Feingold has changed our lives! Starting with my brother using it in the 80's, and now using it with my son who has ADHD--we would be lost without the guidelines from Feingold. My son is old enough now to know when he's had something "off his diet" and avoids these foods, perfumes, etc. like the plague. I've even decided to change my diet over to Feingold recently in the interest of creating better focus and less overwhelm in my mind. Thank you, Dr. Feingold and everyone who maintains the organization--you truly change lives every day!
It has been my profound honor and privilege to serve as the Board President of the Feingold Association of the United States. My gratitude for the unique and valuable work of this organization and its volunteers and staff extends back to 1993 when my son was six years old and struggling with behavioral and attention issues in school. It was thanks to my husband's coworker who also had a son with similar challenges that we learned of the help he had received from calling the Feingold Association. He had obtained their materials to support ways to address his son's needs, applying the knowledge offered along with guidance and support from Association staff and volunteers, to identify dietary changes needed and manage ongoing refinement to maintain improvements in behavior and health. We contacted the Association as well, and the help they provided assisted us in identifying the role that salicylates in food and food additives, especially yellow dye No. 5 and No. 6, were playing in his hyperactivity, sleep problems, and inattentiveness. It helped us to help our son most appropriately to address his behavior, learning, and health needs.
As a nurse and educator, I realized the importance of this information and how underutilized it was by the medical care providers and teachers, so I became a volunteer with the Association. I joined those who were providing community programs to disseminate this information to support the mission and empower parents, current and future medical care providers, and teachers to become aware of the evidence-based dietary approach implemented in the Feingold Program to identify and address behavior, learning and health problems related to food and food additives. The staff-developed publications, materials, and resources are appropriate for public and professional audiences, and the Association has collaborated with numerous other organizations and interdisciplinary professionals similarly dedicated to helping children and families address varied and complex needs to achieve best outcomes related to improving behavior, learning, and health. The organization is well-respected nationally and internationally by those with whom they have collaborated and for its unique and valuable contribution to advancing knowledge and related research about food and additives impacting health and lives.
The Feingold Association continues its increasingly important and enduring work through the efforts of its selfless, devoted staff and volunteers, some of whom have remained active since they established the organization in 1976. As a non-profit organization, they serve to fulfill their mission "to increase public awareness of the effect of food and additives on behavior, learning, and health." No one owns the Association, and therefore the information and materials disseminated are not biased to serve any entity other than the public good.
Everyone can benefit from the evidence-based knowledge provided by the Feingold Association and its program to use an elimination diet that helps you find out if certain foods or artificial additives are triggering the problems you are seeing. This proven dietary approach has helped many thousands of people and extends its benefits through written and electronic materials and social media.
It is my humble and distinct honor to serve this Association and promote public health through disseminating knowledge related to the Feingold Association and the Feingold Program to improve behavior, learning, and health. I encourage you to visit www.feingold.org to find out how this knowledge and the program can help you and your families.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Bratby, EdD, RN
President, Board of Directors
The Feingold Association of the United States
I am an adult cancer survivor. In addition, I have strong fragrance, chemical and pharmaceutical sensitivities. I turned to the Feingold Program after 6 doctors and many months of suffering and failed treatments for an unknown rash. The Feingold program helped me identify my problem foods, in addition to removing unnecessary additives that were likely harming me.
We started with Feingold in 1977 when it was just being formed. Foods were very limited. We started for our three-year-old daughter and the change within three days was dramatic. She had never slept through the night even when doctor gave her medication. (It was purple and flavored!) Her personality improved and her agility. The last two I hadn't even noticed a problem! Later, when she was in school, an infraction caused learning difficulties. Fortunately, they were few and far between. We did this as a whole family and I discovered I had no more migraines. I was able to pinpoint the biggest offender, sodium benzoate. The newsletters and food guides are invaluable. Approved foods are so much easier to find now.
This must be an all-in approach. Not every other day, etc. In the beginning diet diaries are key. We waited six months before we tried any salicylates...didn't want to rock the boat!
My children are grown and very successful in their chosen professions. I shudder to think what would have happened if we had not discovered Feingold.
The Feingold Association has done so much for my family, with their research and diet outline and guidance.
My nephew was put on the diet over 35 years ago, at age 4, he wa hyperactive and nearly out of control at times. Following the diet, he was able to calm down and interact with the family again and he said it made him feel so much better! He would go to the grocery store with his mother, and read the labels to be sure he was eating the safe foods.
My grandson is on the Autism Spectrum, and has sensory processing disorder. He also has extreme food sensitivities, to artificial colors and flavors, preservatives, etc.
We started him on the Feingold Diet nearly 8 years ago, at the age of 3. The changes took time, but were dramatic. Now we know what foods and additives he is sensitive to, he avoids them, and he is able to be calm and fun loving, and feel comfprtable in his skin again.
