Dr. Benjamin F. Feingold linked allergies and ADHD in the 1970s. Since that time, the debate has continued. Alternative practitioners consider allergies as a cause of ADHD. With the advent of more studies in nutrition, more doctors of medicine are accepting the two as possible comorbid conditions. Therefore, conflicting information about allergies may exist.

Researchers in traditional medicine do not consider allergies as a cause of ADD because they do not have the studies that show it. However, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) counters that the studies show no correlation because they were poorly designed and executed and often were paid for by the food industry. For example, when researchers tested whether children reacted to artificial food dyes made from petroleum, they tested only one dye at a time although children may eat foods with the dyes at the same time. The amount tested was probably only a fraction of the dyes that children actually eat because no one calculated the actual food intake of children.

About 15 to 20 percent of the population has some type of allergy. If a car receives fuel that it is not compatible with, it will not run properly. This analogy describes what happened when people food they are allergic to and that may affect their behavior.

When the individual encounters an allergen, the item that evokes the allergic reaction, the body releases a chemical known as histamine, which works to increase the removal of blood serum from around the brain tissue. The adequate flow to the tiny capillaries of the tiny capillaries in the brain is affected and the brain becomes unbalanced. Thus, there may be a loss of memory, attention, and cognitive function.

Here are some signs that indicate allergies (Thumell-Read 2005):

1. Dark circles or bags under the eyes called allergy shiners

2. Dark flaky lips; lips are often involved in allergic reactions

3. Sweaty feet may indicate the allergic reactions; the liver is coping with an overload of toxins

4. One or both ears may be red or burn; the reaction often starts about 1 hour 45 minutes after exposure.

5. Children with allergies may appear pale and anemic.

6. A child may be a fussy eater; the child may be allergic to the food he will not eat.

7. Babies with food allergies may be very good tempered or very ill-tempered the first thing in the morning.

8. There may be a family history of allergies with near relatives suffering from hay fever or eczema.

9. Allergic children and adults often like peculiar smell; they may sniff felt pens or like the smell of gas. They are nearly always allergic to the smell.

Symptoms of ADHD may worsen with a seasonal allergy. Doctors at Long Island Hospital studied 20 children with ADHD between the ages of 5 and 18. They found that 40 percent of the children were diagnosed with asthma or atopical dermatitis; 23 percent with allergic rhinitis, and 9 percent had a positive allergy test. The researchers concluded that a high percentage of children with ADHD may also harbor behavior problems because of sleep problems caused by allergy symptoms--especially nasal obstruction. The study urged that all children diagnosed with ADHD be tested and treated for seasonal and environmental allergies.

Using a diary or journal to log the foods eaten by the person over a 30-day period will often provide insight into the items that may be creating complex ADHD symptoms. Diets such as the Feingold diet recommend that one perform trial and error with foods to discover allergies and how they are related to behavior.

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