For children who suffer chronically from any of number of ailments, the use of diet to ease or treat symptoms is a viable alternative to medication and other traditional forms of treatment. Of course, sometimes medication is unavoidable—and as many parents will attest, thank goodness it is there—but an altered diet in conjunction with that treatment often boosts results and helps a child better manage uncomfortable symptoms. Medical professionals often suggest a dietary approach in the case of ADD/ADHD, asthma, allergies, hives, and diabetes.
Much of the current thought concerning childhood illness and diet, stem from the work of Dr. Benjamin Feingold, pediatrician/allergist and Chief Emeritus of the Department of Allergy at the Kaiser Foundation Hospital and Permanente Medical Group.
He asserted in the early 1970s that certain foods and food additives trigger symptoms in patients with hyperactivity (ADHD). He had already begun prescribing dietary changes for patients suffering from asthma, hives, and other allergic reactions, and noticed that certain behavioral tendencies diminished with the altered diet. He proposed a diet free of artificial colors, flavors, and certain natural chemicals (namely salicylates found in almonds, berries, apples, tomatoes, and other foods,) to help control hyperactivity. Originally called the KP diet, this revolutionary nutritional approach, soon dubbed the Feingold diet, continues to be used under the same name today.
There was much skepticism within the medical community about Feingold’s claims, but many families found success when implementing this diet. Dozens of controlled studies followed, and in 1982, the National Institutes of Health convened a panel that concluded that in some cases there was a positive correlation between dietary restrictions and a decrease in hyperactivity.
However, it pointed out the failure of studies to provide clear data on which children benefit from this type of dietary therapy, what specific foods caused the most problems, and solid guidelines on how diet therapy helped.
Even today, opinions differ on the effectiveness of dietary therapy to treat the symptoms of ADD/ADHD in particular, but also other ailments such as allergies and asthma. With other childhood diseases like diabetes, dietary therapy is much more accepted and even seen as critical to managing symptoms. However, many doctors worry about limiting a child’s diet too much, as it can easily result in the elimination of nutrients necessary for proper development and growth.
Following are some common dietary recommendations for childhood ailments.
Please keep in mind that these are merely generalized recommendations, and it is always advisable to obtain approval from a pediatrician or other medical professional before implementing any dietary restrictions.
ADD/ADHD/Hyperactivity: While there is no evidence that food additives cause ADHD and hyperactivity, many believe they can significantly worsen the symptoms. Specific food additives that have been linked to increased hyperactivity include FD&C Yellow Nos. 5 and 6; FD&C Red No. 40; D&C Yellow No. 10; sodium benzoate and benzoic acid; BHA, BHT, and TBHQ preservatives; and artificial sweeteners and flavorings. In addition, the Feingold diet recommends eliminating natural foods high in salicylates. Studies have also found that some ADHD children have lower levels of certain essential fatty acids, including EPA and DHA (Richardson and Puri, 2001; Sinn and Bryan, 2007). Therefore, some experts also recommend an increase in foods high in these omega-3 fatty acids in the diet.
Asthma: Although Feingold linked food dyes to asthma in the 1970s, the dietary suggestions today lean more toward what they call a “Mediterranean” diet. This type of nutritional program is heavy in fruits, vegetables, and fish, and limits the intake of saturated fats. In particular, this includes those hydrogenated vegetable fats and trans-fatty acids found in many processed and “fast” foods. Advocates of the Feingold diet suggest this nutritional plan for asthmatics as well.
Diabetes: Diet is critical for children who have diabetes, as the type and amount of food a child eats will inevitably affect his or her blood sugar levels. Thus, meals must be regular, since skipping meals can cause blood sugars to plummet. Doctors generally recommend a balanced diet plan for diabetic children, with particular attention paid to carbohydrate consumption. Since the body turns carbohydrates directly into blood sugar, carbohydrate intake will affect the body’s blood sugar the most. However, the key is to balance the child’s need for adequate energy and nutrients without overdoing the carbs. Usually, a nutritionist or registered dietician can help individual families determine the best dietary approach.
Hives, Eczema, and Other Skin Ailments: Most experts agree that you should not automatically put children suffering from atopic eczema on a special diet. However, particularly in younger children, it is possible that something the child is eating is causing an allergic reaction that is manifesting as eczema, hives, or another skin reaction. This can sometimes by assessed by allergy testing, but other times a routine elimination diet can decipher what might be causing the child to react. The Feingold Association has recently spotlighted research linking food dye consumption with eczema. Many caution however, that while diet can worsen skin ailments, it is not necessarily the cause.
As every parent knows, it is so important to start a child off with a nutritionally packed diet and good eating habits that will last a lifetime. However, the use of dietary therapy to help control childhood conditions and illnesses is certainly worth investigating as a way to ease or reduce symptoms as well. The limited research confirms that, for some children, diet therapy can be a crucial component of any long-term treatment solution.
Sources:
Richardson, Alexandra J., and Basant K. Puri. 2001 “A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effects of supplementation with highly unsaturated fatty acids on ADHD-related symptoms in children with specific learning difficulties.”
Oxford University. Accessed on August 24, 2010, at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TBR-44PC74916&_user=10&_coverDate=02%2F28%2F2002&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1440626861&_rerunOrigin=scholar.google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=c3e714fba76b57af2df88b2bedda159b
Sinn, Natalie, and Janet Bryan. 2007. “Effect of supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids and micronutrients on learning and behavior problems associated with child ADHD.” In the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 28, 2. Accessed on August 24, 2010 at http://journals.lww.com/jrnldbp/Abstract/2007/04000/Effect_of_Supplementation_with_Polyunsaturated.2.aspx.
http://www.feingold.org
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/AsthmaNews/kids-eat-tied-asthma-risk-studyfinds/story?id=10820041
http://www.cspinet.org/nah/3_00/diet_behavior.html
http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site743/mainpageS743P0.html