Two generations, and we would be lost without The Feingold Association!
I only wish I had millions to contribute to their worthy cause!! They have earned it over and over again with the thousands if not millions of children and adults around the world that they have helped!
The Feingold Association has changed our life. Without the work that they do and the support that they provide, I feel like I would lost in keeping my son's ADHD in check. They do so much research and correspondence with companies, notifying us of changes in ingredients or processing that I could never keep up with. In a world where cutting corners to save money has put chemicals in our food covered in cloudy names, Feingold is a light that guides us on a healthy path to eat cleaner and healthily treat ADHD.
My first experience with Feingold was years ago when my daughter was experiencing allergy issues and my son was sent home from school until he was “medicated” so he wouldn’t “act out”. I was desperate for answers and never knew the connection between the children’s problems. My daughter’s near fatal anaphylactic episode was due to the synthetic dye Yellow 5 and my son’s behavior difficulty was also a reaction to artificial dyes. As it turned out, both were also sensitive to natural salicylate in foods as was I. Without the knowledge and help of the organization, I question if our family would have survived. The help choosing a better diet and support from others for such a reasonable price saved thousands over the years. Many, many thanks.
My 4-year-old autistic son was barely verbal and would hit his head on anything (including concrete) if we didn't understand him. His pediatrician said it was a phase. I searched and searched articles on behavioral issues. Finally, after reading my millionth (slight exaggeration) article, one of the commenters said "It's the FOOD!" That started me on my quest that ended at the Feingold Association. Three days after putting my son on the Feingold diet, he fell asleep for the first time before 10 pm. Three weeks later, he had completely stopped hitting his head. One month later, he was speaking in full sentences. The Feingold Association forever changed our family life for the better.
The Feingold Association was formed to support parents who are using the Feingold Diet. They do a wonderful job of providing the materials and information needed to be successful .
I have supported this fine organization from the beginning.
This non-profit literally changed our lives! My son was failing third grade, his behavior had become almost uncontrollable, and at 8 years old he was terribly depressed, when he wasn’t acting out, because he wanted so much to behave but couldn’t. Through the resources the Feingold Association provided we were able to get him back on track. His behavior, self-esteem and performance at school turned completely around. I can’t thank them enough for their good work, research, support materials and support platform. My son became recommended for the Honors program at school just one year after we started him on the Feingold Program, and he is now grown and very well rounded and successful in life. The Feingold Association is an amazing charity and I will continue to support them for as long as I live!
I could not possibly say enough good things about what the Feingold Association has done for our family. The knowledge and information they provide is invaluable. I have no doubt that one of my children would have ended up in a mental institution if not for the knowledge we gained through Feingold and the changes we were able to implement. We are forever indebted.
The Feingold Association has been life changing for our family. An incredible resource that has enabled us to figure out and manage seemingly obscure allergies/sensitivities with our oldest son (I say seemingly because I suspect that they're much less unusual than they seem!). After only about a month of adopting the Feingold Program in our household my husband said to me, "Thank you for getting our son back." That was almost 8 years ago and we'll never go back. I am so grateful to all the volunteers who keep this incredible organization going.
Feingold helped our family get the food that my daughter needed to reduce the behaviors and learning problems she was having. They have been a blessing.
Our 4-year-old son was dealing with unexplained developmental delays and an inability to understand concepts, receive correction, and deescalate emotional moments. Doctors had no idea where his behavioral issues were coming from. Some suggested we put him on ADHD medication, which we refused. That wasn't addressing the root cause. We reached a point of frustration that put our family in moment-by-moment survival mode living. Something had to change but no one seemed to be able to point us in a helpful direction. Again, I pleaded with God to give us insight and guidance.
Shortly thereafter, I was at a park with our kids and another mom, downloading our situation. She said it sounded a little like what her boys had dealt with. She had put them on the Feingold Diet which helped tremendously. Ah, a glimmer of hope! She warned me that there can be a couple weeks of difficult adjustment for the child and when shopping and preparing meals if we weren't used to eating similarly, clean, but that it was worth the time and effort if it worked. She said we'd have to give it at least six weeks to really assess any possible changes. She added, "It can't hurt to try."
I was desperate. So, I researched it as soon as I got home. I was concerned about the cost of food and the program but the basic concept seemed refreshingly natural and appeared to address the issues he had. My husband wasn't convinced a diet change would make any difference. Still, he agreed to pay the membership fee to get the food list for grocery shopping and handbook which included a pre-, 4-week, and 6-month assessment, recipes, and suggestions on how to handle family communication and doctors' visits.
I was anxious to get started! As soon as the packet arrived in the mail, I listed our son's symptoms in the handbook checklist, read most of the handbook, and went straight to the grocery store, with an out-of-control treasure in the cart and our other older cutie assisting me. Reading ingredients and looking for new brands was absurdly time-consuming. I grabbed the basics for the day and left. I went back by myself that evening and scoured shelves for an hour and a half.
