Can the Feingold Diet Help ADHD Symptoms? What to Know

The Feingold diet is an elimination diet that has been popular since the 1970s. Proponents of this controversial diet claim that it can help reduce symptoms of ADHD in children. However, scientific studies have found no evidence to support this claim.

So, should you try the Feingold diet? And what are the possible benefits and risks involved if you do? In this article, I’ll explain exactly what the Feingold diet entails and discuss the risks and dangers to keep in mind.

What Is the Feingold Diet?

The Feingold diet was originally created by a pediatrician named Ben Feingold in the 1950s. Although it was originally created for adults with allergies, it rose to popularity in the 1970s and 80s as a way to improve behavioral difficulties in kids with ADHD and autism. In 1974, Feingold wrote a book about using this diet for ADHD, titled Why Your Child is Hyperactive.‍

Like a gluten-free diet, Feingold’s diet is an elimination diet. In other words, it requires you to eliminate certain things from your diet. If you see positive results, then you continue to keep this modified diet.

The “Feingold diet,” as it’s become known, focuses on eliminating 

• Salicylates (a natural compound that’s found in many fruits and vegetables),
• artificial food colors,
• artificial food flavorings,
• certain sweeteners,
• and preservatives

from a child’s diet. He said that salicylates could be reintroduced later on, depending on the child’s sensitivity to them. 

What does the Feingold diet consist of?

The Feingold diet lists specific ingredients that you need to avoid when choosing food for your child. You can check for most of these ingredients on foods’ nutritional labels, although natural salicylates found in fruits and vegetables won’t be listed.

The specific things to be avoided on the Feingold diet are:

Artificial food dyes, including:

• Blue 1
• Blue 2
• Green 3
• Red 2
• Red 3
• Red 40
• Yellow 6

Artificial flavorings and fragrances, including:

• Vanilla
• Peppermint
• “Fruit” flavors like “strawberry” or “raspberry”

Preservatives, including:

• BHA
• BHT
• TBHQ

Artificial sweeteners, including:

• Aspartame
• Saccharin
• Sucralose

In addition, foods containing salicylates should be temporarily removed at the beginning of the diet. These foods and substances include (but not are not limited to):

• Aspirin
• Apples and applesauce
• Apricots
• Cherries
• Grapes
• Tomatoes
• Broccoli
• Cucumbers
• Peppers
• Spinach
• Nuts and seeds
• Breakfast cereals
• Oregano
• Curry
• Chewing gum
• Mint-flavored toothpaste

On the Feingold diet, these foods can be slowly reintroduced to test whether or not the child is sensitive to them.

Any other food is permitted with the Feingold diet, but they teach that even one bite of the “forbidden” foods may exacerbate ADHD symptoms.

Is the Feingold Diet Effective?

To date, no solid research supports the idea that following the Feingold diet and eliminating these things from a child’s diet helps with ADHD. And many studies and literature reviews have found that the Feingold diet is not effective.

For example, one study found no behavioral differences between two groups of children who had consumed different snacks (one that was consistent with the Feingold diet, and another that wasn’t). Another meta-analysis found that the effects of the Feingold diet (and other diets like it) were not statistically significant for ADHD symptoms.

As for the specific ingredients that are restricted by the Feingold diet, there is little evidence to suggest that these foods contribute to ADHD, either. One large review found that neither salicylates nor food additives worsen ADHD and eliminating them from the diet was ineffective.

Researchers have also studied the effects of food dyes on children’s behavior for decades, but the studies have had mixed results. In 2011, the FDA conducted a research panel and determined that food dyes are safe for children. But a UK study found that certain food colorings can increase hyperactivity in some children. The European Union does include a warning label for foods containing food dyes.

To summarize, there is some evidence that certain food dyes may increase hyperactivity in some children. But the Feingold diet consists of eliminating much more than food dyes. 

There is some anecdotal “evidence” that the Feingold diet works, and there continue to be some parents who swear by it. And some supporters of the Feingold diet have criticized past studies and analyses and called for more research.

But speaking strictly in terms of the scientific research thus far, there is no compelling evidence that the Feingold diet actually works.

The Feingold diet, like any diet, should never be used as a replacement for treatment methods that have been recommended to you by your child’s doctor or therapist. 

Pros and Cons of the Feingold Diet

On top of its lack of evidence, other risks are associated with the Feingold diet. The primary risk of this diet is how restrictive it is. Not only does the Feingold diet require eliminating artificial additives, but it also requires you to (at least temporarily) eliminate all foods containing salicylates. Salicylates are a naturally occurring compound and are found in many healthy foods.

Most concerning is that many fruits, vegetables, and seeds contain salicylates. The Feingold diet requires you to eliminate these healthy foods from your child’s diet. This could prevent your child from eating a balanced diet. For example, apples, broccoli, spinach, and sweet potatoes are all forbidden foods in the Feingold diet. That means your child won’t have access to the many nutrients provided by these foods.

Additionally, the Feingold diet’s restrictiveness may cause frustration and stress for your child and your family. Parenting a child with ADHD is difficult enough as it is, and having such a strict shopping list may make it even more challenging.

The largest risk of the Feingold diet is that some parents could use it as a replacement for ADHD treatment. Stopping prescribed ADHD treatment (like stimulant medication and behavior therapy) can have negative and even dangerous risks for kids. If you decide to use the Feingold diet, it should always be in conjunction with, not instead of, their other treatments.

In contrast, one benefit of the Feingold diet is that it calls for eliminating of artificial food dyes. As I discussed previously, there is some evidence that food dyes can increase hyperactivity in some children. It could be helpful to try to eliminate these ingredients, which are mostly found in processed foods.

Some kids also have food allergies and eliminating foods they’re sensitive to may help them feel better overall. But rather than implementing the Feingold diet, talk to a nutritionist or your child’s pediatrician about eliminating the exact foods that your child is sensitive to. 

Takeaway

So is the Feingold diet effective? According to the research thus far, probably not. However, whether or not you want to try it is up to you and your child’s treatment team. 

Talk to your child’s treatment provider before making any large changes to their diet. And remember, many treatment methods that have been proven to work for most children with ADHD, including medication and some video games like the Joon App.