Gluten Free Eating and Autism

Approximately 1 in 250 children will be diagnosed with autism, and the frequency of diagnosis is growing by about 10 percent each year. With this disorder growing at epidemic speeds, doctors and parents alike are searching for new ways to combat and prevent autism.

While the causes of this disease are vague and outcomes of conventional treatments are also uncertain, many are turning to a gluten/casein free diet as an answer to autism. In her book, Louder Than Words, actress Jenny McCarthy talks about her son Evan, his diagnosis with autism and her search for answers.

Jenny has employed a gluten free diet (accompanied by medication, therapy and supplements) to help Evan overcome autism with amazingly positive results. Once communicating with only one word at a time, Evan is now fully conversational. He holds eye contact and enjoys life as a normal little boy.

How is it that a gluten/casein free diet can help children with autism? No one knows for sure, but one school of thought is that gluten (a protein found in wheat and some other grains) and casein (a protein found in dairy) act in a way that’s similar to morphine on some children.

Children with autism often have permeable intestinal tracts, or “leaky guts.” The weak membranes in the intestine allow these broken-down peptides from digested gluten and casein (which act like morphine) to basically get loose in the bloodstream.

It either makes them lose control, or become zombie-like. How can a person know if the gluten/casein free diet will help their autistic loved-one? Research is still inconclusive about how this works - or even if it works.

But there’s no reason not to try it and see if it helps. Because there are good food substitutes for the food that would become off-limits, there isn’t a risk of malnourishment by eliminating gluten and casein.

It is recommended, however, that no child under the age of 5 go on a cold turkey gluten and casein-free diet, because it could cause withdrawal and worsening of the symptoms of autism.

It would be better to slowly wean the child off of the newly blacklisted foods and introduce replacement foods over time. Begin by eliminating one source at a time, and give the new diet at least six months for results. Gluten free cookbooks can give you hints on replacing familiar foods.

A person suffering autism can also be examined for “leaky gut” first, but again, because a gluten-free or casein-free diet is not inherently unhealthy, it’s fine to try it and note any positive changes.

Many parents who have incorporated a gluten/casein-free diet into their autistic child’s healthcare plan are swearing by the positive results they’re seeing. Children are communicating better, interacting more and functioning at a higher level.

The medical community is looking closely at this alternative treatment option for autism and many doctors are adding it to their treatment plans for autistic patients. But it’s not a guarantee for everyone. For more information on gluten-free eating, visit O2BGlutenFree.info.

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Are You Allergic or Intolerant to Gluten or Wheat?

Among the most common food allergies are wheat and gluten. But exactly what is a food allergy? Is it the same as food intolerance? Allergies occur when the body mistakes an ingredient in food as harmful, so it prepares to defend itself against the attacker (the food).

Allergy symptoms develop when the body's immune system releases antibodies to battle the "harmful" food. Food intolerance is the response of the digestive system to an irritating food, rather than a response of the immune system.

The digestive system can’t properly digest or breakdown the food, creating an intolerance. Wheat allergy symptoms can include skin rashes or hives, nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, itchy skin, eczema, joint and muscle aches and pains, shortness of breath, chest pain, swelling of the airways, and anaphylaxis.

Symptoms of wheat intolerance may include stomach pain, nausea, cramps, bloating, gas, vomiting, heartburn, diarrhea, headaches, irritability, and an unexplained runny nose or itchy eyes.

Symptoms of gluten allergy include upper repository tract problems, fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome, mouth ulcers, anemia, osteoporosis, weight loss, short stature in children, diarrhea, constipation, bloating and other digestive tract problems, depression, Autism and attention problems, skin problems, and irritability.

Symptoms of gluten intolerance include weight loss or weight gain, nutritional deficiencies, bloating, pain, gas, constipation, diarrhea, aching joints, depression, eczema, headaches, fatigue, irritability and behavioral changes, cramps, tingling and numbness, and slow infant and child growth.

Other than severity of symptoms, the differences between allergies and intolerances are that an allergy can be triggered even when a tiny amount of the offending food is eaten. On the other hand, food intolerance is related to the amount of food consumed. A small amount may not cause any disturbance, but eating a large portion, or eating the food frequently may produce symptoms.

What about Celiac Disease? Celiac disease is similar to gluten intolerance, but the outcome is more severe. With celiac disease, the inner lining of the small intestine has an allergic reaction to the gluten that is present in wheat and other grains such as rye.

This reaction causes the small intestine to become inflamed and reduces absorption of the nutrients that pass through the small intestine from food. One of the main symptoms of Celiac Disease is gastrointestinal problems that include bloating, gas, cramps, diarrhea and fatty stools.

Eventual signs of malnourishment will appear as a result of nutrients not being properly absorbed by the small intestine. Some people with Celiac Disease can tolerate small amounts of gluten, but others will experience severe symptoms within just a few minutes of eating an offending food.

Treatment for wheat and gluten allergy or intolerance and Celiac Disease all involve removing wheat and gluten from your diet. Avoidance of wheat, rye, barley and oats is necessary. Foods that contain these ingredients must also be avoided. Avoid processed foods and beer, and be careful with vitamins and supplements that contain gluten as well. Gluten free eating can be a challenge - visit O2BGlutenfree.info for more information.

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