The Feingold Diet

Chapter 5, The Feingold Diet [January 1999]

As we reduced John's ritalin, I read the seminal book, Why Your Child Is Hyperactive, by Dr. Ben Feingold. (See the references at the end for a complete list of books and web sites.) Although we did our best to implement the ideas in this 25-year-old text, residual hyperactivity persisted. The 5mg tablets were absolutely necessary, and even at this low dose (too low to be therapeutic, according to the experts), day-to-day fluctuations remained. Some days he was still hyperactive and impulsive; on other days he sat like a zombie. In either case he wasn't learning anything at school, and when undermedicated he demanded the full attention of his teacher, to the detriment of his classmates. We obviously didn't have the full picture.

The Feingold Association

As I searched the web I quickly discovered The Feingold Association, a non-profit organization that performs research on behalf of its members. My check went out with the next day's mail, and a couple weeks later I received the introductory materials. Glancing through the buyer's guide, I soon realized why this organization is absolutely essential. We were making so many mistakes! To site one example, we gave our kids milk frequently: in the glass, on cereal, and in cooking. We gave them 2% because it's "healthier", and it doesn't list any additives. It does say "fortified with vitamin A", but we didn't give that a second thought. The buyer's guide told us that vitamin A is preserved with BHA, something the dairy industry is not required to report. We now serve whole milk, cut with water to reproduce 2%. But how could we, the consumers, obtain this information? We couldn't, if it weren't for the Feingold Association. If you are trying to implement a restricted diet on your own, by reading labels, you are paddling up-stream. Join the Feingold Association today.

NFF: Note From the Future, out of chronological order.

As a broad statistical statement, the natural protein in milk, or the lactose sugar, causes many more allergies and sensitivities than the trace amount of BHA that is present in 2%. In fact you are more likely to react to natural foods (such as wheat and corn and peanuts) than the manmade additives. However, there are exceptions. There are always exceptions. I know someone personally who has a life-threatening reaction to red#40. None of the other additives - just red#40. Therefore we, the consumer, ought to have all the information, right there on the label; I wish we didn't have to enlist the aid of various non-profit agencies to find out what is in our food.