GFCF | Autism PDD

Anyone out there doing GFCF? We just started.

I know in Alberta There is funding for a GF/CF if you get a letter from a Doctor or from a Dietcian (sp). All my food will be covered and supplements

I am very new to this site and am looking for info on the diet as well as ways to talk to the doctor about it. Does anyone have ideas and/or suggestions of how to start? Also, is there any funding for this?

Hi Cathie Welcome to the board. I haven't done GF / CF diet but heres a thread that was started that has alot of info on it. As far as I know I have never heard of any funding for it. g/f c/f diet I was thinking with regard to the money question... this isn't funding, but I wonder if the cost of the different foods would be a tax write off? Could it not be claimed as a medical necessity for one's child? I've been keeping all sorts of receipts these days for all of Luke's special foods (rice milk, rice cheese, veggie chips, etc.) just in case.

Nope. Its not a legitimite medical therapy. It is not considered a necessity because not every parent tries it. Also there is not a general consensus in the medical field as to the benefits of even trying it. It is considered one of the alternative treatments for autism. Like all the homepathic remedies that are out there. Those are not tax deductable. There is a big difference between personal choice and a medical necessity. Trying one of these diets is a individual choice. It is not the same as for example someone that has high blood pressure and has to go on a diet. The doctors tell you you can try one of these diets but they don't prescribe them. As with a patient with high blood pressure, the doctor in some cases would put you on a strict exercise and diet plan. And would provide prescribtions for it. Plus a prescribed diet would be a tax writeoff according to the IRS. If it wasn't then another example would be an person that was anorexic could use their diet as a writeoff.

Tammy

Interesting ... so even though Luke has a proven allergy to dairy, it's not considered a necessity for him to avoid milk products and yet need to eat and drink something (hence the enriched rice products)? That kind of stinks.

That is the IRS. Not everything is tax deductible. For example a smoker can't claim cigarettes as a deduction, even tho they are addicted to it. Same for a gambler, unless of course he won alot of money then the IRS would ask for their portion.

Tammy

We have Luke casein-free, but don't have the wherewithall to attempt the gluten-free yet. We have started him on vitamin supplements (the Super-Nu Thera and DMG) and it's made a BIG difference in his personality. He's more alert, interactive, and makes lots of eye contact. He's also more vocal and attempts more words (though he still seems to lose them after a week). We'd run out of the supplements and ... WOW ... we noticed a HUGE regression. He still stims and all, but he's more sociable.

Kellie
hi i have been using the gfcf diet for a year and a half with my oldest son and about 4 monthes with my yougest it has made a huge improvement with my oldest son's behavior and a big improvement with my youngest son's healthWe have a few stores in the area that sell GFCF foods ... however my son is not allergic to wheat/gluten but to soy! I've found it SOO difficult buying anything pre-made that doesn't have soy in it. I'd almost prefer he were allergic to wheat instead!

Kellie,

There's a great website:

http://www.missroben.com/

When we were soy free I got great cookies and ready made stuff from there.

You can search by specific ingrediants you are eliminating.

Also- as far as the tax write-off- I've heard you can do it- but you need a note from a physician that you need the special diet. Then you can write off the increased cost. So if regular bread is and GF bread is you can deduct . I've never done this- just heard of other people doing it. You may want to check with an accountant.

Thank you for the info! Will be looking into it ... and the website has been bookmarked.

How To Building a GFCF "Cookbook"
Send in your gluten free casein free recipes to share with readers. Together we can create a great holiday recipe book for children with autism who eat GFCF.

How To Make Another Gluten Free Flour
There is a trick to making a perfect gluten free substitute for flour, but it is an easy one! Learn how to adapt your cooking for gluten free eating. This is the second of two flour formulas.

How To Make Your Own Gluten-Free Flour
There is a trick to making a perfect gluten free substitute for flour, but it is an easy one! Learn how to adapt your cooking for gluten free eating.

How To Make Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls
Nothing is better on a weekend morning than hot cinnamon rolls. If your child with autism has had to pass this treat up, here is a recipe the whole family can enjoy and remain gluten free.

