Feingold diet

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Feingold Diet

The Feingold Diet (pronounced: fine-gold diet) is a food elimination program developed by Dr. Benjamin Feingold, a pediatric allergist from the United States, in the 1970s. The diet is designed to exclude artificial colorings, flavorings, and preservatives, as well as certain fruits and vegetables that are believed to contain natural salicylates.

Etymology

The term "Feingold Diet" is derived from the name of its creator, Dr. Benjamin Feingold. The word "diet" comes from the Greek word "diaita," which means "way of life."

Related Terms

  • Food elimination diet: A method of identifying foods that an individual cannot consume without adverse effects.
  • Artificial food additives: Substances added to food to preserve flavor or enhance taste and appearance.
  • Salicylates: A type of chemical found naturally in certain plants and is a major ingredient in aspirin and other pain-relieving medications.
  • ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

Overview

The Feingold Diet eliminates certain foods and additives that are believed to contribute to hyperactivity and other behavioral issues in children. These include artificial colorings, flavorings, and preservatives, as well as foods containing natural salicylates such as almonds, apples, berries, cucumbers, and tomatoes.

The diet is often used as a treatment for children diagnosed with ADHD. However, scientific studies on the effectiveness of the Feingold Diet have produced mixed results, and it is not universally accepted as a treatment for ADHD.

Implementation

Implementing the Feingold Diet involves a two-stage process. In the first stage, all foods and additives on the Feingold Association's list of potential problem substances are eliminated. In the second stage, these foods and additives are reintroduced one at a time to see if they cause a reaction.

Criticism

Critics of the Feingold Diet argue that it is difficult to follow, as it requires careful reading of food labels and may require significant changes to a child's diet. Some also argue that the diet's effectiveness has not been conclusively proven in scientific studies.

External links

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