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Post by AustinsMom on Nov 12, 2003 22:19:41 GMT -5
Today is Day 1 of the Feingold diet....could anyone who has already done this tell me how soon I might expect to see changes?
As background info, my 8 yr old was on Strattera, and we finally (through reading other messages on the old site) realized that his ever increasing anger was caused by the meds. We tapered down and have been off for 5 days. In August we also started a supplement routine, with Calcium, Magnesium, Evening Primrose Oil, Neuromin DHA, macho multivitamin, glyconutritional supplement, etc., and are still doing those.
Along with the anger, we have been having major bedtime problems, that are fairly new. Trouble getting to sleep, acting out, anger, defiance, waking during the night. Although he has those problems (the anger and defiance) during the day, they are mild in comparison to what we have seen at night.
I'm curious to know if anyone thinks the Feingold diet will benefit this, and also if it has had an impact on school performance (Austin has a learning disability).
We had a good bedtime tonight (started a behavioral program), the first one in a week or so. So our fingers are crossed that the diet and behavioral intervention will help us break this cycle....
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Post by catatonic on Nov 12, 2003 22:32:09 GMT -5
Our experience with the Feingold Diet has been extremely positive.
My son used to wet his bed nightly (at age 9). After the 4th day on the diet, that stopped like magic. He's wet the bed maybe 3 times in the past 7 months, all of them on occasions when he's eaten BAD BAD BAD food.
He used to have a lot of trouble falling asleep and would also wake up at 3 a.m. and wander around the house unable to go back to sleep. In the past 7 months, he's done this 2 times, both when he ate off-diet food.
He used to have migraines about once a week. He hasn't had one since we started the diet.
Temper tantrums used to be a daily occurence, as did over-reacting emotionally to everything and being very uncooperative and hostile. The diet resulted in these behavior improving probably around 80%.
Feingold didn't seem to help attentiveness much, so we started supplements and that's really made the difference. You sound like you've started a good supplement routine. Those take longer, in the neighborhood of 4 - 12 weeks, to make a noticeable difference. For us it was 6 weeks. Others have seen results faster, others slower.
You may have a bad week while your son " De-toxes". But the difference the diet makes is truly amazing and well worth all the effort. I hope you find the same success we have.
My one suggestion would be keep a spiral notebook where you write down everything he eats each day and what his behavior is like. It will help enormously if you see "mystery reactions" and need to figure out what the problem is. Be specific, what brands, whether they contain certain typical allergens like dairy, wheat, egg, corn syrup.
Best of luck to you.
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Post by Bigmomma2jhs on Nov 13, 2003 10:16:41 GMT -5
Where can I get information on the Feingold Diet?
Terri
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Post by Allanque on Nov 13, 2003 10:20:06 GMT -5
Apparently there's a book that gives the general idea of it that lots of people have used.
You can also google Feingold and come up with their websites, and probably other people's opinions of it too.
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Post by catatonic on Nov 13, 2003 10:29:58 GMT -5
You can find Feingold Diet information through the website at www.feingold.org The site contains links to research supporting the scientific basis for the diet, general information on the diet, and several book links as well. When you join the Feingold Association, membership includes a support forum, the ability to submit foods and other products for research to help determine what is safe to use, and a list of products certified "safe" with the cooperation of the manufacturers. You might also want to read Dr. Benjamin Feingold's books. They are out-of-print now, but generally are available through half.com or bookfinder.com The basics of the diet are elimination of artificial colors, artificial flavors, and the preservatives BHA, BHT, TBHQ. A number of us have found it necessary to eliminate other foods as well. Many of us have children who do not tolerate salicylates, which are otherwise healthy foods that for some reason negatively affect children with ADHD. These include almonds, tomatoes, oranges, peaches, and a number of other items. I have found that this diet has a truly astonishing impact on my ADHD son's behavior (in addition to being far more healthy for the entire family). While giving up most processed foods may seem overwhelming at first, it is not particularly difficult once you have made the adjustment. For the improvement I've seen in my son, it's worth every ounce of effort. I'd also recommend reading Laura Stevens' book "12 Effective Ways to Help Your ADD/ADHD Child" for a good general overview of non-medication strategies for treating ADHD. We rely heavily on nutritional supplements (Omega-3 and vitamins). Though it's not particularly cheap to join the Feingold Association ($70) I've found it's truly worth it. We did the diet independently, without the support of their research department, food list, and support forum, and while the results were dramatic, they are much better now that I can be certain I am buying safe foods and can get help and advice when I need it. FAUS is a non-profit organization, so in cases of financial need, they can make accomodations to enable you to join anyway. |
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Post by Allanque on Nov 13, 2003 10:42:23 GMT -5
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Post by Bigmomma2jhs on Nov 13, 2003 11:04:39 GMT -5
Thanks sooo much!! Anything that will help us will be worth trying. Going now to check out these sites!!! Terri  |
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Post by lovemyson on Nov 13, 2003 11:07:00 GMT -5
Yes, thank you for the information, we are considering the diet also.