The program states you should see a difference in behavior in two weeks. I saw signs of change after 3 days! There was no going back. As artificial ingredients left his body, so did some of the unexplained issues. Six months later I reevaluated him and noted that his constant motion had decreased and he had become a little less fidgety. He had begun to respond to discipline. His loud talking and constant high-pitched noises had decreased. His self-control had increased! He had entirely stopped chewing his shirt collars. His tolerance and patience had increased. He also reacted more typically to touch, pain, sounds, and lights. It was such a transformation! And although he still had a lot of catching up to do developmentally, he was on his road to healing because he had a much improved baseline. Peace was returning to our home! Priceless!
We're exceedingly thankful! My husband had hoped our son would grow out of needing to be on the diet. He's 13 now and although he can handle salicylates fairly well, we all know within 15 minutes if he has eaten anything artificial because of his inability to listen well, easy agitation, and fidgety movements. Still, he's lightyears beyond nine years ago!
The other key factor we keep in mind is that artificial ingredients build up in the system, so if he eats an item off his diet we require he also eats little baking soda to minimize the effect by somewhat neutralizing the food (he actually likes the taste of baking soda now!) but don't allow him to eat a second item off the Feingold Diet for a couple weeks. He's quite compliant in following the guidelines I've explained -- I think because he knows how much more clearly he can think and how much less he gets in trouble (especially at school) when he sticks to his diet.
Since those days, we've actually begun eating even more clean than the Feingold Diet requires. My husband and I are extremely grateful to God for interceding on our behalf in our wild lives. We're grateful for how He used many people to bring sanity to us: my friend, Doctor Feingold and the diligent parents who have kept the diet in the public eye!
Sincerely,
a grateful parent who will always sing FG praises and recommend it to others
Prayer led my path to find Feingold 11 years ago. Feingold literally saved our lives by providing us with the information we needed to make changes to our diet. Those changes have led to my children's success in academics, friendships and athletics. I am proud to say that my children are both members of National Honor Society which when we started Feingold when they were 3 & 5 years old, that achievement did not seem like it would ever be achievable. Today they are 14 & 16 and we still follow Feingold Stage 2 with few occasional exceptions. I can't even imagine where we would be had we not found this resource and how our lives could have ended up so differently. I thank God everyday for this resource. I volunteered quite a bit early on and I have had so many people come up to me that say their lives were impacted in ways they never thought achievable as well. So proud of this organization for standing up to big grocery.
Our 12 year old daughter has several medical conditions, including Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, Epilepsy, Exotropia, Scoliosis, ADHD from low oxygen levels and seizures, Chronic Kidney Disease, Liver Fibrosis, Pelvic Dysfunction, and Gliosis. When she began having symptoms of ADHD we were really struggling with her behavior. She would have 45 minute tantrums at 7 am over cereal. It was awful. We went to ADHD behavior therapy and an ADHD seminar, which really helped, but we decided to put her on meds when she was 8 to help with school. It was a hard decision, but it ended up being a good one for us. Her behavior was still difficult sometimes, though. She was frustrated, overwhelmed, moody, yelled a lot, mean to her family and we just didn’t know what to do. We decided to try The Feingold Diet as a last resort. It was a lot of work, but to our immense surprise, after 2 weeks she was having a lot less tantrums. Our theory is that she is sensitive to naturally occurring salicylate acid in foods as a result of being on aspirin her entire life for her heart defect. It’s been almost four years and we still follow the Stage 1 diet while adding in Stage 2 items occasionally as treats. Overall, it has been incredibly helpful for our family and I see us following the diet for many years to come.
The Feingold program and all the mothers and fathers that belong to this association has truly saved my child. Like most parents, we started with psych meds to which nothing worked. ADHD, neurological tics and issues, to lethargy and ornery behaviors. This was my child. With Feingold support, we have literally cured all. Tics are gone, ADHD symptoms are gone, lethargy and ornery behaviors now are what you would expect from a normal teen. The reason Feingold worked for us was due to the selfless parents and members that take the time out of their day or night to support each other in our worst times of need. For this, I will always be thankful.
Feingold Association is the most amazing group we have ever had the pleasure of being a part of. The diet that they so diligently update has given me my child back to the sweet, calm boy he used to be. Prior to Feingold, my son would have 2 hour temper tantrums a few times a week. He was very oppositional, mean and defiant. Now that we follow the Feingold diet, long gone are the temper tantrums and defiant behavior. It has made our family life and marriage much more cohesive and happier. I don’t know where we would be without the help, knowledge and support of the Feingold Association.
This is an awesome organization that goes above and beyond to make sure the information they deliver to their subscribers is the best and most accurate! My son would be struggling so much without them and I contribute his progress these last 5 years to this organization!
