Hello. My 5 year son is a typical 5 year old boy...he runs non stop, plays non stop, and gets into trouble non stop. He has been having some difficulty in school this year with talking, throwing things when he gets mad, cries and overreacts about everything and seems to hear ok but does not listen. I have come to know the principle, counselors and teachers too well and can recognize their phone numbers now when they call. I have talked to his doctor and we have been watching what he eats and only use positive reinforcement all the time. He eats very good for a 5 year old, loves fruit and veggies and doesn't get much sweets at all. My husbands aunt said that they way he acts is exactly the way their son acted at that age, to the T, even the manerisms he has. She said that her boy was ADHD and they wanted to medicate him but they refused to do that to him...I agree, I will not medicate him. She was given a book about the Feingold Association. They began the diet and saw a night and day difference. Now that her son is in his 20's and out on his own he still knows if he eats that treat that he may get crabby or irritable. I have been doing research on it and it seems to be a good way to go. I just wanted to see if anyone else has tried it and what results they have had. They say it is also good for Autism, Asthma and other allergies...adults and kids. Please let me know your thoughts.
I haven't tried it, but here's another suggestion. You might try Chiropractic care. If his spine isn't aligned, it can cause the problems you are describing. This may be an easier solution than a life time diet change. Chiropractic care is not invasive & only takes a few minutes a week. I can give you the name of a good Chiropractor in Edmond, if you need it. Good luck!
I haven't heard of the Feingold program, but I am an educator and have recently attended a conference on sensory integration disorders, which includes ADHD. Some of the suggestions that were offered include offering acidophilus 1-2 times per week, feeding a protein-rich diet (every 2 hours), giving lots of vitamins, giving minerals (especially magnesium, but also zinc, iron, calcium, giving naturally occurring fats and oils (whole milk, butter, olive oil, flax oil, fish oil, whole-fat mayonaise), and also keeping well hydrated with water. Also you may want to keep him away from fluorescent lighting, and also phenols (lightweight odors: whiteboard markers, glue, paint, marker smells, wood burning fireplace.) Also do not feed any artificial sweeteners, the only safe one is Stevia. Good luck!
My mom had our family on the diet when my brother and I were kids (he was the "hyperactive" one). She believes it did help him. She took it to the max, however - baked our bread from scratch, did not buy pre-packaged lunchmeat, avoided all artificial colors possible and most preservatives. She firmly believes this helped his attention span and moodiness. I say try it and see - I would not medicate unless you've tried other options! Good luck!
Hi S.,
I am an old lady now ;) but when the Feingold diet first came out we tried it on our delightful but hyperactive daughter. The thing that made the difference for her was eliminating artificial colors and flavors. I was very strict with those two things, and could tell immediately when she had gotten red frosting at school from a cupcake brought in for a birthday or chewed a piece of Hubba Bubba. She'd be on the ceiling until way into the night.
Give it a try. It's a simple thing to monitor and may make a difference for your son. However, if he is crying a lot, PLEASE look into treating him for an anxiety disorder, which could be completely separate from the hyperactivity.
Good luck, E.
I don't follow the diet as extreme as they suggest and it has been night and day with my kids!
There for a second I thought I was writing this question. My son is the same exact way and I have heard of it but not sure about it yet. Still researching it.
Hi S.,
I have never heard of the Feingold program but am writing because I have a son who was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 5. We tried positive reinforcement, changed the color of his room (red is a no no for kids with ADHD), started on a vitamin regimen and changed his diet for about 18 months to no avail. As you can tell we were hesitant to medicate him. It wasn't until our doctor explained that medicating for ADHD is just as important as medicating for any other ailment. We started him on a mild dose of Clonidine (available in a patch or pills) and saw a marked improvement. I am saying try non-traditional or traditional methods to treat his illness but don't rule out medication.
Good luck.
W. Q
I don't have personal experience, but this yahoo group is a goldmine for information: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/foodlab/ also http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Feingold-Program4us/
