Feingold question....

[JohnBark]

Is the Feingold Association worth the $70+ to join, if we are interested in a non-med approach for ADHD? Can anyone comment on any positive or negative effects of joining the group and it's effectiveness?

Thanks!

[catatonic]

John -
We tried to implement the Feingold Diet on our own for about 4 months and found the results extremely positive. Bedwetting stopped. Sleep problems like not falling asleep and wandering the house at 3 am stopped. Migraines stopped. Most of the temper tantrums stopped. Hyperactivity/inattentiveness were helped some, but not enough, which is why we added supplements.

Despite being extremely pleased with the Feingold Diet as we were able to do it without the Feingold Association's resources, we still noticed a number of "mystery reactions" and I felt my son's behavior was not adequately controlled because of this.

After nearly 5 months, I broke down and paid my $70. (I am a cheapskate. This was not an easy decision.) The Feingold Association researches products for "hidden" additives, things like BHT in bakery pan sprays or cereal packaging that is not required to be listed as an ingredient but definitely is part of the food you're eating. Things like whether the "annato" coloring (supposedly natural and safe) contains BHT. Or whether the roasted cashews or sunflower seeds were roasted in oil containing BHT. (BHT is hardest to avoid because it is so often a hidden additive. Avoiding artificial colors and artificial flavors isn't a big problem because they're obvious. Unfortunately my son has major reactions to BHT.)

I regularly pick up products at the store that look like the ingredients are acceptable and submit them to the Feingold Association for formal research. Sometimes I find they've already been researched and determined unacceptable. Other times they go ahead and research them and add them to the food list if they are clean.

I have never regretted paying to join the Feingold Association. Additionally, because they are a non-profit organization, they are often willing to make accomodation for financial need. Perhaps were BHT not such an issue for us, I would feel differently, but I don't know. On a more general level, I feel it's really important to support an organization dedicated to protecting us from the poisons they put in our foods simply to increase profits. Do we really need green catsup?

My suggestion would be to try the diet for several months. If you see improvement (and I am convinced that you will notice significant changes) but still find unexplained behavioral outbursts troubling you, then go ahead and join to get your diet as "clean" as possible.

Hope this helps. There are a number of us here who use Feingold, most of the others for longer than I have, so someone is sure to be able to address pretty much any question you ask about it.

[JohnBark]

Thank you Catatonic! I ordered it tonight. As to supplements, are you referring to adding vitamins and minerals too? Or are there supplements that the Feingold Association recommends? I've seen your previous post in regards to recommended level of variouos vitamins and minerals. Where can I find a list of those on the web?

Thanks so much. I appreciate your responses greatly.

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[catatonic]

John -
I've yet to find a good summary on-line. I did find Laura Stevens' book "12 Effective Ways to Help Your ADD/ADHD Child" very helpful. It provides a good general overview of non-medical approaches. Using that as a starting point, you can check out studies in the National Library of Medicine, and other books that deal specifically with single nutrients. Then there's trial and error with your child as the human guinea pig.

"The Magnesium Factor" by Seelig and Rosanoff is one book I'd recommend. As is "The LCP Factor" by Jacqueline Stordy, which deals with fatty acids. Also worth the read is "Excitotoxins" by Russell Blaylock. After reading that one, I will never consume MSG again as long as I live.

The Feingold Association pretty much sticks only to diet issues. There is some limited discussion on their support board of vitamins and homeopathy and other similar issues, but in general that's discouraged and the board is intended for discussing topics related to the diet. (It's a very useful forum, actually, and I'm glad a fellow member of this board encouraged me to use it.)

You can find pediatric recommendations for vitamin and mineral intakes on-line, but these are minimum requirements and not therapeutic doses. Often alternative medicine websites and commercial sites that sell supplements have some good information, although I generally follow them up with independent reading and a check of the National Library of Medicine.

I hope this at least partially answers your question, and wish I could tell you something more specific. The best I can do is wish you all the luck in the world and offer to try and answer any questions that come up.

[RiahBubbaPooh]

I'll second catatonic's advice...it really is worth the money. I did FG for a year on my own and saw definite improvement (in one week for us) but there was so much more room for improvement. The labels just do not show you everything...truth in advertizing is a myth.