GFCF or Feingold for ADHD?

[~Laura~]

Hi all -

I am totally new to these parts of the board, but I am seeking some sage advice!

We have a nearly 6-year old who exhibits every single symptom of ADHD that I have come across. It's now to the point where her kinder teacher is suggesting medication (she's run out of patience and she's not educated on the alternatives). It's time for us to stop the denial that we have a problem here. We always called her a "handful," but we are beyond that now.

I have never noticed a specific correlation of food and behavior with her, but she eats a fairly consistent menu and doesn't have spurts of having specific ingredients. She definitely loves bread and milk and cheese. A lot. Given that her behavior is certainly worse sometimes and better others (with no explanation like sleep or environment, and it's the same at home/school/anywhere), I can't rule out food at this point. Honestly, I am just not that observant with food. That's changing now.

We are not interested in medicating (I had two siblings on Ritalin in the early 90s - they are still negatively affected by that experience today at 30+ years old), so I want to try GFCF and/or Feingold as a first step. I am hesitant to see a therapist because she's far too aware of the situation and I fear labeling. Once my brother and sister were "labeled," they were never the same. I think we already have some of this at school, so I don't want to make it worse.

I am wondering which would be the best diet to try first since I am starting with no real info on possible sensitivities? Hubby says to do both at the same time, but I fear we won't be able to fully follow and won't see the true results. I am waiting for my Feingold materials now and bought a few GFCF books yesterday.

I will say that my sister, who believes strongly she has Aspergers, does much better without gluten, but she's the only family member with ANY sort of intolerance that we know of (though we haven't done much eliminating). There's not a single known food allergy with anyone else.

Any advice as we start down this path is much appreciated. This child is incredibly sweet and bright - but it's like she's a prisoner to her impulsive and inattentive behavior and its frustrates her to no end. I am REALLY hoping this helps.

Thanks for any thoughts!

Laura, mom to 4, but totally lost on this food thing!

[mamafish9]

The very first thing I would suggest is supplementing magnesium. Most ADHD kids are magnesium deficient (and eating dairy can make it worse, because the calcium competes with magnesium for absorption).

So Epsom salts baths (2c in warm water) every night for 20 minutes, and as much oral mag as you can get her to take. If she will swallow small capsules, you can repackage larger mag capsules into smaller empty ones (you can buy empty capsules in size #3 to try, those are small enough my 3yo swallows them easily dipped in maple syrup). I'd try initially to get at least 300mg of mag a day, spread out into 2 or more doses. Use any form except mag oxide (not well absorbed) - I like mag glycinate.

If that's part/all of the issue, you'll see substantial improvement within a few days.

Step 2, I'd try modified Feingold - ditch any preservatives/colors, and remove high salicylate foods (anything on the high or very high list here), for a week. Again, if that is part/all of the issue, a week is enough to see a substantial improvement, and if you do, then you can dive into the Feingold diet more seriously.

Step 3 would be removing dairy & gluten (and possibly more foods). Not saying these are less likely, but it takes longer to see results (sometimes), and it's a much bigger change to your daughter's food - so I'd try the easier, faster stuff first.

[WuWei]

I love mamafish's suggestions. I'd add zinc and probiotics too as easy first steps.


Pat

[~Laura~]

Originally Posted by mamafish9

The very first thing I would suggest is supplementing magnesium. Most ADHD kids are magnesium deficient (and eating dairy can make it worse, because the calcium competes with magnesium for absorption).

Thank you so much! I can do this!! I have been trying to create some first steps, but it has been overwhelming. Thank you, thank you!

I will report back with what happens...

Laura

[DevaMajka]

I was going to say focus on additives (colors and preservatives) first, whether you choose sals or gfcf.

I like mamafish's plan!

I 2nd the probiotics, and epsom salt baths.

[lil_miss_understood]

mamafish always has the best advice.
We started by taking out food colouring and saw a significant improvement. It wasn't until last year or so that I learned about mag deficiency in people with ADHD and the year before that is when I first heard the term "gluten and casein free diet". He's a completely different kid now than he was even 2 years ago, when we only avoided food colouring.

[karika]

We went GFCFSF with my daughter because of behavior too. Taking dairy out really changed her. She would have these crying jags over something that seemed inconsequential to us. Now her reactions are more appropriate. I agree the first thing to do is to remove any chemicals from the diet- all processed foods. No food colorings, no preservatives, no HFCS, no MSG (and it hides in many forms, here is a link to a page that gives all its other names (like natural flavors ) http://www.msgmyth.com/hidename.htm . Get a high count probiotic, make sure it is vegan and gluten free with a strain count in the billions (and don't get one with a strep strain to start, she may have or develop PANDAS.) We are still having other issues (but her dad keeps giving her nono food every so often) so I am pretty sure sals are doing something to her, and or she has a yeast problem. Congratulations to you for making the connection that food is causing this. Too many people ignore that and medicate... Here is a great gfcfsf resource (soy free because soy behaves just like dairy on the brain) http://gfcf-diet.talkaboutcuringautism.org/index.htm and a yahoo group that has participants of all kinds, it is extremely high volume, so I just read it on web when I have time, http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/GFCFKids/ and this site has helped me tremendously http://www.danasview.net/yeast.htm I always have to go to site map to get around in there though... Keep in mind when you start GFCFSF diet it can be possible that her behaviors will worsen, it is like taking a drug addict off their drugs, so you can start slow since she goes to school. Work on removing dairy first IMO. then gluten. If you can afford it, get her tested to find out what the tests will say an IgE and IgG and OAT test are the most recommended. I am not sure if DAN doctors work with ADD and ADHD...they are definitely related to me. there is a list of them here. http://www.generationrescue.org/recovery I just found out we qualify for medicaid so I am going to be looking for some testing for us now too, as her father does not believe these behaviors are food related.