FAUS does such important work! Without their knowledge and expertise and their ability to share it so widely and willingly, our lives would not be the same.
We came to FAUS with rashes, bedwetting, anger, asthma, acne, migraines, eczema, and inability to focus, and all these issues were fixed through the elimination of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, and oranges! I never would have been able to pinpoint all these issues without FaUS! Forever grateful!!
We became Feingold Members 5 years ago when we were having an extremely challenging time with our oldest son (5 years old at the time). After starting the Feingold Diet, we felt like we had a new child in 36 hours. He could make eye contact with us, allow us to rub his back or give him a hug, have a conversation that wasn't an argument. It felt like a true miracle. The research, work, and love Feingold pours into helping families is so valuable. I don't know where our family would be today without Feingold.
My daughter was always what we called widgtey, couldn't hold still, always bouncing, slept horribly. Around the age of tree she started throwing up a lot and started having horrible bloody noses. By age four she became very violent and uncontrollable. She developed tics, would claw at her own skin and beg someone to "get her out of here". Our family life was dissolving because of the stress if surviving day to day. Desperate I did random Google searches. One day I saw something about dye problems, and things started to click---first time she had cereal she was sick, the first vitamin, fruity slush from restaurant. Her worst behavior was when she was sick and we gave her cough medicine. We immediately eliminated dyes and things improved but not completely. That was when I found Feingold and it had the last pieces of all our puzzles. In addition to getting to know my wonderful child for the first time, my anxiety and restless legs eased up dramatically. We will never not be a Feingold family.
As an adult, I was sick and dying, weighing in at around 500 lbs, was just sick all the time and getting worse!
About 2005 I found Feingold Association and what I learned from them completely changed my life!
In fact I credit Feingold Association with Saving my life. I am alive today because of what their programs gave to me.
I lost 20 inches from my waist.
I'm looking forward to my 60th birthday..... Thank you Feingold Association!
Young, or old.... I highly recommend Feingold Association to everyone of all ages!
Life in our young family was very difficult. Our oldest daughter was absolutely brilliant from birth, always well ahead of the curve. She was reading by the age of two, had no end of patience, and was the most even-tempered child I had ever known. Unfortunately, when she was four and a half, my neighborhood sprayed for West Nile Virus. They were supposed to come at 6 pm, but showed up at 5 pm while we were all outside. Immediately the next morning, we were all sick with breathing problems. A trip to the doctor gave us nothing. As time crept by, things got worse and worse. Not only did she continue with physical issues, she suddenly started acting up. One of the first instances being when she lost her temper because I asked her to close the curtains and she kicked me in the face, breaking my nose! This from a child who never once raised her voice in anger! Then, the other issues started. She suddenly could not pay attention to anything. She started making “noises”. She started getting tics. She started having to repeat the same motions over and over, often “rocking” herself while standing in a corner. Almost overnight, she became your typical “autistic” child with ADHD. The doctors were hesitant to diagnose her with autism, having known her prior to the spraying. We had hoped it would be temporary, but as time went on, she only got worse.
It was during this time, I got pregnant. From the very beginning, the new baby was “hyper”. I was only 5 weeks into the pregnancy when I could feel her zipping back and forth inside of me. The entire pregnancy was difficult on me physically because of just how hyper and strong she was. Around the 8th month, she kicked and broke one of my ribs! She struggled and fought so hard while being born that the doctor and the nurse nearly dropped her. And she only got worse after coming out. She refused to be swaddled, hated to be held, and never, ever “slept.” She would periodically “pass out” after many hours of screaming and extreme physical activity, but it was never truly sleep. The addition of this challenging child to our existing family only made the problems with my older daughter worse.
It was clear from the beginning that something was “wrong” with our youngest. She was non-verbal, refused to potty train, and ate books rather than read them. She also had sensory issues. Lights, noise and touch physically hurt her and caused her to melt down. Between the lack of sleep and the constant fighting/anger issues, everyone was more than on edge. I personally was sleep deprived and physically beaten by the children ( countless bruises, two more cracked ribs, a cracked cheek bone, and my nose had been broken three more times!) My husband and I were on the verge of divorce and neither one of us, quite honestly, wanted the children.
Then one day, while on the computer, I saw a tiny little pop up ad for Feingold. It simply said something to the effect of “Does your child have trouble behaving? Check us out.” When I clicked on it, it brought me to their site. They had a check list of possible symptoms. My children had every single one except one. Neither had tried to kill themselves.....yet. I began reading everything and I was horrified. Horrified at the thought that we were inadvertently doing this to our own children!
When my husband came home from work, I shared with him what I had learned from Feingold. He was skeptical but my husband and my oldest were going to be home for a 2 week vacation and I thought that would be a great time to try it. We started the elimination diet on their first day home and everyone complained, but we forged on. Three days into it, my youngest daughter slept through the night for the first time in her life! Though they complained about the food for the rest of the 2weeks, we had a great time! My children began playing together instead of fighting. My oldest daughters tics went away, as did all her other symptoms. My youngest used the potty, sat quietly while we read to her, and began talking! It was a miracle!
