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Autism and Diet
By Rachel Evans
Autism can be a particularly difficult condition to deal with as
a parent. It involves making sacrifices, changing your lifestyle, and exploring a
variety of methods that can help reduce the intense social anxiety that is linked
to this condition.
One of the least recognized ways to deal with autism is through the adoption of a specialized diet.
There is so much ongoing research into autism from the scientific and behavioral standpoint that dietary factors are sometimes overlooked or just ignored.
In reality, however, some parents of autistic children have noticed a strong connection
between autism and diet for many years. Today, there is a growing body of research
that is starting to back up this observation.
This new way of thinking has led to
the creation of the gluten and casein free diet. You may be wondering how gluten
and casein affect children with autism?
Researchers have discovered that some autistic
people may have difficulty processing the proteins -
What happens
is that the breakdown of these foods in the body causes opiates to be produced, so
in essence, children with autism can become addicted to foods containing these proteins.
The result is that like an food allergy, behavior can be effected.
Take note of what
your child chooses to eat. If your child constantly eats products containing dairy
and wheat, then this can be a sign that there bodies are struggling to process these
foods and therefore, they crave more.
Of course, the child does not understand what
is going on physically, he or she only realizes that eating such foods produces a
pleasurable feeling.
Get More Information on Natural Remedies for Autism and other PDDs
There have been many reports of autistic children showing vast improvement after
making wholesale dietary changes. This means getting away from products that contain
gluten and casein.
Of course, it is best to take away one source of food at a time
to lessen the shock of change. Experts recommend removing dairy products first, and
then forming a plan to introduce a totally gluten-
It is important, as
a parent of an autistic child, that you become a devout label-
Planning a gluten and
casein free diet is not an easy task. Fortunately, many autistic children come to
enjoy their new diets in a short period of time and will actually begin to try different
foods.
Planning out a proper diet is extremely important and it is probably a good
idea for you to consult with a nutritionist. You may need to get certain vitamins
for your child in order to make their diet healthy as well as reducing some of the
symptoms of autism.
Again, many vitamin products are actually made with gluten, so
it is important to select products that do not include this protein. The best place
to find these kinds of supplements are health and natural food stores. They usually
have a tremendous selection of gluten and casein free products.
Many food products
exist that are gluten and casein free. They are available at supermarkets, organic
grocery stores, and other specialty locations. Some of the products are slightly
more expensive than regular groceries of the same variety, but the difference in
price can be worth it if your child’s behavior improves.
If you are skeptical about
the affect of diet on autism it is completely understandable. But recent research
has indicated that it is very likely food can affect behavior in autistic persons.
Since these findings are relatively new, even your doctor might not be aware of the
possible link. Eliminating these proteins from your child’s diet will not cause any
damage or increase the symptoms of autism. There is no risk involved with trying
a diet that could actually be incredibly effective in easing symptoms of autism.
Rachel Evans. For information and to signup for a Free Newsletter about Autism please
visit The Essential Guide to Autism
Note from Jean
Here is a good book which is really
useful and which exposes the link between learning disabilities, the food and drink
we take and the condition of our digestive systems.
Written by Dr.Natasha Campbell-
Many health practitioners believe that an autism diet may be beneficial treatment.
The reason is because most autistics have distorted immune response which causes
their body to respond abnormally to certain types of food, viruses and toxins.
Furthermore,
it is not uncommon for many autistics to suffer from gastrointestinal inflammation
and other intestinal disorders. It is thought that these intestinal problems might
decrease the body’s ability to absorb specific essential nutrients.
Thus, by following
a diet and other alternative treatment methods, certain abilities and overall health
may be improved in an autistic individual.
The following are 4 autism diets you may
want to consider –
Gluten and Casein Free Diet
Gluten and Casein are both proteins
found in many foods which some autistics have a hard time digesting. Gluten occurs
in wheat, oat and rye products, while casein is found in human milk, cow milk and
many other dairy products. Both of these proteins are also in the ingredients of
many medications.
Research has discovered that abnormally high level of specific
peptides related to gluten and casein have been found in the urine of autistic children.
This could mean that these proteins are not being effectively broken down into amino
acids, and this over-
Some research is based on
the belief that some autistics have high levels of candida albicans (a type of yeast
that occurs naturally in the body) in their intestinal tract.
A candida overgrowth
in the intestines can cause “leaky gut” syndrome, a condition that causes tiny holes
in the intestinal tract. The yeast grows fast and releases toxins in the bloodstream
which has the potential to affect brain functioning.
In fact, aside from causing
stomach distress, it is thought by some that a candida overgrowth can cause a number
of behavioural difficulties such as fatigue, confusion and hyperactivity.
Candida
can be controlled naturally through an anti-
This is a science based autism diet, and
it involves the cessation of ingesting specific carbohydrates (sugars and starches)
that have been found to cause problems within the digestive tract.
In addition, carbohydrates
are small enough that they can slip by the surface of the small intestine into the
blood stream, and can cause abnormal brain function.
This diet limits the amount
of carbohydrates ingested and slowly adds them back once the intestinal tract has
had time to heal.
Body Ecology Diet (BED)
This particular diet used to treat autism
was originally created to treat systemic fungal infections typically caused by Candida
overgrowth. It has been used to treat the inflammatory bowel diseases ulcerative
colitis and Crohn’s disease, as well as a number of autoimmune diseases and AIDS.
Like the other autism diets, the BED works to heal the gastrointestinal system and
prevent future infections.
The BED diet involves eliminating gluten and casein from
the diet as well as drastically limiting bad fats, carbohydrates and sugars.
It is
best to talk to your child’s health care provider to find out which autism diet would
be the best course of treatment.
It is also important to have your doctor monitor
your child’s condition while on a diet reatment. This way you can ask any questions
or concerns you may have about the autism diets, and to ensure your child is receiving
the sufficient nutrients his/her body requires.