How To Make Gluten Free Soft White Bread
There are few things children love more than soft white bread. If your child is on a GFCF diet, this is something that is likely missed. Now you can make it at home and bring the taste of a sandwich or toast back into your child's diet.

My son Luke is 9 years old with PDD and he has been on the GFCF diet for about 2 months now. His allergies have all about gone. No dark circles around the eye's. He is talking a lot more. (His teacher's and Speech Therapist have all notice. He even seems more happier. Wheat is so ruff on the gut. Luke used to have at least 5 weetbix's for breakfast. Now he has gluten free toast and rice milk with carob. We are going to the Allergy Clinic in Sydney soon. So I hope they will be able to help me more with this diet.

You know you can always ask the Ped to run a peptide test to see if your child might be allergic to wheat or milk protien. Maybe you can indicate that you are concerned the child might have celiac disease.

We have our dd off of dairy and are almost off of wheat gluten. I have noticed a difference in her behavior just by eliminating the milk and reducing her gluten intake. Let me put it this way, my dd was non-verbal and when we took her off of milk she started talking in single words and in 2 word phrases by the end of the week. And this was when I wasn't even aware she was autistic and the connection b/w milk and neorological allergic reactions.

I will certainly get the Ped to test him for Celiac Disease. As I can now see there is a big difference in his health without gluten and milk.I am debating in starting it. I know someone that does do it in augusta, georgia.

i am thinking about doing gluten free. does anyone know anything about gluten and some recipes that doesn't use gluten stuff?

Heather

www.glutenfree.com/recipes.htm

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~coeliac/

Gluten-Free Recipes

www.celiac.com/

http://gfkitchen.server101.com/

www.recipelink.com/wheatfree.html

http://www.fitnessandfreebies.com/celiac/recipelist.html

Theres just a few go to www.google.com and type in a search for "gluten free recipes" and they will pop up. ALso you can go to specialty places and buy gluten free flour I believe and make things at home from scratch.

http://www.glutenfreemall.com/

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=gluten+free+flour

Allrecipes Recipe Index: Gluten-Free Baking

List of gluten free recipes for breads, cookies, and cakes. Includes recipe rating scale for consumers.

we thought about this but jacks diet is so kimited we'd be cutting out the only things he will eat we did try the omega3 oils but didn't notice a differance with jack though saw a marked improvement in oldest son

We tried the GF/CF diet about a year and a half ago. I believe I saw an improvement. For a fact it was a very good period of time for Paul--as to why, who knows for sure. My ex was not very consistent with it on the weekends so I stopped it. The ex now lives overseas so we've been headed back on it. First thing, stopping some of his most horrible foods (I think fishy crackers have heroin in them, I swear!) and layering in other choices. We should be full speed ahead in about 2 weeks.

Around here the GF/CF thing is getting very popular everywhere. There is a bakery/snack place in town and a restaurant. The grocery stores are getting sections just for it and the selections have doubled in the last 6 mos. It's lots easier with some choices!

We'll see. With just the 2 of us I'll probably do it too.

Many people have said that after putting their children on the GFCF diet, and after the child got through withdrawl from the food they craved, they actually were willing to eat other foods that previously they had disdained. Just found out Luke has a bunch of food allergies, so we're eliminating them from his diet (more be/c of his allergic reactions than be/c of his PDD) so I'll let you know if he eats more fruit and veggies! (So far he doesn't!)

I HAVE RECENTLY HEARD OF THE SCD DIET, IT IS SUPPOSED TO CURE THE "LEAKY-GUT SYNDROME" INSTEAD OF JUST ELIMINATING THE FOODS THAT AREN'T TOLERATED AS IN THE GFCF. THE GFCF DIET DID NOT HAVE AN EFFECT ON MY DAUGHTER. FOR MORE INFO ON THIS DIET HERE IS A LINK:

HTTP://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.org

slb052338592.4328703704Thankyou, I will certainly have a look at the link. I know that my son has a "leaky-gut". After 5 years of trying to change his diet, as he is a fussy eater. I started off small and now he has no gluten in his diet at all. His allergies are pretty good. And he is not as fussy as before. He is now eating a lot more variety of food.
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