The John Kender Diet   (click here) a_star.gif (952 bytes)

jkender3.jpg (2713 bytes) John Kender - (sorry, a bad quality pic, but please appreciate it, we've struggled for 3 years to get a pic of him!   (Thanks John!)

Please note that all John's resesarch is just that.. research...he makes no claims that the diet will work for all trichsters etc.  But I for one (Amanda) am one of the biggest believers of the diet, so I strongly encourage you to try it.   I have been PPF (practically pull free) since 29 September 1996.   I had increcible emotional healing from learning that I'm not crazy, weak, alone etc... and the pulling did diminish dramatically because of that.   BUT the physical urges was still there.  It was only when I started the JK diet (under protest) that I found incredible freedom from those terrible urges.  I strongly recommend it... it was a life saver for me!

Note by John Kender:  I have had reports to date of about 240 people or so (March 2001) who have gotten partial or full remissions from what they attribute to dietary means. The number of people who have reported that particular foods are triggers for them is a number so great I have stopped keeping records; probably at least the same number than above. These triggers seem to center on sugar, chocolate, caffeine, cola, egg yolks, peanuts, and beans. There have been two or three reports of people of trying to restrict these or other foods without any apparent effect, pro or con.  Probably a couple of dozen people haven't noticed any benefit.

My guess is that some pulling is purely biological in origin. This does not mean it would only have biological effects. A bad physical scar, forexample, is biological too, but has powerful impact on many aspects of a person's life. What I and others have noted is that by avoiding food triggers, the internal urge and the external itch are moderated, and the rest of the body, mind,and soul of the individual finds it easier to control behaviors. This control is possible in many other ways, too. But many people have found it a harder job, whatever coping means they use, if the biology has been triggered to scream out loud.

I would encourage people to experiment. It isn't fair to have food triggers, it is hard work to avoid them, and a dietary approach may not apply to whatever variant of hairpulling one suffers from. My guess is about 60% should show some benefit, based on surveys on the list. As ever, I would appreciate people's reports, whether positive and negative, whether public or private.

John (approaching eight years pull-free)

Good links - I strongly suggest these even before reading my own page ##  
Mari's inspirational page - let's do the diet together... many tips,stories etc. ##  
Sara's great diet page, tips, recipes etc... a big must!  ##  
JK Diet Discussion Forum    ##  

Join the JK diet support group##  

Carla's Trich Website (JK Diet related)    ##  

 

The John Kender diet Tips to stay on the diet
The JK diet (in Amanda's words) Easy steps for the JK diet    
The JK diet (In John Kender's words)    Tips that help helped me stay on the JK diet  (written by Amanda)
Some more info on specific foods (by JK)  More tips by other people on the JK diet  
New update (Tea trea oil and a bit about bananas) Helpful things against pulling Via the Yeast hypothesis

 

JK diet and Vegetarians Isn't the diet too difficult too follow? 
Sugar profiles    Keep a Diet Diary (food log)  
Latest JK theories   Wheat germ may be a problem 
Answers on sugar alcohol, carob, sorbitol, maltitol, tofu and butter  What can one eat on the diet?

I am a college student who eats on campus all the time.! One can eat fried whatever you want unless it's fried legumes, peanuts, etc. That leaves the college dorm student on the JK diet to the sugar issue....let's think of all the things I eat on campus - NONE of which happen to add sugar.... french fries, hot dogs, submarine sandwiches, chinese food (minus soy sauce), steak, mashed/baked potatoes, grilled cheese
sandwich, pizza, chili con carne (beanless if need be)and fritos,
soup, a wide variety of mexican food dishes, pasta's/italian food, and on and on and on. Breakfast? How about pancakes, french toast, bacon,sausage, hask browns, etc. Can't use syrup or powdered sugar? How about putting some jelly or jam or fruit on top of pancakes or french toast instead, and/or whipped cream!!
Latest research (Oct 1998)   Trich, food and skin care by John Kender and Mike Grant
Trich and JK diet statistics (John Kender)

 

Various
Can antibiotics cause pulling?  Roots investigation by JK    Do not read if you get affected by root talk!!   
Food allergy info    Is there a link between sugar and ADHD / strange behaviours?

How did the John 'discover' the JK diet?   

 

For some additional info on nutritional means of TTM control posted by people other than John Kender, go to the web pages at home.intekom.com/jly2, www.soul4ce.home.texas.net , www.jkdietpage.tripod.com  and  www.geocities.com/carlac2455    

Please let me know if I can help you further. If you do try a nutritional approach to TTM, please let me know your results so that we all can learn more about this disorder.

Thank you,
John