Does the Feingold Diet Really Ease ADHD Symptoms?
The Feingold diet eliminates artificial flavorings, artificial colorings, and salicylates to improve behavior and learning in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, there is very little evidence that this diet is effective at reducing the symptoms and improving behaviors in children with ADHD .
Jump to Key Takeaways .
How the Feingold Diet Works
The Feingold diet is an elimination diet that removes certain foods and chemicals to find any food-related triggers causing ADHD symptoms . If someone sees positive results from the elimination of certain foods and chemicals, it is recommended that they do not reintroduce those items and continue to eat the other foods that they enjoy.
The supporters of the Feingold diet believe that food dyes, artificial flavorings, and fragrances are not tolerated well by humans. Therefore, removing these items from the diet can improve specific symptoms.
How Effective Is This Diet for Improving Behavioral Disorders?
Previous research suggests the Feingold diet is not effective. Since then, there has been little research specifically on the Feingold diet, but there have been several studies on diet changes in general to improve behavioral disorders. However, the current evidence to support diet changes to improve behavioral disorders is weak.
One key issue is that many people have diets that lack essential nutrients. As a result, they experience an increased sense of overall health when they improve their diet. Therefore, when people with ADHD eliminate unhealthy foods and integrate healthier options, they feel better. It is unclear if the dietary changes made the ADHD symptoms better or simply improved an overall sense of well-being.
Foods and Ingredients to Eliminate for the Feingold Diet
The Feingold diet requires its followers to eliminate the following items:
- Artificial sweeteners (including aspartame)
- Artificial food dyes
- Artificial flavorings and fragrances
- Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)
- Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)
- Tertiary butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ)
The diet also recommends removing any naturally occurring salicylates and medications containing salicylates like aspirin. These items can be reintroduced later on. Numerous foods contain naturally occurring salicylates. These foods are:
- Apples
- Apricot
- Avocado
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Cherries
- Sweet potatoes
- Squash
- Red kidney beans
List of Acceptable Foods
All foods are allowed on the Feingold diet aside from the list of foods to avoid. The diet does suggest limiting sugar but does not require participants to abstain from sugar completely. Natural sweeteners like stevia are also allowed.
Overall, the diet encourages people to eat whole foods that are low in salicylates. Some of the foods that are acceptable on the Feingold diet include:
- Bananas
- Beans
- Celery
- Cereals (without artificial flavors or colors)
- Chicken
- Dairy products
- Eggs
- Fish
- Potatoes
Potential Benefits
No strong research supports the benefits of the Feingold diet in people with ADHD. Though the diet promotes whole foods that do not contain any artificial dyes or flavors, it does not conclusively improve the symptoms of ADHD .
Risks
In addition to the Feingold diet's ineffectiveness at reducing ADHD symptoms, it also carries some risks. The diet is restrictive, which can cause problems for some people. Below is a list of risks:
- Lack of evidence : A lack of research supports the Feingold diet.
- Nutrition deficiencies : An elimination diet may cause nutrition deficiencies in people who are not aware of the nutrients they may be lacking because of their diet.
- Restrictive : The restrictiveness of the diet can make finding and sourcing proper food difficult. This may be especially hard for people who do not live in an area with multiple grocery stores and options.
Who Should Try the Feingold Diet?
The evidence does not support the use of the Feingold diet for people with ADHD. Talk to a healthcare provider before starting a diet to treat ADHD. Elimination diets should be done carefully and with guidance to prevent adverse effects.
Common Challenges and Tips for Success
If someone is attempting the Feingold diet, it would be important for them to work with their healthcare provider before starting. The provider can aid in providing nutritional support or referrals to a dietitian .
Finding and cooking the right foods can also be a challenge. Planning ahead with meal prepping can help some people ensure they have both the right foods and meals prepared for eating.
Alternatives
No particular diet is recommended for people with ADHD. Studies generally recommend eating a healthy diet rich in whole foods.
A 2019 study found that diets high in sugar and saturated fat increased the risk of ADHD. A healthy diet that included many fruits and vegetables seemed to protect against ADHD and hyperactivity. The study mentioned that the evidence was weak due to the few studies available.
Another study from 2012 highlighted the need to educate parents and children on healthy diets and removing foods that worsen ADHD symptoms. The study illustrated that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to dietary changes and ADHD.
What to Ask a Provider Before Starting
It's important to include a healthcare provider in dietary change decisions for ADHD. Below are some questions to ask a provider:
- Are there ADHD diets that research supports?
- Are there any nutritional deficiencies that can occur with ADHD diets?
- Are there any supplements that can reduce ADHD symptoms?
- How long should it take to see results?
- Should a dietitian be involved with certain dietary changes?
- Will this diet affect my medication ?
Key Takeaways
- The Feingold diet aims to reduce ADHD symptoms by eliminating artificial dyes, artificial colors, and salicylates.
- Research that supports the effectiveness of the Feingold diet is weak. Many studies have looked at diet changes and their relation to ADHD. Results generally suggest that more research on the topic is necessary.
Read the original article on Verywell Health
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