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Post by foley on Nov 13, 2003 11:48:33 GMT -5
Austin's Mom,
We had a similiar start to Feingold--going off meds and out of desperation trying the elimination program. I honestly didn't see a difference at first, one because I was doing the program on my own, and not utilizing the great message board they have, and two because it was a very gradual thing with my DS.
It wasn't until after the first strict 6 weeks when I tested back apples and saw him fly off the wall and have a tantrum that I realized it worked. BTW the reason you remove certain fruits is because they have a high salicylate content. Salicylate is related to Asprin, and is 'nature's preserative'. All fruits contain salicylates, but some have a much higher concentration. Also artificial flavors, perseratives, and sythentic colors contain salicylate. So if you ever want to explain the program easily you can say your child is allergic to asprin in all its forms.
Initially the program helps you get the reactions under control, which will then enable you to get rid of many learned behaviors--we used books like Raising a Healthy Preteen, and a Social Skills book that had a step approach on how to handle teasing, dealing with stress etc.
The program, along with fixing my DS's Omega Fatty Acid Deficiency worked so well that I started to question if he even had ADHD in the first place. I mean if it was a question of removing manmade chemicals from his diet, and adding some natural fatty acids, is this really a so-called 'disorder'. It's an interesting thing to contemplate-it's like a chicken or the egg question.
Anyway, I can't recommend the program enough. In the beginning any infraction would set us back big time, but four years later, and an infraction really doesn't amount to much. I believe it's because he was clean for so long, and is living in a home that has acceptable food, and non-food items that don't irritate him anymore. Since he's no longer inundated with all that cr*p, when he does cheat (he's 12 1/2) it's not the total system overload it used to be.
Good Luck~*
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Post by DanielsMom on Nov 13, 2003 11:50:32 GMT -5
You can check out the book at your public library. It helped us out alot.
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Post by Kimmers on Nov 13, 2003 12:21:31 GMT -5
I am going to post this under another thread because I want to make sure I am going to get a good response...why is it that salicylic acid, which is used in things like wart remover (and I've seen it in other products that have nothing to do with food) and yet it is in the things we eat?? What the heck is that??!! Why are we consuming the same stuff that removes warts in our food??!! Someone please give me your insight!
Kimmers
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Post by catatonic on Nov 13, 2003 12:33:52 GMT -5
Salicylic acid is aspirin. It is found abundantly in willow bark, which is why people from earlier times (medieval through pioneer days) used willow bark tea extensively as a pain reliever. Analysis of willow bark is how aspirin was originally " Discovered" and subsequently synthesized.
When it's highly concentrated, it apparently becomes something quite potent. I'm not precisely sure how.
Salicylates occur extensively in nature. Foods high in salicylates include tomatoes, oranges, almonds, apples, peaches, grapes and lots of other really healthy stuff. Nothing at all wrong with consuming salicylates in most cases (unless you find as a lot of Feingold families do that your children reacts badly to them) just don't go consuming it in the form of wart remover.
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Post by Kimmers on Nov 13, 2003 12:38:58 GMT -5
*Sigh of relief...*
Sorry about my panic attack but the thought of consuming the same ingrediants used in wart remover was just enough to send me over the egde! Thanks for the reassurance...
Kimmers
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Post by DenverSarah on Nov 13, 2003 12:54:34 GMT -5
Hi all! I just wanted to add my 2cents about Feingold! We are coming up on our year anniversary and I thank God every day I found it. My son would not qualify for a diagnosis for anything now, and when we started he was classic ADHD in every category. My whole family feels much better without all that stuff in our food and the toddler who used to have a "rattly lung" has breathed better since as well. ALSO...it gets easier all the time...I can't say enough about it. The EASIEST way to check out a great summary of it is once you get to the homepage at www.Feingold.org, click on resources and the first chapter of "Why can't my child behave" is there to read for free. Reading that was all it took to get me to join, and it's got enough info that you can start implementing most of it right away. Of course I must add that the program must be followed 100% to be able to see how well it will work, so one must really only buy off the foodlist once they get it. Good luck and I can't wait for your "who is this great kid and where has he taken the monster child?" post :0) |
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Post by DenverSarah on Nov 13, 2003 13:04:48 GMT -5
I forgot to say that it took 8 weeks to see results in my son. It probably took longer than it needed to because we had lots of slip ups in the beginning. Boy was the difference dramatic. He had been sick for a few days, and then one day he woke up and wanted to eat and do stuff, but he was so calm I thought he was still sick so I kept him home. About halfway through the day I realized that he was no longer sick, it was FG kicking in. The first eight weeks was quite an emotional roller-coaster...but I wouldn't trade them for a lifetime of monster child!
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