Dr Feingold is the doctor who first reported that bad behaviour and/or learning disabilities in otherwise bright children is often caused by artificial colors and flavors. Although it may seem too simplistic, it can be the answer if you are willing to alter your lifestyle by reading ingredient labels and preparing food that is normal, natural and healthy. A child cannot do this on their own!
Many psychologists and psychiatrists oppose Dr. Feingold’s theory and laugh at the diet. I found this out first hand when my child was diagnosed with ADHD and other learning disorders, as well as behaviour problems. The doctor the school sent us to virtually demanded I put him on Ritalin, called it ‘a miracle drug’. Well, I’d been a nurse longer than he had been a Doctor and I knew my child far better than he did. I told him I would think about it, to his unconcealed disgust. I went to the bookstore and bought every book I could find on the subject, which in 1985 was not substantial. I also bought Dr. Feingold’s book. I then embarked on a massive reading, looking up in medical dictionaries and writing down my findings.
I made the decision to use the Feingold Diet. It didn’t happen right away and I’ll be the first to admit that there was a lot of work involved. All of us had to eat the Diet, it wouldn’t work for just the affected child. After a month or so, I began to see changes for the better. My son was more or less on the Diet for the next seven years, then the teens struck and that was that. However, I had developed the habit of reading labels and cooking without artifical colors and flavors. I went even one step further and cut out sulphites, which has turned out recently to recommended. Oh, and I also changed Doctors, as that one continued to harrass me about giving the Ritalin and had some very snarky, personal things to say about me in his report to the school. ( )