This is a synopsis I typed up and sent to school with him when we were following the diet.
Overview of The Feingold Diet:
The Feingold
diet is a food elimination program developed by Ben F. Feingold, MD to treat hyperactivity. It eliminates a number of artificial colors and artificial flavors, aspartame, three petroleum-based preservatives, and (at least initially) certain salicylates.
The Feingold
Program eliminates three groups of synthetic food additives and one class
of synthetic sweeteners:
The
above-listed colorings and preservatives are made from petroleum.[2][3] The word
"synthetic" is used instead of "artificial" because not all
artificial colorings are eliminated by the program. For example, titanium
dioxide and coloring
made from iron oxides are acceptable, posing no problem for most people. Only
FD&C and D&C colorings are eliminated. There are thousands of synthetic
flavorings, from a variety of sources, most of which are not specified in
ingredient lists. Due to the "de minimis"
principle,[4] safety and
neurotoxicity studies are not required for these chemicals. Aspartame and its
related chemicals have recently been eliminated from the Feingold Program
because of evidence that they may be harmful to the nervous system.[5]
During the
initial weeks of the program, certain foods containing salicylates are removed
and may later be reintroduced and tested for tolerance, one at a time. Most of
the problematic salicylate-rich foods are common temperate-zone fruits, as well
as a few vegetables, spices, and one tree nut. During this early period, foods
like pears, cashews and bananas are used instead of foods like apples, almonds and grapes.
List of foods
that contain naturally occurring salicylates that should be avoided entirely on
the first phase (later to be introduced one at a time with notes taken in a
journal of the child’s behavior and a record of what they ate.
Almonds Oranges
Apples Paprika
Apricots Peaches
Berries (all) Peppers
(bell and chili)
Birch Plums
and prunes
Cherries Tangerines
Chili Powder Tea
Cider and cider
vinegar Tomatoes
Cloves Wine
and wine vinegar
Coffee
Cucumbers and
pickles Oil of
wintergreen (methyl Salicylate) Rosehips
Currants
Grapes and
raisins
Nectarines
Aspirin and medication containing aspirin should be avoided
as well.
Wood blocks
