sensitive to aspirin may also be intolerant to salicylate-containing foods. While salicylate sensitivity does exist, no evidence suggests a firm connection between this sensitivity and behavioural issues. Furthermore, no research connects any ingredients or foods to worsened behaviour.
The diet is controversial, with some ADHD experts dismissing it, some supporting it, and some creating their own treatment versions. Certain families have seen positive results and continue to use it. However, most medical professionals agree that children should not be on restrictive diets except in rare circumstances involving specific conditions and only under medical supervision.
While some studies have supported a few of Feingold's key points, there is a lack of well-designed studies on the Feingold program as a whole. Most researchers have only tested one food additive and restricted their studies to small groups of children. Recruiting reliable subjects for trials has also been challenging, as it can be difficult to retain children as subjects, especially if they react strongly to a particular food additive after experiencing success on the diet.
Overall, while the Feingold diet may help identify food intolerances and sensitivities, there is little evidence to support its effectiveness in improving behavioural problems.
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Frequently asked questions
The Feingold Diet is an elimination diet that was initially devised by Benjamin Feingold following research in the 1970s that appeared to link food additives with hyperactivity. The diet eliminates food preservatives, colours, sweeteners, and salicylate-containing foods.
The Feingold Diet eliminates artificial food colours, flavours, and sweeteners, as well as three artificial preservatives: butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and tert-Butrylhdryquinone (TBHQ). Many natural foods such as fruits and vegetables contain salicylates, so these may need to be eliminated too.
The Feingold Diet encourages fresh, whole produce that’s low in salicylates, such as bananas, cantaloupe, dates, grapefruit, honeydew, kiwi, lemons, mangoes, papaya, pears, pineapple, and watermelon. Examples of allowed vegetables include beans, broccoli, beets, cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, lentils, potatoes, mushrooms, and celery.
Caramel colour is not explicitly mentioned in the list of prohibited foods on the Feingold Diet. However, the diet does eliminate artificial colours, so it is likely that caramel colour would be prohibited as well. It is always best to check with a medical professional or the Feingold Association for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