After a wonderful two weeks of family vacation, they begged me to let them go back to “real food”. I agreed. But within three days, our “normal lives” resumed, and it was devastating. That was the day I decided we were going to be a Feingold family.
My youngest was just about to start school when we started. Originally she was going to be placed in a special ed class. But her progress on Feingold was so fast, by the time she actually entered school, she was in a regular class! By that October, she was placed in an advanced class! At the end of the year, she had qualified for the “Gifted” class!
My oldest, who had started off as “gifted” before the spraying, was on the verge of being put in a special ed class. As she began Feingold, all those problems began to go away and she remained in a “gifted” class.
It was difficult at times to stick with it. My children were not allowed to eat anything in the school unless I sent it in for them. That made them feel singled out especially during parties, and we had to deal with them occasionally cheating. But you could always tell when they did because it showed in their behavior. So I made sure we all stuck to it. I knew what we were like when we were off of it, and that was unacceptable.
Today, my oldest daughter lives on her own after having gone to college and then getting her Master’s Degree. Things I doubt she ever would have been able to do had we not found Feingold. Our youngest is currently in college, making the Dean’s List every semester! She has become the sweetest, most loving, and cuddly, child any parent could ever hope for. Anyone who knows us now, can’t imagine what it was like for us before we found Feingold. The difference has been incredible and almost unimaginable. Feingold literally has saved our lives. Occasionally when my kids are tempted to stray from their diets, we remind them what our lives probably would have been like without it. I know my husband and I would have gotten divorced and both children would probably have been placed in homes for people with special needs. Instead, my husband and I have been married over 28 years and still enjoying each other’s company. Our oldest has an advanced degree, a job and is living a successful life on her own. And our youngest is acing college (away), and well on track to be a happy, successful adult.
Feingold helped my family in more ways than words can describe. Changing our food (removing artificial ingredients improved my child's emotional and physical health. My son had serious asthma attacks and has not had a single one in the years since we removed artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. Joining the Feingold family gave me access to the information and support I needed to help my family.
In 1985, our 3 year old daughter was so wild and uncontrollable, I had difficulty finding any daycare for her and her sisters. The pediatrition recommended Ritalin at 4 if her behavior continued in that vein. We started Feingold instead. For 3 wks, every day was worse than the previous one. We all were on the plan so my daughter would not feel separate and alone. The rest of us felt GREAT. We marked each day on the calendar with a big X, counting the days to improvement. Day 20, our 3 year old terror dervish was replaced with a smiling, amenable calm little girl. The detox was complete and the poisonous build up of artificial colors and flavors had left her body. What a difference! Since that day, with only a few exceptions, we've been on the plan. At 36 now, married and a mom herself, she uses the Feingold lifestyle as a life basic. She definitely would have never made it through her teens if we had never found the Feingold plan. I became a Doctor of Natural Medicine to help spread the word.
My child had been diagnosed with a developmental delays from the age of 2.
She had intense OT,PT, and Speech therapy. She got much better with her Occupational, and Physical abilities.
But her speech had Plateaued, she also struggled understanding others language.
Once we started the FG program it took 2 or 3 months and I saw a huge improvement in her receptive and expressive language.
This is us at TRADER JOES A HUGE SUPPORTER OF FG program.
At 2.5 years our daughter was on her way into autism. Psychomotor seizures, slow growth, tantrums, Dr. Jeckyl , Mr. Hyde personality and the list goes on. My mom read an article about Dr. Ben Feingold and his success with removing artificial flavors, colors and some natural fruits and vegetables containing salicylates from your child's diet. Just a few days on the diet and we had a very different child. She still needed other educational strategies but by 3rd grade she was in the gifted program. She is now 43 has a Bachelors and Masters degree and is a very successful and enriching teacher.
The Feingold Members receive a very complete list of all foods by brand that are suggested for success. Why not give it a try. I bless Dr Feingold every day.
When my adopted child were in kindergarten I noticed patterns of extreme behaviors that were seemingly unexplainable. I learned of Feingold and immediately started logging the food my children were eating and any extreme behaviors I or their teachers noticed. The patterns were immediately recognizable. Bright colors, TBHQ, BHT, BHA and Sodium Benzoate were the culprits. By bringing Feingold principals into our life my children have been able to achieve successes we once thought unattainable. They are 18 now and eating naturally is an ingrained way of life. Feingold saved us.
Amazing help for our family in the treatment of ADHD. I would recommend this as a great resource for families.
