Feingold Diet
0.0The Feingold Diet is a health program that focuses on teaching individuals about how certain foods and additives can trigger specific health symptoms and conditions. The creator of the program, Dr. Feingold, asserts that while health symptoms may differ from one person to another, the chemical and food additives consumed by most individuals today can cause serious health impediments.
What is Dr. Feingold’s Philosophy and Background?
Dr. Feingold began linking diet and behavior with his research in the 1960s. After discovering that many children were being diagnosed with health issues such as ADHD and other disorders, Dr. Feingold realized that these conditions may be linked to diet and chemically enhanced foods. According to Feingold and other medical reports, food and behavior may be linked, as evident in, for example, when individuals express anger, constant frustration, and/or exhibit a short temper, they perhaps may struggle with specific chemical sensitivities. Added to this example, individuals with the following health issues and disorders may exhibit specific chemical and/or food allergies:
- ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
- OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
- ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder)
- Bi-Polar Disorder
- Depression
- Tourette Syndrome
- Developmental Delays
Dr. Feingold asserts that, instead of only medicating these problems, individuals should implement a program of healthier eating and a more informed lifestyle. For example, some consumers may benefit from only altering their diet, while others may benefit from a variety of treatments, such as prescription medication, allergy medicine, an altered diet, and nutritional supplements.
What is the Feingold Diet?
The Feingold Diet teaches individuals how to strip out excess additives and chemicals from their daily food intake. The Feingold program asserts that individuals following this plan will experience benefits such as:
- Increased attention
- Improved behavior
- Decrease in poor health / negative physical symptoms
To start the program, dieters learn how to get rid of chemicals and additives such as:
- Artificial coloring
- Artificial flavoring
- Aspartame / NutraSweet and other artificial sweeteners
- Artificial preservatives, such as BHA, BHT, TBHQ
- Added fragrances
- Some aspirins
The History of Additives and Food Chemicals
- Food Dyes
Food dyes are actually created from petroleum, which is used to make crude oil and gasoline. These dyes are considered to be safe for drugs and cosmetics, but not for food. - Artificial Flavorings
Artificial flavorings are a combination of natural and synthetic chemicals, which can be comprised even of hundreds of separate chemicals. For example, imitation vanilla is often created from waste paper products from paper mills. - Food Preservatives
Preservatives are found in many foods, and are often made from petroleum. These preservatives can pose a variety of negative impacts on one’s overall health and well being. Additionally, many preservatives are advertised as being “all natural,” when they are in fact often comprised of chemical structures and combinations.