gluten free diets

[vegan_woman]

Ive herad this is good for children with autism,
can anybody explain why this is and if it helps in anyway?
Thx.

[Siobhann]

Gluten and dairy free diets can help with Autisim, it has something to do with a lack of enzyme and therefore the in ability to digest these products, thus going into the bloodstream in a somewhat raw/toxic form causing brainfog, stomach upset, behaviour problemsetc. My child is on it, she is not severely autisic but it helps her a great deal, if she accidently eats anything with dairy she goes a bit high and aggressive for a while, coughs, sweatsand wanders in the night. She cant even tolerate soya or rice milk! So she has fortifiedalmond milk.

Our specialist has told me of parents who have said their child after a week of gluten and dairy go back to being unresponsive and soiling themselves.Of course, it isnt scientifically proven but as a parent, aren't we theexperts in our kids?

Hope it helps.
Siobhann

[buster]

There is a great website for diet and autism, which is beyond GFCF (gluten free, casein free). Its [link=http://www.pecanbread.com]www.pecanbread.com[/link], run by parents of children with autism. The diet they follow is the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD), which was developed for people with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, but which has been found to have a more pronounced effect on autistic children than GFCF. Its quite a challenge, but there is a great deal of online support, recipes,information, links,etc, given on the website, and it does get easier and easier with time and practice. The book its based on is called Breaking the Vicious Cycle, by Elaine Gottschall, costs about £19.50, isn't too large or too hard to get through, but contains a great deal of scientific explanation, including a new chapter, entitled The Autism Connection. There is a website to go with it: [link=http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info]www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info[/link]. Thereare only2 doctors & 1 nutritionistin the UK currently who work with this diet: Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride, MD. Cambridge Tel: 01353 723234; Dr. Sarah Myhill, Knighton, Powys, Tel: 01547 550 331, [link=http://www.drmyhill.co.uk/]www.drmyhill.co.uk[/link]; and Jean Muscroft, Nutritionist, [link=http://www.autism-aspergers.co.uk/]www.autism-aspergers.co.uk[/link]

I've been on it strictly for a year now, havetaken holidays, eaten out at restaurants and friends' places, and am still in remission from colitis, with no medication. I've fed friends on this diet, and they all seem to enjoy it too. Unfortunately, for vegans, it is virtually impossible to follow. Anumber of people end up choosing to follow the diet for a number of years until they are healed, and then slowly ease themselvesback to their chosen diets, and others feel they cannot go down this route. Its a very personal decision!

Probably so much more than you were actually asking about, but I hope this ishelpful!If youneed any more info,you can email me off list.

All the best,
Elle

[yogajoga]

Just wondering if this diet is equally as good for adults? Also, what about people on the other end of the spectrum with mild asperger's?

Thanks

[Ayres Rock]

I started this diet with my son who has Asperger's and is 8 years old. We started with Milk, which made no difference, so he still has milk. Then we took him off Gluten. HE IS A DIFFERENT CHILD. He no longer has temper tantrums. I can't believe the difference. We did a test through the Autism Research Unit at Sunderland University and saw our GP too.