It's hard to consider milk, yogurt or crackers as bad foods for children. However, parental report and research with mixed results indicate that food intolerances may contribute to autism symptoms. According to researcher Dr. Daniel C. Dantini, it is critical that children with the autism diagnosis be tested for harmful foods as early as possible. Milk and wheat products are the foods most commonly associated with sensitivities
What Is Casein-Free Diet?
A casein-free diet is one of several possible food restriction treatments for autism, according to the Mayo Clinic. Casein is a milk protein. The casein-free wheat-free diet, or CFWF, has been the most popular diet and one with the most anecdotal success. However, a casein-free diet might also be helpful during the process of determining whether a child has an allergy or sensitivity to casein.
Why Choose Casein-Free Diet?
Children with autism absorb the casein and wheat proteins differently and their physical and behavioral symptoms are indicative of this problem, according to the organization Autism Speaks. Proponents of the casein-free diet on the Healing Thresholds website describe the problem as gastrointestinal and that children with autism have difficulty digesting digest milk proteins. One theory is that after children consume milk, a byproduct called "casomorphines" causes the children to behave as though drugged and they act confused. Some families, according to the organization Austim Speaks, have reported improvements in bowel regulation, sleep, and overall learning when their children were placed on the CFWF diet. Much of the research has been on diets that eliminated milk and wheat products, and there is little evidence that supports a casein-free diet alone to improve behaviors.
Identifying Casein Allergies With Tests
An expensive test can be given to identify food sensitivities and a urine test can identify a problem with peptide absorption. According to the AutismDietCa.com website, short chains of amino acids-called peptides-are absorbed into the intestine when amino acids are not completely digested. The body reacts to the peptides as foreign causing them to act like an opiate, resulting in symptoms, such as social withdrawal, inattention, silliness and high pain tolerance. The urine test actually measures the level of opiate like peptides.
Elimination Diet
An elimination diet can provide evidence of allergies as the child demonstrates withdrawal like symptoms when the offending food is removed and improved behavior over time. AutismDietCa.com reports that -an elimination diet for one to three months should provide enough information to determine whether the child is benefiting.
How to Live on Casein-Free Diet
Many books are available on how to cook dairy free or CFWF diets. Foods such as soy, other nuts, beans and rice products can be substituted for dairy ingredients. Parents need to carefully read labels to avoid products in the dairy family, including whey, casein proteins, curd, butter, dry milk, lactose, evaporated milk and hydrolyzed casein. Casein is found in many processed foods because it works well as a binding agent. Learning how to provide a casein-free diet can be time-consuming and expensive since many products will need to be purchased from a health food store. In addition, children with autism are notorious for being picky eaters with a limited repertoire of foods they are willing to eat. However, parents who introduce the casein-free diet when the child is very young may find greater compliance than parents of older children, who have already experienced the joys of ice-cream.
