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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is The Feingold Diet Recommended For Children With ADHD?

My daughter-in -law has put my 7 year old grand-daughter on the Feingold diet. She said that it would help her ADHD....and would also prevent her from taking medication. My grandaughter stays with me sometimes and I feel so sorry for her but I don't want to disrupt the process of the diet. She has been on it around 3 weeks now and constantly walks around crying she is hungry. Her face is pale white and she acts depressed. I think it is cruel to take her off of foods "COLD TURKEY!" She can't have many things at all...chicken, fish, fresh veggies, no tomatoes, ....What do you think about this diet? I thought children needed adequate amounts of the right kinds of food to learn!
Thu, 3 Sep 2015
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Psychiatrist, Child,  's  Response
FEINGOLD DIET IS A NON-SPECIFIC DIETARY MODIFICATION WHICH WAS INITIALLY BELIEVED TO HELP IN ADHD AND OTHER BEHAVIOURAL DISORDERS IN CHILDREN. SOME STUDIES DO SUGGEST THAT ARTIFICIAL FOOD COLOURS, PRESERVATIVES AND FOOD ADDITIVES HAVE A RE-INFORCING EFFECT ON ADHD IF THESE CHILDREN ARE GENETICALLY PRE-DISPOSED TO ADHD.
HOWEVER SUBSEQUENT STUDIES HAVE NOT REALLY CONFIRMED THAT FEINGOLD DIET ACTUALLY HELPS. I HAVE THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS FOR U-
1.DO NOT RESTRICT HER DIET TOO MUCH.AS SHE IS IN GROWING PHASE IT IS BEST FOR HER TO TAKE A NUTRITIOUS BALANCED DIET WITHOUT TOO MANY RESTRICTIONS.
2. AVOID JUNK FOODS AND FOODS WITH ARTIFICIAL COLORS/ FLAVOURS/ PRESERVATIVES.
3.KINDLY DO NOT LEAVE HER ADHD UNTREATED. THIS CAN IMPAIR HER PERFORMANCE AND SELF-ESTEEM AND CAN EVEN LEAD TO DEPRESSION AND DRUG ABUSE IN HER PUBERTAL YEARS. GET HER EVALUATED FOR SEVERITY OF ADHD. BASED ON THE SEVERITY AND HER BODY WEIGHT, PROPER MEDICATION CAN BE PRESCRIBED WHICH WILL REALLY HELP.

DR SMRITHI
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Is The Feingold Diet Recommended For Children With ADHD?

FEINGOLD DIET IS A NON-SPECIFIC DIETARY MODIFICATION WHICH WAS INITIALLY BELIEVED TO HELP IN ADHD AND OTHER BEHAVIOURAL DISORDERS IN CHILDREN. SOME STUDIES DO SUGGEST THAT ARTIFICIAL FOOD COLOURS, PRESERVATIVES AND FOOD ADDITIVES HAVE A RE-INFORCING EFFECT ON ADHD IF THESE CHILDREN ARE GENETICALLY PRE-DISPOSED TO ADHD. HOWEVER SUBSEQUENT STUDIES HAVE NOT REALLY CONFIRMED THAT FEINGOLD DIET ACTUALLY HELPS. I HAVE THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS FOR U- 1.DO NOT RESTRICT HER DIET TOO MUCH.AS SHE IS IN GROWING PHASE IT IS BEST FOR HER TO TAKE A NUTRITIOUS BALANCED DIET WITHOUT TOO MANY RESTRICTIONS. 2. AVOID JUNK FOODS AND FOODS WITH ARTIFICIAL COLORS/ FLAVOURS/ PRESERVATIVES. 3.KINDLY DO NOT LEAVE HER ADHD UNTREATED. THIS CAN IMPAIR HER PERFORMANCE AND SELF-ESTEEM AND CAN EVEN LEAD TO DEPRESSION AND DRUG ABUSE IN HER PUBERTAL YEARS. GET HER EVALUATED FOR SEVERITY OF ADHD. BASED ON THE SEVERITY AND HER BODY WEIGHT, PROPER MEDICATION CAN BE PRESCRIBED WHICH WILL REALLY HELP. DR SMRITHI