A.D.H.D. is a disease which has increased manifold in the last 50 years. Part of this increase has been due to better diagnostic procedures, but, by far, the main cause has been an increasingly poor diet.
    Here are some of the elements of the diet that have caused the illness:  Greater consumption of caffeine (in coffee, tea, soft drinks. “Energy” drinks, and in some bottled waters); chocolate; milk products;  nicotine; alcohol (beer, wine, whisky); drugs (even Ritalin [generic name Methylphenidate], a drug used to treat A.D.H.D., can make the disease worse); artificial coloring (most food products not in their natural state), preserving (sodium nitrate and nitrite, calcium propionate, sodium and potassium benzoate), flavoring (MSG, probably still found in many Chinese restaurant foods) and sweetening agents (Nutrasweet, Equal, Sweet’N Low); foods prepared with white flour (cake, cookies, white bread); sugar (known to cause diabetes, cardiovascular, and mental diseases); the combination of fluoride dental preparations and aluminum-containing anti-perspirant deodorants. A.D.H.D. may be the acute disease and Alzheimer’s the chronic form.
     The list of ingredients of every product consumed must be carefully examined to be sure that absolutely none of these agents is present.    Any attempt to mitigate the disorder must be done with the full cooperation of the patient, for merely reducing the consumption of these agents rarely demonstrates satisfactory results–they must be entirely eliminated from the lifestyle to achieve long-term elimination of symptoms.    A.D.H.D. appears to be hereditary and occurs predominantly in males at a ratio of 3:1. Male siblings have a far greater tendency to show symptoms than their sisters, although females may also show symptoms in families with rather poor diets.  The condition is not limited to pre-teen and teenage males; more and more, their fathers are shown to have symptoms.
    About thirty-five years ago, Dr. Ben F. Feingold, a pediatric allergist, and his wife, Helen, published a book, The Feingold Cookbook for Hyperactive Children and Others with Problems Associated with Food Additives and Salicylates,. Random House, New York, 1979. The book was dedicated “to the many parents who, by sharing their success with other families, made valid the concept of dietary management.”  I highly recommend the book to be purchased and studied, and I don’t feel that the publisher would mind if I were to quote a little further from it, in the interest of public betterment.

   “The following fruits, vegetables and miscellaneous items contain salicylates and should be eliminated: Almonds, apples (also cider and cider vinegar), apricots, all berries, cherries, cloves, coffee, cucumbers and pickles, currants, grapes and raisins (also wine and wine vinegar), green peppers (also chilies), nectarines, oranges, peaches, plums and prunes, tangerines, all teas, tomatoes and oil of wintergreen.
      “In addition, the following sundry items should be eliminated: Practically all pediatric medications and vitamins contain artificial colors and flavors; Vitamins added to fortify foods may contain BHT or BHA. [Fortunately, these items have been forced off the market in recent years because of their toxicity] This is especially true of Vitamin A.
     “Most over-the-counter medications may contain aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) as well as artificial colors and flavors.
    “All toothpastes and toothpowders.
    “All mouthwashes, cough drops and lozenges.
  “Perfumes and most aromatic sprays, for example, deodorizers, disinfectants and insecticides.
    “All chewing gums contain BHT, and sugarless gum also contains synthetic flavors and, at times, colors.
     [Finally, the book adds,] “Finger paints and play dough used by children at home, nursery school or kindergarten contain artificial coloring. This coloring is introduced into the mouth by hands and fingers contaminated with the color."

        Sounds pretty limiting, doesn’t it?  What’s left to eat or touch? It appears, hardly anything.  All is not lost, however, because there are fresh fruits and vegetables not listed that do not contain salicylates, BHA and BHT are no longer allowed in this country, many vitamin and mineral preparations (listed as hypoallergenic), do not contain yeast, artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners and preservatives. Furthermore, not every child (or adult) is that highly allergic to all these substances. Sometimes pork, wheat, corn and eggs can cause allergies.
    How does one know which of these ingredients, between my list and their list, are causing the hyperactivity?  The answer is: eliminate all of these substances for one or two weeks and then slowly begin adding one of them, at a time, back into the lifestyle.  When the patient begins to show hyperactivity, bingo! You’ve got the causative agent or agents. These must be eliminated for a year or more and then introduced again, if really desired, or permanently eliminated. Remember to delete them for the one or two week period though, so you know which is the causative factor.
    Just before the Feingold book was published, I recommended one of my hyperactive clients to eliminate the items on my list.  Sure enough, within two weeks, the child brought home a note from her teacher, indicating the marked improvement in her behavior, and a bit of encouragement to keep doing what they had been doing to bring about this change.
    Although the Feingolds brought no changes in the universal treatment of A.D.H.D., toward natural foods and away from drug therapy, maybe a quarter of a century later, people will begin to follow this therapy.  I know it works.
     I emphasize that the ABC DIET plus Exercise must be followed extremely strictly to be able to show entire elimination of symptoms. No child likes to be different, having to take pills every day, be inattentive, unable to concentrate, having to work harder “because there’s a cloud hanging over their heads.”  If A.D.H.D. symptoms are eliminated, even for a short, but noticeable, period of time, they’ll be grateful forever.
    I am not absolutely certain that salicylate-containing fruits, vegetables and nuts should be indicted until the “artificials” and all sugar, bread, crackers, cake, candy, cookies and ice cream, have been eliminated from the diet for a period of two weeks. Then, if no results are apparent, the elimination of salicylates might be considered. All tea, aspirin and other drugs must be eliminated, if at all possible.
    Finally, the co-operation of the schools, music teachers, art classes and social groups must be enlisted in order to prevent the child, when the parent is not around, from receiving sweets and other items that are not allowed under the program. When they are offered food, children usually can't say "no, thank you” to an adult, even if it is in their best health interest to do so.