You may have read or heard reports that changing certain foods in the diets of children helped with hyperactivity. In some cases, it's true. Your child may have sensitivity to gluten that can disrupt his health, which in turn can disrupt brain functions. Even symptoms of celiac disease include depression, disinterest in normal activities, mood swings and the inability to concentrate, all of which, in a child, can appear as hyperactivity. You can have your child tested for celiac, food allergies and food sensitivities or try a gluten-free diet for a couple of months to see if it makes a difference in behavior.
Hyperactivity and the Autism Spectrum Disorder
Your children may be hyper as described by Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). ADHD is on the autism spectrum along with autism and asperger's disorders. Hyperactivity and inattentiveness are symptoms of ADHD as are running around inappropriately, inability to play quietly, fidgeting, squirming and talking too much. Regardless of the label put on your children's hyperactivity, a gluten-free diet may help.
Gluten-Free Diet and Autism Spectrum Disorder
Research into ADHD and the other autism spectrum disorders is slow to recognize a food sensitivity connection, although some researchers are looking into it. The April 2010 issues of "Nutritional Neuroscience" published a 24-month long study that examined the effects of gluten-free and casein-free diets on children with autism spectrum disorders. In the first year of the study, there were significant improvements in behavior for the children who consume a gluten- and casein-free diet. That improvement seemed to plateau within the second year, perhaps showing a limit to this type of intervention. More studies are required in order to fully understand the value of dietary changes on behavior but this study does show that removing gluten along with casein has helped some children.
Gluten Foods to Avoid
If you choose to remove gluten from your children's diets, try to remove it from the entire family and household to make it easier. Foods that contain gluten are wheat or white flour, rye, barley, bulgur, couscous, durum, graham flour, kamut, matzo, seitan, semolina, spelt and triticale. Look for gluten in the ingredients of cakes, cookies, bread, coupons, gravies, soups, pastas, salad dressings and sauces. When purchasing oats, beer, candy, imitation crab, imitation meats and lunchmeats choose products that are labeled "gluten-free." Other items that may contain gluten are lipstick, vitamins, medicine, play dough and toothpaste.
Foods to Include
There are many gluten-free products on the market, making a gluten-free diet easier to follow. Choose these and naturally gluten-free grains like amaranth, teff, kasha, corn, buckwheat, millet, quinoa and rice. Oats are gluten-free but probably contaminated with wheat during processing unless certified gluten-free. Other foods that don't contain gluten are meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds and dairy products. Batters, breading and marinades may contain gluten so check the ingredients.
References
- Celiac Sprue Association: Grains and Flours Glossary
- PubMed.gov: The ScanBrit Randomised, Controlled, Single-blind Study of a Gluten- and Casein-free Dietary Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
- BabyCenter.com: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Signs and Symptoms
- Celiac Sprue Association: Symptoms of Celiac Disease
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