Autism and Diet

When my son was diagnosed with autism at age three, we had already been aware of potential food sensitivies or allergies and had begun by removing dairy products and later wheat from his diet. Dairy proved to make the biggest impact on his behavior. Within the first few days of removing dairy from his diet, eye contact improved, tantrumming lessoned, head banging stopped almost completely, he was more interactive, and his eczima and rashes cleared up considerably. A few months later we removed wheat and saw a smaller, but still significant improvement in behaviors and the rash around his mouth finally cleared up completely.

After my son’s diagnosis, I was desperate for anything that would help him. I was doubtful of anything that promised to be a cure-all, but I did a lot of research on the GFCF diet (Gluten Free Casein Free).

Gluten Free Casein Free Diet

Many children with autism have some metabolic problems. Researchers are learning that these problems can contribute to autistic behaviors. One of these metabolic issues can be an inability to break down the gluten and casein proteins. The Gluten Free Casein Free Diet is a well-known diet that eliminates foods containing the grains: wheat, oats, barley, rye, spelt, semolina, triticale, and kamut. These grains contain gluten proteins that are difficult to digest. Products containing the milk protein, casein, usually must be eliminated, because that protein is also difficult to digest.

Parents who have seen the biggest success with the GFCF diet, say success came when they followed it 100%, not allowing any gluten or casein into their child’s diet. This is a big commitment because so many foods contain gluten and casein, and many foods don’t list them on the ingredient list. This means parents have to become detectives. I have called companies several times to question them about hidden gluten/casein. Pretty much unless an item is labelled gluten free/casein free, you have to read the label carefully. I’ve even called companies to find out if their products contain gluten or casein.

Some hidden sources of gluten are: tomato sauce and paste, sausage, lunch meats, condiments, duram pasta, soup bullion, frozen french fries, ice cream, breading, candy, many vitamins, dextrous, carmel coloring, malt flavoring, barley malt, and almost anything listed as “natural flavors,” and “spices.” Hidden sources of casein are: whey and lactose in many condiments, flavorings, and even most goat’s milk or soy products.

So why do gluten and casein make such a big impact on behavior for many children with autism?

Research done in Norway, England, and the United States have found the products of broken down gluten and casein proteins in the urine of autistic children. These proteins are called peptides. Peptides are found in the urine when opiates are present in the body. Opiates cause the child to act as though they are on opiate drugs: visual and auditory perceptions are altered, their brains are operating as though “in a fog,” they will sit staring, be unresponsive, and often display inapropriate laughter, headbanging, and increased stimming. Other symptoms of autism are often magnified as well after ingesting the offending protein.

The GFCF diet isn’t easy, but is it worth it? Parent’s like me who’s children have come out of the fog, and are progressing better than ever before would tell you it is. Some of these children have even been “undiagnosed.” Is the GFCF diet the magic bullet for all children with autism? No. Some responded minimally or not at all, but I have talked with parents who have watched their child go from “completely non-verbal, with severe behaviors and sensory issues,” to being able to attend mainstream school with their peers and their teachers being unable to tell they had an autism diagnosis. Removing offending foods poses no danger to your child, and the changes might just change your child’s life.