Following are some important aspects of the developing of thinking over time:- 1975 I began work using the Feingold diet Realised that the diet itself needed investigation I collected data on what families reacted to and tolerated. 1976 Reported in letter to Medical Journal of Australia 1976, 2:248 Collated world-wide research on what others were reporting tolerated and not tolerated. 1977 Produced a Diet manual in 1977 1978 Reported findings in Australian Family Physician article … [Read more...]
History of Joan’s work with diet and ADHD
Joan Breakey M AppSc BSc DNFS Cert Diet TTTC. APD [Accredited Practicing Dietitian] My experience of work in the area of Diet and ADHD now spans 35 years. Work began in 1975 in Queensland, after Feingold’s Hypothesis in the US First group closely followed - 75 families – reported in Australian Family Physician 1978. I also followed up diet use in self help groups, attending meetings and discussion groups for over 20 years, meeting or hearing from many families allowing … [Read more...]
The role of diet in ADHD in children and adults
Is there a particular ADHD diet for children? Can diet provide a treatment for ADHD without medication? What is known? Diet does help many ADHD children. Over time different research teams in different parts of the world have shown that diet does help ADHD children. Because the diet needed is not exactly the same for all children and does not improve all ADHD children many professionals say it is not proven. But with what is now known you can find out if it can decrease problems such as … [Read more...]
Diet & ADHD Research shows connection
Review by Joan Breakey, specialist dietitian working with diet and ADHD for 30 years An important new study on Diet and ADHD was published in a key medical journal: The Lancet, in February this year: Effects of a restricted elimination diet on the behaviour of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (INCA study): a randomised controlled study. It was conducted by Pelsser of the ADHD Research Centre in the Netherlands and her team. Overall the INCA study is another … [Read more...]
ADHD controversy
Why, after 30 years, is diet and ADHD still controversial? The blind men and the elephant a verse by John Godfrey Saxe There was six men of Hindostan, To learning much inclined Who went to see the elephant, (Though all of them were blind); That each by observation Might satisfy his mind. This old verse is an apt one for this discussion as it reminds us that when viewing anything it is important not to have limited vision. Why is the controversy about diet and ADHD still relevant … [Read more...]
Eczema & diet – An update from a dietitian
It is a little known fact that eczema is affected by additives and natural chemicals in food. Many people know that allergy is almost always part of what happens. However even when they attend to the allergy foods that come up positive on allergy tests the eczema is not completely solved. In fact one way of knowing that diet investigation for food intolerance and chemical sensitivity is likely to have a positive outcome is the presence of eczema. Addition of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), or … [Read more...]