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| After a child is diagnosed with ADHD, many parents are willing to try just about anything that is safe to help curb the the inattentiveness , impulsive behavior and the almost non-stop physical activity that are charateristic of the condition. |
| One way many families try is by diet. Back in the 1970's there was the Feingold diet, which eliminated artificial colors, preservatives, and salicyltes (found in aspirin and some fruits and vegatables.) Many parents swore by the diet, but after several studies found no link between what kids ate and ADHD, the use of diet to treat ADHD fell out of favor. |
| Recently researchers at Cornell University School of Medicine put 26 children with ADHD on a much more restrictive diet than the Feingold's diet. The Cornell diet eliminated dairy products, wheat, corn, yeast, soy, citrus, eggs, chocolate, peanuts, and artificial colors and preservatives. After weeks on the diet 19 of the children appeared noticeably less hyperactive to their parents. Next without telling the parents what was added the researchers added either a small amount of one of the forbidden foods or a placebo. The parents said that their children where more hyperactive after eating a forbidding food, but not after they were given a placebo. |
| The director of the study thinks the reason for the noticeable results is because this diet was more restrictive and that other studies only eliminated one thing at a time. He believes that children who have ADHD are unable to tolerate multiple foods, additives and colorings. |
| if the results of the study hold up, the new diet could offer parents another treatment option for their children. A doctor can help parents decide whether it's worthwhile to experiment with their child's diet. |
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