A “fruit” Punch Dyed Red Set My Daughter Off!
“The day she was born, the nurse warned me she was hyperactive.” Lisa’s mother recalled. “But she was such a bright, lovable baby that we didn’t even realize she was hyperactive until she got on the diet at age 4.
“Lisa didn’t play with toys, didn’t watch TV, couldn’t sit at the table for a meal, and never slept for more than 30 minutes at a time — even at night. But she really was sweet, and I guess we just got accustomed to the level of activity.
“Developmentally, she was slow in most areas, but because she spoke in full sentences by the ago of 18 months, we didn’t consider the possibility of retardation.
"She had done well at home and on a one-to-one basis with other children, but nursery school brought more frustration than this three-year-old could handle, so we began to search for answers.
“We followed the diet to the best of our ability for a week, and then on Saturday I gave her a glass of Hawaiian Punch. She made me think of a dog chasing its own tail. She chased around in circles, with no place to go; her reaction was so extreme we became fully committed to the diet on that day. (www.feingold.org)
“As she grew, Lisa stayed on the diet most of the time, but after she had been good for as long as she could, she would decide it was time for a ‘holiday.’ Then the nightmares (which we now know were actually hallucinations) would begin. She was terrified of them and this fear made her want to get back on the diet.
“Another consequence was the change in her schoolwork; she was unable to read or write after she had consumed the forbidden additives.
“Lisa graduated from high school with a long list of honors and was accepted into the college of her choice. She has many friends and has held a position of leadership in numerous organizations.”