The GFCF diet
To begin with , the implementation of this diet may at first seem a daunting task. It means eliminating all the wheat and dairy from your child's food. Gluten and casein are very high profile within the autism community especially from doctors in the "Defeat Autism Now!" biomedical movement. Many parents, doctors and researchers are saying that children have shown mild to dramatic improvements in their speech and behavior after their diet has been altered to remove these substances. Some have also reported that in addition their children have experienced more solid bowel movements and fewer bouts of diarrhea.
Gluten and gluten-like proteins can be found in wheat and other grains. These include rye, oats, bulgar, barley, durum, kamut and spelt, and any foods made from these grains. They can also be found in food starches, semolina, couscous, malt, some vinegars, soy sauce, flavorings, artificial colors and hydrolyzed vegetable proteins. Casein is a protein found in milk and products containing milk, such as cheese, butter, yogurt, ice cream, whey and even some brands of margarine. It also may be added to non-milk products such as soy cheese and hot dogs in the form of caseinate.
The theory is that some people with autism and PDD cannot properly digest gluten and casein, which form substances that act like opiates in their bodies. This "drug" substance alters the person's behavior, perceptions, and responses to his environment, according to this theory. Research in the U.S. and Europe has found substances with opiate activity in the urine of a significant number of children with autism. There is growing interest in the link between autism and gastrointestinal ailments. A study by the University of California Davis Health System found that children with autism born in the 1990s were more likely to have gastrointestinal problems, including constipation, diarrhea and vomiting, than autistic children who were born in the early 1980s.
Studies are currently underway to examine the effectiveness of the GFCF diet, which has not gained widespread acceptance in the U.S. medical community. Allen Lewis M.D. wrote recently in the Autism Society of America publication, Advocate, "Controlled studies of the GFCF diet and the ketogenic diet have indicated improvement. A dietary trial is safe and the best way to determine if dietary restrictions are of benefit."
Symptoms of food intolerances may include red cheeks or ears, dry skin, headaches, hyperactivity, tantrums and unusual bowel movements. There are medical tests available that can determine if your child has a sensitivity to gluten, casein and other foods. Before you consider a change in your child's diet, consult with a physician and nutritionist to make sure you are providing an adequate diet and nutritional supplements, if necessary.
Some advocates of dietary intervention suggest removing one food from the diet at a time, so you will know which food was causing a problem. It also is helpful to ask people who do not know about the dietary change if they see any improvement after a few weeks. It's often suggested to remove milk first because the body will clear itself of milk/casein the quickest. Gluten may be removed a month after the elimination of milk. It may take up to six months on a gluten-free diet for the body to rid itself of all gluten. That is why most advocates suggest giving the diet a trial of six months. The diet can seem like a lot of work, at first. You must carefully read the ingredients on food packages. Beware of "hidden" casein and gluten in ingredient lists, such as curds, caseinate, lactose, bran, spices or certain types of vinegar. It may be hard to locate a substitute for the milk your child loves, although many children do adapt to the gluten-free, casein-free (GFCF) soy, potato, almond and rice milk substitutes available. (Companies listed below). Many of these substitutes are enriched with calcium and Vitamin D. In addition, many parents provide vitamin and calcium supplements to their children on the diet.
Many communities have health food stores or regular supermarkets that stock flour, bread, crackers, cookies, pretzels, waffles and pasta made of rice, potato or other gluten-free flours. Also, some web sites list commercially-available foods that are gluten-free and casein-free, such as Heinz ketchup, Bush's Baked Beans and Ore-Ida Golden Fries. Some prepared foods originally developed for people with Celiac Disease, another form of gluten intolerance, now come in casein-free varieties, too. Foods that CAN be eaten on a gluten-free, casein-free diet include rice, quinoa, amaranth, potato, buckwheat flour, soy, corn, fruits, vegetables, beans, tapioca, meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, teff, nuts, eggs, and sorghum, among others.
Author Karyn Seroussi says her son now has no traces of autism, due in large part to a strict GFCF diet. Some parents report improved eye contact, less constipation or diarrhea, and better behavior. However, other parents do not notice a difference in their children. Besides gluten and casein, some parents report that removing corn or soy led to equal or greater improvements in their children. Because soy protein is similar to gluten and casein, some diet proponents recommend removing it if the child seems sensitive.