A special diet for kids can be part of the medical protocol prescribed for your child's health condition when you consult with a medical professional. Some diets are backed by clinical trials and scientific evidence, while others are only supported by testimonials. Children require a balanced diet for physical growth and cognitive development, and parents should use caution before making drastic changes.
Specific Carbohydrate Diet
The specific carbohydrate diet, SCD, was developed by Dr. Sydney Valentine Haas and made popular by Elaine Gottschall and her book, "Breaking the Vicious Cycle: Intestinal Health Through Diet." Believers offer testimonials in calling it a natural treatment for a number of health conditions, including celiac disease and epilepsy. The theory, according to the Baylor College of Medicine, is that intestinal microbes are the cause of health problems and eliminating the food the microbes feed on will starve them to death. For kids, this special diet supposedly relieves some symptoms of autism spectrum disorders as well. You must strictly adhere to a diet free from certain foods, including grains, lactose, sucrose, canned vegetables, canned meat, canola oil, margarine, baking powder and balsamic vinegar. No scientific studies validate SCD as a proven course of treatment, as of August 2010.
Ketogenic Diet
The ketogenic diet can significantly reduce or totally eliminate seizures in children with infantile spasms, according to Johns Hopkins Children's Center. A ketogenic diet consists of high-fat foods and minimal carbohydrates. The results of a study, published online in the April 30, 2010 edition of "Epilepsia," found that of the 104 children who changed their diet, 38 became seizure-free for at least six months after being on the ketogenic diet for only a few days up to 20 months. In fact, 90 percent of the children in the study had only a few seizures after nine months on the ketogenic diet.
Gluten-Free Casein-Free Diet
The gluten-free casein-free diet, GFCF, eliminates gluten and casein from your kid's diet in the hope it will improve symptoms of autistic spectrum disorders. Gluten is a protein in wheat and other grains, and casein is a protein found in dairy products and used as a food additive. GFCF was found to not have impact on the behavior, sleep or bowel patterns of kids in a study sponsored by the National Institutes of Mental Health Studies to Advance Autism Treatment Research and conducted by researchers from the University of Rochester. The results, presented at the 2010 International Meeting for Autism Research, reported the study to be the most controlled diet research in autism to date.
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