Why Your Child Is Hyperactive: The Bestselling Book on How ADHD Is Caused by Artificial Food Flavors and Colors

by Ben Feingold and M.D. Feingold, Ben F.

Book Overview

Contains detailed information by the doctor who first reported that hyperactivity in children is often caused by artificial food coloring and food flavoring. Includes the Feingold diet and how it... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0394734262
• ISBN13: 9780394734262
• Release Date: February 1985
• Publisher: Random House
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.7" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

MIRACULOUS TOOL NEEDED BY PARENTS/GUARDIANS

Dr. Feingold's book saved my sanity in 1985 through this book! My daughter who was absolutely unable to follow directions, or listen for more than one minute is just the beginning of descibing her challanging behavior before applying this book to her life! She was so hyperactive it meant a day of running around in circles, running up a wall, jumping off of furniture, absolutely "crazy" actions constantly. Our lives with her were sheer he--: trying to go out in public, attend religious events, visit friends/relatives, go to the park or groucery store meant an exhausting, unpleasant experience! I had taken her to a nutrionist, allergist, & psychiatrist to find an anwer and help. No specialist was able to help. I bought this book figuring that we were running out of hope; let's try it. I read this book and began following Dr. Feingold's methods exactly as he writes. Within four days my daughter's behavior changed into a normal functioning small child. My mother came to visit us on the fourth day of the Feingold Diet and was upset thinking that I had heavily medicated my daughter because her behavior was totally normal for a child her age!!!!! I explained what I did: exliminating all foods and starting fresh from scratch and slowly reintroducing foods. My daughter has NEVER been medicated for hyperactivity or any behavior disorder. We only fed her what was well tolerated. THIS BOOK IS A MIRACLE TO OUR LIVES!!!!!!! From 1985 to today has been a wonderful experience with my daughter!!!!!! She has been very successful in school (including college), sports, popular, and a pleasure to be around!!!!! This is the complete truth. I hope that other parents will take the time to get the book for the child who is "uncontrollabe, hyperactive, or unfocused" and follow it! The initial few weeks are difficult but it is worth every ounce of energy utilized!!!!! Please, for your sanity and your child's acceptance get and practice Dr. Feingold's methods to your child's life; it works!!!!

From Devil to Saint

Our youngest child, now in his mid-30's, was an incredibly aggressive and irritable child as a 4,5,6-year old. When Dr. Feingold's book was published (I think I first heard about it on NPR), I was at my wit's end. I tried it since nothing else that our pediatrician or any counsellor had suggested had been of any help at all. Within five days, our son was a different child. My husband had been skeptical, I had been doubtful, but the diet worked. After a while we factored in some of the foods we had had to eliminate, and found that his allergies were really to food dyes, in particular, the red dyes used to color oranges. Since Florida allowed oranges made into juice to be dyed and California did not, we discovered by trying both that he wasn't allergic to oranges but just those dyes. So we read food labels and bought accordingly. Our son is now called (by his elder sister) our "family saint" and has more patience than anyone in the family. His system was allowed to mature and he can now eat anything he wants. And his son (age 4) is now showing some of the same symptoms. I've recommended he get himself a copy of the book!

I was spared from drugs as a child due to this book

This is the most amazing diet for hyperactive/add children and adults (yes, even adults).As a child I was the definition of short tempered and became frustrated at even the simplest tasks. Then, before drugs were mentioned, my mother heard of Feingold's program. Immediately after starting removing all artificial flavors, colors and preservatives from the food I consumed, the world changed. I was then a perfect (normal) child. My parents did have to bribe me though to stay on the program, every week that I did not cheat I got a "Star Wars" action figure on Thursdays.Here is a simple experiment that I use to demonstrate to people the effects of artifical ingredients: go to the store and by some cheap popsicles. Eat the red one almost immediately the back of your throat will start to burn or become irritated, most of people mentally justify this with the sugar content, that is the effect of the red dye. Don't believe me? Eat the yellow one!As an adult most of us have bad days for no explainable reason, I believe this is due to our diets of fast artifical food. And thanks to Feingold, I try to minimize my bad days.This is not just another diet, if you look at it logically you can understand that it is best for your child and yourself more so than drugs.This is the best program without it I do not believe I would have attained two degrees and a successful life. Now, I am passing it on to my children even before problems arise.

A prophetic book about ADD/ADHD from the 1970's

I am a child neurodevelopment specialist and am seeing this book from the 1970's fulfill itself in the 1990's. I recommend this book even if you don't suspect ADD/ADHD. I even make copies available at all my seminars on child development. Unsuspecting parents and prospective parents also need this information to be properly armed with defense in our neurotoxic society that is driven to delights for the palete while being sold toxic foods at less cost than healthy foods.

excellent book to treat child without drugs

My son was diagnosed with ADD/Autism at age nine and put on ritalin. The drug helped, but my son's pediatrician was planning to put him on stronger medication which had serious side effects. I wanted to try something different and happened to see Dr. Feingold on a television program. I decided we had nothing to lose and bought the book.The results were stunning! Not only was my son extremely cooperative about this diet because he felt better, but I watched as my son was transformed in a matter of weeks from an uncommunitive child into a child where the world was full of wonder. I cried the day he noticed trees in our yard -- he could not see them through the window from inside, he told me. And then there was the day he came inside in wonder because of the individual snowflakes he could see on his coat sleeve.When I asked him what snow looked like to him before that, he told me falling snow looked like sheets whipping on the line in the wind.I cried that day as well.My son discovered television -- he had not been able to concentrate on any programs before -- he began to have friends and to play and to get into mischief. Further, the doctor was amazed at the improvements when Jon was retested. When I told the doctor it wasn't the medication he prescribed for the change, but the Feingold diet, the pediatrician went out and bought a copy.I continue to tell people about this book and my son. It is easily understood and well written. Further, Dr. Feingold explains his research and findings. It was one of the best finds I ever read and highly recommend it to anyone who is searching for answers and solutions for their child's behavior and learning problems.By the way, today, my son nearly has a degree in science, has served in the Air Force with distinction, graduated the second in his class and is not only working full time with recognition for his work, but has begun a business. And yes, he continues to be careful about what he eats because he notices he just doesn't feel good unless he follows the Feingold diet introduced when he was nine years old.