My Grandson was diagnosed with ASD and SPD when he was nearly three. Right after that, we found the Feingold Diet through the Feingold Association of the US. With their guidance and research, and all the helpful printed material they provide, we were able to get my Grandson on a clean diet, that truly helps his behavior and coping skills!! He has now been on the diet for over 5 years. You can tell every time he eats something not approved because he feels terrible, and his behavior changes drastically for the worse!! Feingold has really been a blessing to us!!!
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The American Academy of Pediatrics has finally come to recognize the short term as well as sometimes long-term negative impact on our children, of artificial flavors and colors in our foods as well as many chemical and petroleum-based additives. This is something Dr. Feingold and the Feingold Association has been promoting for well over 40 years.
I have a nephew who is now 36 years old who was raised on the Feingold Diet after his mother discovered The Feingold Association while trying to find causes and reasons for her son's out-of-control behavior. The Feingold Diet helped him return to being the pleasant child he had been as a baby, once we were able to discover his intolerance to all these artificial and chemical additives.
I also have a grandson with ASD and SPD who benefits immensely from the Feingold Diet. He was so out-of-control at times that his Pediatrician wanted to diagnose him with ADHD and put him on medication before we started him on the diet, and we were able to relieve so many of those negative reactive symptoms.
I would highly recommend the Feingold Association of the US to everyone!! They have researched hundreds of products, foods as well as personal care and household products to be able to recommend what is and is not acceptable to sensitive individuals. These chemicals and additives affect all of us at different levels but the different reactions are especially obvious in children.
The Feingold Association is always there for us with so much support!!
I had reached my breaking point with my son. I couldn’t stand to be in the same house as him because of his moods and it felt horrible. I was hesitant to try something that cost money not knowing if I could do it & if it would work, but I was desperate. I gave it a 1-month all-in trial. That was 19 months ago! Feingold saved my family and I want to yell it from the mountaintops! The Facebook members-only support group has been as valuable as the foodlist. I want to see Feingold stick around another 40+ years!
Our lives have been truly impacted for the better by Feingold. Unexplainable chronic migraines, insomnia, hyperactivity, strong emotions, etc have all been greatly reduced/eliminated by following the Feingold lifestyle. It is worth the dietary changes in order for us to lead “normal” lives.
The feingold association has been life changing for my family. We have followed it for over 5 years. The volunteers/staff are awesome. The other members online are like family. Following the feingold diet has changed my son's behavior and health for the better so much. We are forever grateful to them.
At 4 years old, our son was easily upset, hyperactive, and occasionally aggressive. The week he almost got kicked out of preschool for hitting another child so hard he left a welt on her back, we were beside ourselves trying to figure out what to do. We didn't want to medicate, but were concerned he wasn't going to be able to function in school or social situations in a safe way. We had heard of the Feingold Diet, but weren't sure it was valid. After some research, we found that it was supported in good studies around the world.
We decided to try it before joining the Feingold Association. We figured to stick with completely unprocessed, raw foods to try it out. On the 2nd day of the diet, our son stopped wetting his bed at night. On the 4th day, he had a light of happiness in his eye that we hadn't seen for a very long time. He also was calmer, more focused, and not aggressive in any way. The 5th day, his preschool gave him ice cream and chocolate sauce with artificial flavors and colors. He was screaming at us and physically aggressive. It took 2 more days on the diet to get him back on track. We joined the Feingold Association on the 6th day. The cost was minimal compared to the benefits we received.
Our son is now 15 years old, an A student, and an extremely polite and considerate young man. The last ten years we have seen repeatedly what happens when we broke his diet. We regretted it every time. FAUS has made our lives so much better, calmer, and happier than they might have been. And all we had to do was eat real food. We are grateful to this amazing organization for helping us keep our wonderful son healthy and happy.
This diet has done a miracle for our son! Who would have thought that berries and grapes could cause behavior issues. It's true!
Feingold has been life changing for my family. I found out about this organization almost 6 years ago. It took me nearly 2 years to make the change in my children’s diets to fit the Feingold program and I wish I wouldn’t have waited so long! My son’s sensory disorder attributes have diminished or disappeared. He’s still an active boy but much more controlled than prior. I love the community that Feingold is. So many helpful families who are struggling and succeeding along with me; I’ve never felt alone or lost on this journey!
The Feingold Association has changed our lives. When my son was in preschool I was getting phone calls everyday about his behavior. He was rude, angry, defiant, and at times acted out physically toward the teachers. I wondered what had happened to my sweet boy and was afraid we were looking at having to medicate him, at such a young age!! Then I discovered Feingold. We began changing our diet and following Feingold, within a month we were seeing improvements in his behavior. Now, a year and a half later, he is starting first grade in a high-ability classroom after a very successful kindergarten year. Friends and family have commented on what a different and more pleasant child he is. He wouldn't be where he is today without the direction and support of the Feingold Association. It's members are amazing. I will be forever thankful for the Feingold Association.
