Families Post #2

So I realized as I started researching how broad my topic was. I have narrowed down my research to the support and dietary changes that benefit children with Autsim or dissabilities surrounding Autism (such as Asperger's and Pervasive Developmental Disorder). I have found that many people with Autism react in a positive manner, and have less symptomatic behaviors and digestive problems after changing their diet to a GFCF-diet. This information was found on http://www.autismweb.com/diet.htm. This diet is a gluten free/casein free diet.
Gluten is the protein found in many grains and wheats. Some examples of food which contain gluten or gluten-like proteins that were listed listed on the website mentioned above are: "oats, rye, barley, bulgar, durum, kamut and spelt, and foods made from those grains. They are also 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 products or products made from milk. Unfortunately it is also at times added to non-milk products, one example is cheese snacks like pirates booty or some nacho cheese tortilla chips (my mother is allergic to this protein so I am farmiliar with the products that contain it). It can be found in some margerines also. The autismweb.com also says that it may be found in "soy cheeses or hotdogs in the form of casienate".
Eating a GFCF-diet has had a positive affect on some individuals with Autism, Asperger's (the information about Asperger's was received from Nancy Sullivan who's son has Asperger's) and PDD. One theory listed on this website suggests that "some people with autism and PDD cannot properly digest gluten and casein, which form peptides, or substances that act like opiates in their bodies. The peptides then alter the person's behavior, perceptions, and responses to his environment. Some scientists now believe that peptides trigger an unusual immune system response in certain people. Research in the U.S. and Europe has found peptides in the urine of a significant number of children with autism."
A study done at the University of California Davis Health focused on the link between autism and gastrointestinal problems. They found "that children with autism born in the 1990s were more likely to have gastrointestinal problems". The GFCF-diet is used by many for this reason to relieve the symptoms of the austism specifically surrounding the gastrointestinal problems.
Some people have also found a sensitivity to foods with Salicylate which is "found in some fruits like apples and other foods". Not everyone has had benefitial or any affects from the GFCF-diet. One way to find out if your child may have some of these specific allergies that have a correlation with those of children on the Autistic spectrum is by having one's child tested for them. The autismweb.com has a link to DAN which is a group called Defeat Autism Now. physicians and pediatiricians in DAN will can order these allergy tests before an individual chooses to begin a specific diet. The link on the autismweb.com site lists all the physicians and pediatricians in DAN which will do these tests. This way parents or guardians can find a medical supporter to service them in this journey in their area of resitance.
In my next blogs I will be going into different support websites I have found, more indepth look on behavioral effects from this diet and different ways a family can build a home that is following the GFCF-diet.
P.s. I will also be looking further into the National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act and how they affect and protect the dietary changes and needs of children with dissabilites while they are at school.