I have chosen Gluten-Free/Casein-Free Diets for Autism.As an early intervention teacher/ABA therapist I
have seen the benefits of a Gluten free diet on children with Autism and
behavioral disorders.
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are developmental disorders that
affect children by disrupting their ability to communicate and interact
socially. To reduce a child's symptoms of autism, parents often try alternative
treatments such as specialized diets. Lately, the gluten-free/casein-free diet
has grown in popularity. Some parents report improvements in autism symptoms
with this dietary regimen.
Little
research has been done, though, on the gluten-free/casein-free diet for autism.
Consequently, many parents wonder whether this diet really does, in fact, make
a difference in the symptoms of children with autism. Some also believe that
children with autism restrict their own intake, because they prefer bland food
like white bread. Thus the question becomes “Chicken or egg.” Is the gluten
causing the autism, or, more likely, is the autism limiting the child’s variety
of food intake?
What is a gluten-free/casein-free diet for autism?
A
gluten-free/casein-free diet is also known as the GFCF diet. It is one of
several alternative treatments for children with autism. When following this
strict elimination diet, all foods containing gluten ( found in wheat, barley
and rye) and casein ( found in milk and dairy products) are removed from the
child's daily food intake.
How
does a gluten-free/casein-free diet for autism work?
The
benefit of a gluten-free/casein-free diet is based on the theory that children
with autism may have an allergy or high sensitivity to foods containing
gluten or casein. Children with autism, according to the theory, process
peptides and proteins in foods containing gluten and casein differently than
other people do. Hypothetically, this difference in processing may exacerbate
autistic symptoms. Some believe that the brain treats these proteins like false
opiate-like chemicals. The reaction to these chemicals, they say, leads a child
to act in a certain way. The idea behind the use of the diet is to reduce
symptoms and improve social and cognitive behaviors and speech.
http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/gluten-free-casein-free-diets-for-autism
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