Feingold Diet for Autism

Introduction

No matter what diet you might choose for your ASD child, whether it is Gluten and Casein Free, GAPS or Body Ecology just to name a few, the Feingold diet is a fundamental and basic diet to include in all your child’s dietary choices. It will most likely make a significant difference in your child’s life if included as part his or her daily lifestyle. The Feingold diet was developed by Benjamin F. Feingold, MD, pediatrician and allergist, during the 1970s as a result of having studied many children with allergies and observed a correlation between increased hyperactivity and the consumption of various food additives. By 1975, Dr. Feingold’s ideas, observations, and hypothesis led him to write and publish the book, “Why Your Child is Hyperactive.” His diet was eventually created from the book and consequently, Dr. Feingold was able to help countless families and dedicated his life to understanding the relationship between what we eat and how we subsequently feel and behave. Even though Dr. Feingold is no longer with us, his followers have furthered his work by creating the Feingold Association of the United States and continually updating his ideas and diet. The other major contribution from the Feingold followers has been the recognition of benefits for other issues having been helped by the Feingold diet such as behavioral problems, self-stimulation (stimming), focus, concentration, eye contact and so on. One of his most avid followers, Jane Hersey, published a book in 1996, “Why Can’t my Child Behave?”, addressing many of the issues of children on the autism spectrum triggered by unwanted chemicals, dyes, salicylates, glutamates, preservatives, phenols, and other toxic additives in our foods, medications, water and so on. The Feingold Diet can make that extra difference in any child’s life, but especially the life a child on the autism spectrum.

Related Sites

The Feingold Association of the United States
Description: This is the Feingold Association website. Proven dietary solutions to behaviors, learning and health programs.

Autism Help
Description: This website includes information on the Feingold diet. This article covers the pros and cons of using the diet as well as the history of the early controversy about the diet.

Healing Autism and ADHD
Description: This site touches on many topics including the Feingold diet. The link leads to a blog by a mother who has successfully helped her child using the Feingold Diet.

The Feingold Diet
Description: This site outlines some background history on the diet, the key terms and definitions, function, benefits and more.

Books

All Natural Mom’s Guide to the Feingold Diet: A Natural Approach to ADHD and Other Related Disorders by Sheri Davis
Description: Sheri Davis, a mom with an ASD child, knows firsthand the great difficulties and offers encouragement and hope to families looking for alternative solutions. She teaches parents how to avoid the detrimental foods, the differences between stage one and stage two of the Feingold Diet and how chemicals can affect your child.

The Salicylate Handbook: Your Guide to Understanding Salicylate Sensitivity by Sharla Race
Description: This book is written by someone who has salicylate sensitivity. This guide has been generally reviewed as a helpful reference book.

Why Your Child is Hyperactive by Ben Feingold, MD
Description: This is the original book written by Dr. Feingold in 1975 that gives an account of his ideas, hypothesis on food additives and hyperactivity in children and his observations of how food affects behavior.

Why Can’t My Child Behave by Jane Hersey
Description: Jane Hersey, an enthusiastic follower of Dr. Feingold and a mom, gives a very detailed account of useful information for families struggling with ASD children. She gives an excellent explanation of how the environment and our food affect our lives.

Tools

ADHD DIET the Feingold Diet Part 1 of 2
Description: This video is focused on food preservatives, artificial coloring and other problem food additives. Part one is a presentation of the types of food additives.

The Feingold Cookbook for Hyperactive Children, and Others with Problems Associated with Food Additives and Salicylates by Ben Feingold, MD
Description: This well designed cookbook is a great tool for families providing plenty of delicious recipes and menus without all the chemicals and forbidden unnecessary additives in foods.

The Feingold and GFCF Diets
Description: Sheri Davis, single mom of four with ASD, talks about how the Feingold Diet made a huge difference for her family.

Change Your Behavior by Changing Your Grocery List
Description: This is a powerful video for families with ASD children. Learn about what foods in your normal everyday shopping experience are changing your child’s behaviors.

ADHD DIET the Feingold Diet Part 2 of 2
Description: This video is the second part of a presentation on food additives. Part two focuses on the physical problems caused by food additives.

Nourishing Hope: Feingold Diet
Description: This is a video on Food Sensitivities by Julie Matthews, a highly regarded nutritionist whose specialty is ASD children. Julie gives a very in depth explanation of the effects of various chemicals such as phenols and salicylates.

Parent Forums/Blogs

Some forums require you to sign in to Yahoo or Facebook to locate forum names.

Forum/Blog Name: The Feingold Diet: Our Family’s Experience with a Dye-Free Diet
Description: This is one mother’s account of the life-changing experiences with the Feingold Diet.

Forum/Blog Name: Feingold Association
Description: This is the Facebook page for the Feingold Association. It includes videos, research and other relevant information.

Forum/Blog Name: Feingold Recipes
Description: Written by All Natural Mom, this blog has over 100 child-friendly Feingold recipes.

Forum/Blog Name: Our Journey with the Feingold Diet
Description: This is a blog on one family’s journey with their ASD son and the Feingold Diet.

Forum/Blog Name: Wrong Planet Autism
Description: The parent forum, the Wrong Planet, posted a question on the Feingold Diet.