[MarciaD]

Start simple. Trying several things at one time will lead to frustration and not knowing what works if you find some success.

Start with Feingold--as directed by the Feingold Association. Don't worry about salicylate "levels" but rather use the Feingold list because it is known to work. You will see mention of levels here and there on message boards, etc. but it is incomplete. The level issue is based on the 1985 Swain study in Australia where levels researched, however, the type of salicylate was not addressed. There are different kinds of salicylates. It is like talking about amounts of alcohol without specifying whether you are talking about ethyl alcohol (in beer or wine) or methyl alcohol (wood alcohol) or isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) …...

Dr. Rosemary Waring of the UK speaks about the gluten/casein diet and tells us that it is a more effect diet if the toxins are eliminated as well. The toxins are the additives--the Feingold diet.

Therefore, keeping it simple is the best route! Best wishes.

Originally Posted by mamafish9

The very first thing I would suggest is supplementing magnesium. Most ADHD kids are magnesium deficient (and eating dairy can make it worse, because the calcium competes with magnesium for absorption).

So Epsom salts baths (2c in warm water) every night for 20 minutes, and as much oral mag as you can get her to take. If she will swallow small capsules, you can repackage larger mag capsules into smaller empty ones (you can buy empty capsules in size #3 to try, those are small enough my 3yo swallows them easily dipped in maple syrup). I'd try initially to get at least 300mg of mag a day, spread out into 2 or more doses. Use any form except mag oxide (not well absorbed) - I like mag glycinate.

If that's part/all of the issue, you'll see substantial improvement within a few days.

Step 2, I'd try modified Feingold - ditch any preservatives/colors, and remove high salicylate foods (anything on the high or very high list here), for a week. Again, if that is part/all of the issue, a week is enough to see a substantial improvement, and if you do, then you can dive into the Feingold diet more seriously.

Step 3 would be removing dairy & gluten (and possibly more foods). Not saying these are less likely, but it takes longer to see results (sometimes), and it's a much bigger change to your daughter's food - so I'd try the easier, faster stuff first.

[MarciaD]

Few more words: When doing the Feingold diet, you must give it much more than a few weeks to see improvement. That might be okay for a few people, but my experience is that 3-4 weeks or more is needed.

Dr. Feingold told us that the younger the child, the quicker the response.

[lil_miss_understood]

Originally Posted by MarciaD

Few more words: When doing the Feingold diet, you must give it much more than a few weeks to see improvement. That might be okay for a few people, but my experience is that 3-4 weeks or more is needed.

Dr. Feingold told us that the younger the child, the quicker the response.

That makes sense since many of the additives are petroleum based so won't clear the body as quickly as they might.

[dannic]

I'll add my tip: Read _Healing the New CHildhood Epidemics (Allergies, Autism, ADHD, and Asthma), Bock, MD.

My dd exhibited autistic/adhd signs at two. We took her off all processed sugars, went gf/cf and off all preservatives, colors, flavorings, ect. HUGE. HUGE. (She is five now)

I totally agree with you on the adhd meds and labels in schools. Keep us posted how things are going!

[Rose-Roget]

Originally Posted by WuWei

I love mamafish's suggestions. I'd add zinc and probiotics too as easy first steps.


Pat

I have just found this thread and am on a similar path, I think. I will start easy and move to the harder stuff. Dumb question, though, can I give the magnesium powder, zinc (crushed), and probiotic at the same time? I'd mix them in something for ds to eat/drink.

Also, I've seen start light on the magnesium and move to about 300 mag per day. How about the zinc? How much do you give a 6 year old? (Side note: I often throw up zinc supplements, so I don't take them anymore. I'd hate for him to get too much and throw up also.)

[mamafish9]

Yes, you could do mag, zinc, and probiotics all together. However, I tend to do mag separately because it can reduce stomach acid, and do zinc with food, so it's less likely to cause the puking reaction.

No reason I can think of to start slow on the mag, even 300mg is unlikely to cause diarrhea in a 6yo, and that is the worst thing that would happen. I'd aim for 15mg of zinc, and then see where you're at. However, both the mag and zinc will absorb better if you can split them up into at least two doses a day.

[Rose-Roget]

Thanks, Mamfish - that helps.