I have benefited greatly from the hard work done by the Feingold Association to provide clear and complete information on what is in the foods we eat. I began using the Feingold diet in the 7th grade, and in the decades since can unequivocally say that is and has been a major contributor to my success in school and professionally.
As a result I was able to get into my selective entrance high school (Thomas Jefferson High School For Science and Technology), pursue my dreams as an adult of opening an IT business, and now flying as an airline pilot for United Express.
Following the Feingold diet improved my motivation, happiness, focus, and enabled me to enjoy a rich social life.
Thank you Feingold Association for all that you have done,
Ben J. Fornshell
I have been a member since the founding of the Feingold Association of the United States. They offer great materials and support to be successful on the Feingold diet. They are experienced and have been reliable throughout all these years.
The Feingold diet put in place by Dr. Benjamin Feingold saved our son's life and that of our family. Our son wanted very much to try it at age 10 and the diet helped relieve him of his hyperactivity and impulsiveness; he became calm and could focus at school. The Feingold Association helps with recipes, ideas and product research.
Whoever would think I was ruining our baby son's life by giving him his daily vitamin drops! His screaming, tantrums, lack of sleep, horrible eczema, etc. were caused by his extreme sensitivity to the synthetic colors needlessly added to those drops. The brilliant work of Dr. Feingold led to our realization and solution to our extreme problems with not only him but our two daughters who were born after him. All 3 are productive adults now and loving parents. FAUS helps families around the world to live a normal, healthy, fulfilling life by expertly giving them the information, food lists, research and personal help they need to resolve the numerous living and learning problems caused by these chemicals and natural salicylates found in our every day foods. They are an enormously effective organization.
I discovered Feingold at a time of total frustration - medicines weren’t improving my daughter’s behavior. Her impulsiveness was out of control. After we started Feingold, her impulsivive, aggressive behavior decreased. I learned that if I avoided store aisles with artificially scented candles and cleaner, that ahe could make it through the store with appropriate behavior. I learned what foods and personal products to use and what to avoid. I introduced Feingold program to my family 5 years ago and so much healing has taken place in that time.
The Feingold Diet was the missing piece to our puzzle. The food list takes all the guess-work out of reading labels.
If I had not discovered the Feingold Diet, our family life would have still been in shambles from my son’s irrational behavior. Little did we know his behavior was caused by the food he was eating. After we began the diet, my son became amazingly calm and happy after about four days on the diet. We were in disbelief of the transformation. Five years later, we still follow the diet for our son and will never stop. It has saved our family and especially my son. We are thankful for the Feingold Diet and all the people who volunteer their time, because they have witnessed the same transformation with a loved one.
We were introduced to the Feingold Association two years ago and our lives have been changed! We have seen such a wonderful change in how our family feels and reacts (especially our middle child that has the most sensitivities). The support and knowledge from the foundation has impressed me beyond measure! The fact that it is a foundation/nonprofit is one of the reasons we trusted the information we were learning about the program. The people involved truly care about spreading the word and making a difference! We love and are so grateful for The Feingold Association!!
The Feingold Association was formed in 1976 and since then, has been generating public awareness linking food additives and behavior, learning and health problems. It has dedicated forty plus years to helping kids, one family at a time.
Feingold has changed our life in a way no other person or program could. Doctors had no answers for our daughter’s behavior, insomnia, day wetting, nightmares, adhd, ODD, and nuclear explosion tantrums. Since starting Feingold, we have reduced or completely eliminated these symptoms. It’s is truly phenomenal!!! The actual non-profit is always willing to help and support our lifestyle. They investigate and provide current information!
We have been a Feingold Family for over 13 years. The materials and support have helped us tremendously.
The Feingold Association is a life-saving company. I found out about you long before there was an internet! I was seeking help for my baby who was diagnosed with hyperactivity and the doctors wanted me to put him on a drug called ritalin. He was barely even one year old! I went to the library to get info on the drug and hoped for an alternative. I was blessed to find the Feingold Assoc. in Philadelphia! I called them and they promptly sent me a packet of info!
At the time I got involved with them a few wonderful counselors kept in touch with me on the telephone and taught me all about diet and food additives & preservatives in food etc. Through the wealth of information and kind teachings and encouragement from your Philly team my son started to thrive and became relaxed, rested and happy! Ten thousand pounds of stress left my heart!
A little side story: It was when my boy was in 2nd grade and I daily walked to the school to meet him, usually we met at the halfway point. Let me tell you, I discovered that I could ID exactly what my son consumed as he walked toward me! By his walk I could tell whether he ate candy not on his diet, or if he had eaten lunch meat with nitrates in it or even if he was given jello or something full of colors and additives! I told all my friends and family about the Feingold Family and I still do! Many of my friends gained a true life, free from the deceptions of the food industry's choices to gain money at the expense of human health and welfare ! If it were not for the Feingold teams I would never have been made aware of the horrors packaged in much of our processed food. I was diagnosed with issues when I was young too, but after putting myself as well as my son on the alert regarding food, I've never again suffered dyslexia , hyperactivity and I too have a positive and relaxed life :)
Today, I am thrilled to have a computer and surely hope more and more people discover the solutions to life inhibiting troubles through your steadfast and true research and assistance!
