1. Gluten-Free and Casein-Free Diets
Doctors have yet to develop an encompassing treatment for autism, but new therapies are being explored, including restricted diets. While the evidence remains largely anecdotal, many parents report gluten-free and casein-free diets producing dramatic improvements in their autistic child's behavior. However, there is scant scientific evidence to support this contention and futher studies must be performed.
One theory behind this diet posits that autistics digest gluten, a protein in many grains, and casein, a protein in dairy products, differently than the average person. Austistics often present symptoms of gastrointestinal upset, which may be caused by a permeable intestinal tract. When gluten and casein are digested, they become peptides, which may penetrate a permeable intestinal tract and act like morphine in the body to impact the brain. Removing these substances from a diet eliminates these peptides from the blood and the brain. This is only one theory, however, and science does not yet understand whether a gluten-free/casein-free diet produces real results or why.
2. Seek Professional Help With Diet Management
Besides a gluten-free/casein-free diet, there are other biomedical interventions you can try as alternative treatments for autism. These include using probiotics, restricting yeast and other food allergens and using dietary supplements with various vitamins and minerals. If you plan to use biomedical interventions to treat autism, seek the assistance of qualified medical professionals.
Discuss your plans with your primary doctor. Then, consult a dietitian or nutritionist, preferably someone with experience in treating autism. Restrictive diets can be difficult to manage on your own. A dietitian can explain which foods to avoid and why. Schedule follow-up visits with your doctor and dietitian to monitor progress and prevent nutritional deficiencies. Restrictive diets can omit nutrients that are essential for a growing child.
3. Understand the Drawbacks of Switching
Ease into any special diet gradually. Switching to a restrictive diet suddenly can be problematic. Your child may experience withdrawal symptoms and the change could affect his autism negatively. . Children who insist on maintaining their eating routine or express aversions to certain textures and colors in their food may also be negatively affected by dietary changes. In these cases, incorporating the change into behavioral therapy sessions may be indicated. Restrictive diets and other biomedical interventions don't work for every child. Schedule a trial period during which you note changes in your child's behavior. If you don't obeserve any improvement, return your child to a normal, healthy diet.
