If you follow the Feingold Program for a number of weeks and do not see a significant improvement, DON’T GIVE UP. You may have overlooked something when you first started the Program. Re-read your Feingold materials and review your diet diary and double-check your pantry
shelves for unacceptable items. Be patient. Some children go through four to six weeks of withdrawal with worsening symptoms before improving. In a minority of cases the diet alone is not enough, but when other treatments are added, the change can be dramatic. In autism, for example, the diet is seldom a “cure,” but parents report that other interventions work better once the child is also on the Feingold Diet.
Common reasons for lack of success are:
- Using products similar to, but not actually those in
the Foodlist
- Using an unacceptable brand of toothpaste,
shampoo, soap, vitamins, medication, etc.
- Not eliminating all salicylates
- Infractions (eating foods that are not accepted)
- Adding back salicylates too quickly and thereby
missing a build-up effect
- Testing out restaurant food too soon
- Excessive sugar and low protein