Sincerely Mary
By providing a lot of helpful information, based both on research and experience, the Feingold Association has helped literally countless families since the mid-1970's, including ours. Knowing about the effects of certain chemicals in our food supply, both artificial and natural, has enabled us to help not only our ADHD son, but also our eating habits and health. The amount of material provided, both printed and online, is remarkable! I've been involved as a parent and volunteer almost from the beginning, when parents formed groups in their area, which spread as word of the program's success became known, becoming eventually the national organization. It retains a personal touch, though, as members want to help those searching for answers to the all-too-prevalent conditions of hyperactivity and learning disabilities. There is help!
Even though I was doubtful that the Feingold program would really make a difference in our lives, I decided to try it. We needed a change. To say that it has changed our lives sounds hypey, but it is so very true. The help, the support, and the knowledge that the folks at the Feingold Organization have given to us has made our lives so much better. I fully support their mission!
Feingold has taught me so much about the detrimental additives and colorings added to our foods. With this information, i’ve been able to improve the health and well-being of our family. Aside from helping my ADHD child, I know we are all healthier because of Feingold.
Feingold was a life changer for us. After spending serious time and money on doctors and allergists to no real avail simply eliminating petroleum derivatives [Feingold diet] changed our son's life around. Surprisingly life greatly improved for us parents too. Here are just a few of the things that either disappeared or were profoundly improved: ear infections, migraines, allergies, asthma, irritability toward others and social interactions, inability to think clearly and concentrate without making mistakes, depression, incontinence.
Elvie
I would never have thought, before the Feingold lifestyle was suggested by my child's Montessori school director (seven years ago!), that certain foods (even organic foods) could wreck as much havoc as food dye and preservatives do with some people! My family is so grateful for not only the knowledge base, constant vigilance in food ingredient testing, and regular updating of the data, but also for the assistance provided by the Feingold Association and all the Feingold-Associated families who are involved and supportive of each other! The beauty of the group is both in the knowledge base (which is HUGE!) and in the families who have been living a Feingold lifestyle for years. Those other moms and dads already have an understanding of what new families are struggling because we've all been there! What a great community this has been for my family.
Feingold saved my family. Before my youngest daughter was even born, in the womb, I knew she was going to be my "wild child". She was a wonderful infant (although she never really slept well!) But, she cried. She cried... All. The. Time. Then, as she got a little older, the emotional behavior got out of control. Rage out of the blue, breakdowns over the simplest tasks. We never knew what would set her off. I remembered my mother's friend had her child on Feingold in the 80's and I checked it out. When I started reading "Why Can't My Child Behave" I wept. My little one had almost every behavior on the check list. We have been a Feingold family for 3 years. We have learned so much about food, the food industry, parenting and well being. At 8 weeks on the program, my husband took my 8 year old daughter in his arms and said, "I've been waiting 8 years to meet you. I KNEW you were in there."
My brother was on it in elementary school. It was a life changer for him.
When my boys started have out bursts and being difficult to control I realized the medicines wouldn’t work alone. Feingold changed our world. I can now see an active smart boy where before he was a wild child with no self control or reasoning.
We have been a Feingold Family for over 6 years now. When we began, our kiddo raged for up to 2 hours at a time, 6-8 times per day. As a first grader, he was unable to participate in academic activities like spelling tests. After 2 weeks (and before learning about how other products affected him) he took his first spelling test with 2 dictation sentences and scored 100%. Removing petrochemicals, and some problematic fruits/vegetables was pivotal in regaining harmony in our home. After keeping strict food journals, we were able to pinpoint other food triggers with the help of experienced Feingold members who are always ready to pitch in and help others. The rages subsided to less than 1 per month in about 8 months after beginning the diet. All of our family members have experienced some benefit from eating the Feingold way. We are so grateful to have found this supportive, creative, and knowledgeable community.
I was never one of those hippy-dippy all natural crunchy people. When my sweet 6 year old daughter began having these sort of meltdowns, pseudo-violent fits, believing that "everyone hates me", I feared she was mentally ill. I hit the internet to search for clues, and every single time the symptoms sounded like hers, the person would post "then we eliminated food dyes and everything was fine". "We started Feingold, and what a difference!" After enough of these mentions, I looked up Feingold. It seemed reasonable, and could really do no harm, as it was just eating less chemically foods. Eureka! Not only did the fits cease, but her attention at school improved greatly. Older daughter's depression was linked to the food too! The Feingold organization and people make it as easy as possible and offer great support. Incredible organization helping families like mine feel better and do better through changing their food.