| Most people don't know that autism is a physical | | | | know how difficult it is to find products that are |
| condition as well as a mental one. For this reason | | | | gluten-free. When you add dairy to the list as well, |
| alone, controlling your child's autism and diet go | | | | the job becomes a lot harder. Making the job |
| hand in hand. Studies have shown that over half | | | | harder still, many children suffering from autism |
| of autistic children suffer from gastrointestinal | | | | latch on to certain foods and simply refuse to eat |
| issues including chrons disease and colitis. Some | | | | other foods. With so many products containing |
| scientists believe that this disorder begins in the | | | | casein or gluten, there is a pretty good chance |
| stomach. Their theory is that the gastrointestinal | | | | that something your child likes will end up being a |
| walls have been damaged, which allows toxins to | | | | problem for you. Another thing to be aware of is |
| seep into the bloodstream and affect the brain's | | | | that foods containing casein and gluten act as |
| activity. | | | | opiates, which will make your autistic child crave |
| This is the reason why an autistic child's parents | | | | them even more. |
| need to monitor their child's eating habits as well | | | | It isn't going to be easy to wean your child off of |
| as their behavior. Foods that contain casein (dairy | | | | these foods. Most parents find that it is easiest to |
| products) and gluten (rye, wheat, and barley) are | | | | start by eliminating dairy. Because many people |
| foods that someone suffering from autism should | | | | are lactose intolerant, dairy makes up a smaller |
| not be eating. It appears that their body can't | | | | percentage of most individuals' diets than products |
| properly digest them and this undigested protein | | | | containing gluten do. It is much easier to replace |
| becomes a poison that leaks into their circulatory | | | | products containing casein with other foods. |
| system. | | | | Unfortunately, this is not the case with gluten. |
| A GFCF diet (gluten-free, casein-free) is becoming | | | | Foods that don't even contain gluten can be |
| increasingly popular with the parents of children | | | | contaminated by it, because many different foods |
| suffering from autism. Some in the medical | | | | can be processed at the same facility. Examine all |
| community are still skeptical, but other medical | | | | of a foods ingredients carefully and if you are still |
| professionals and organizations completely support | | | | in doubt, check directly with the products |
| the GFCF diet. Defeat Autism Now (DAN) is one | | | | manufacturer. |
| of those organizations. Many parents have found | | | | Monitoring your child's autism and diet isn't going to |
| incredible improvements in their children after | | | | be easy, because many parents believe their child |
| switching to this diet. They have noticed that their | | | | won't eat if their favorite foods are taken away. |
| child has a longer attention span, makes better | | | | You have to be firm as well as loving, and don't |
| eye contact, and behaves less aggressively in | | | | give in when your child misbehaves because their |
| general. | | | | menu at home has been changed. In a few short |
| The hardest part for the parent is going to be | | | | weeks, you may very well notice a change in the |
| implementing this diet. A major portion of many | | | | behavior of your child, and you may also be |
| peoples diet includes dairy products as well as | | | | pleasantly surprised at what they are now willing |
| cereals. People that are allergic to gluten already | | | | to eat that they wouldn't touch previously. |