Presentation at Nutrition Society of Australia, Brisbane, August 2004 * Joan Breakey, Dietitian, 303 Wivenhoe Somerset Rd, Fernvale Qld 4306 Since Feingold hypothesised that chemicals in food caused hyperactivity in 1973 th1s issue has been controversial. Well planned research in the 1980's did show some children reacted but the mechanism is complex. As well as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder [ADHD] symptoms improving, mood and physical allergic symptoms improved on a low suspect … [Read more...]
What’s become of the Feingold diet?
Transcript from Ockham's Razor broadcast Sunday 11 November 2001 with Robyn Williams Summary: Dietitian Joan Breakey talks about developments since Dr. Ben Feingold, in 1973, first linked diet and hyperactivity. Transcript: Robyn Williams: One of the biggest controversies of the 1970s was about hyperactivity in children, their diet and the advice of American scientist Dr Ben Feingold. So whatever happened to the Feingold diet? In Brisbane, Joan Breakey tells the tale. Joan … [Read more...]
What’s smell got to do with it?
Transcript from Ockham's Razor, 16 May 2004. Presented by Robyn Williams. If bitterness is a warning via taste, is flavour a warning via smell? Brisbane dietitian Joan Breakey investigated the role of flavour as a warning via smell and discovered that strong flavoured foods remained high risk for some, but others were able to tolerate the stronger flavours, providing the foods were fresh. Program Transcript Robyn Williams: Do you remember the Feingold diet? You’d have to be … [Read more...]
Pain as a symptom of food intolerance
We have often seen symptoms such as infant eczema, chronic daily headaches, related to diet, or heard that diet can be one of the migraine treatments, or natural remedies for ADHD and some other food intolerance symptoms. Now it is time to think of pain itself as another important symptom that changes with diet. In May 2010 I listened to a well presented talk on reflux in babies and children by a senior paediatric Gastroenterologist at RCH Brisbane. He reported that the amount of distress in … [Read more...]
Genes, environment and bioactive food components – the food intolerant sample
Joan Breakey1 1Private practice, Fernvale 4306 Australia DAA Conference Proceedings 2006 There is a population group whose genetic make-up predisposes them to adverse reactions to particular substances in food. They emerged from patients whose dermatological complaints were due to salicylates and related compounds [such as additives] in the diet, then from hyperactive children reacting to the same compounds. The tendency for adverse reactions runs in families. Investigation over the … [Read more...]
Evidence base for food sensitivity
There are two important parts to the evidence for the low additives and natural chemicals elimination diet when beginning diet investigation for suspected food intolerance. See the attached articles for detail on this complex issue. Basic research We need to remember that we are dealing with adverse reactions to foods or food chemicals that most people tolerate. So the early research was experimenting with just what to exclude at the same time as doing double-blind placebo-controlled … [Read more...]
Important references on amines in food
Thanks to dietitian Fiona Florakx for her extensive literature search. Allen DH, Van Nunen S, Loblay R, Clarke, L. Adverse reactions to food. The Medical Journal of Australia 1984; Sept; Special supplement : S37-S42. Provides documentation of amine exclusion as part of elimination diet in Australia in 1984 Breakey J. Dietary management of the hyperkinetic syndrome. 1977 Brisbane Yeast extracts, tomatoes excluded re histamines as well as chocolate; and overripe … [Read more...]