Autism is the fastest growing developmental disorder in the United States. It affects more boys than girls and is considered incurable. There are a wide range of symptoms that fall along the line of Autism Spectrum Disorders like making little or no eye contact, incessant rocking or other repeated behaviors, impaired social interaction, an inability to read facial expressions and a lack of empathy, Autism can be devastating to the family that is faced with it.
Although Autism is incurable, the symptoms can be alleviated if certain therapies are applied. Among those therapies are cognitive, social and physical therapies and pharmaceutical drug treatments to assist in the behavioral problems. Many therapies are being tried that are considered controversial and not yet proven by western medicine.
The GFCF diet is considered a controversial method of treatment. Some children are helped with dramatic results where others see little or no improvement on the diet. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that trying the diet is worth the time and effort. It has been widely suggested that if you do choose this alternative that you first eliminate dairy products and anything containing casein. Casein leaves the system within about a week whereas gluten takes up to six months. A really good test of this diet is to give it the full six months.
Many parents lament that they have no idea what to feed their children on a GFCF diet. Parents often complain that most of the foods that their children have become accustomed to like pizza and breads contain both gluten and dairy products. Because these foods create an opiate response in the brains of children who are autistic, they have become addicted to them. When parents remove these foods, behaviors can escalate for a time until the child adjusts. Parents are urged to keep with the diet, even when it becomes difficult. Your child will not starve. The key is to introduce this diet slowly rather than attempting to eliminate everything over night.
What to eat is not as hard as one might think. Fish, meat, eggs, vegetables, fruits and rice are just a few items available to eat. In my article Gluten-Free, Casein Free (GFCF) Recipes, I will offer a simple meal plan for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert that is kid-friendly and easy to make.
When attempting a diet like this, I do recommend that you seek the help of a nutritionist. The GFCF diet can be a challenge for many reasons - like the hidden ingredients in many foods that contain gluten and/or casein.
I am available for food coaching, meal planning and grocery tours in Los Angeles. I also offer information and resources to help you and your child. I sincerely hope this is the help you and your child are looking for. If you find this information useful and know someone who needs help, please feel free to direct them to this website. Related Articles by Doctor Meg: Autism and GFCF Diet Gluten-Free, Casein Free (GFCF) Recipes
For assistance in easily and painlessly eliminating gluten and dairy from your diet, my new cookbook Done With Dairy, Giving Up Gluten: 14 Days to a Delicious and Healthy You offers 14 days of recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert, a grocery list, grocery tips, and valuable information for going gluten and dairy-free. I've made it simple for you to make this change so you don't have to spend hours and days trying to figure out what to eat.
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you use it unedited and in its entirety, including the following author information: Dairy and Gluten-Free Chef and Lifestyle Coach, Doctor Meg Haworth, Ph.D., created Delicious And Healthy to support those suffering from food allergy or intolerance. Sign up to receive her FREE biweekly newsletter, Delicious And Healthy Living, and FREE Special Reports, Glutton for Gluten and Drowning in Dairy, at www.DeliciousAndHealthy.com. You can also access her online cooking videos and check out her cookbook and allergy elimination guide, Done With Dairy -- Giving up Gluten: 14 Days to a Delicious And Healthy You.
