casein/gluten-free diet | Autism PDD

Some find that children will also react to soy protein as it is similar to casein and gluten so for that reason, we used rice milk.

One of the most telling things for us is that once being on this diet awhile and the opiate effect was removed, Riley started to have a normal threshold to pain again. He used to have a high threshold which I believe was opiate related.

 

My son is 2 and is still on formula due to oral aversion and eating issues, not eating solids well.  He is on Pediasure and I've wondered about the milk issue.  Has anyone used Neocate One in replacement?  Does it have soy and no milk? 

I just feel like he needs a supplemental formula for the vitamins/minerals since he isn't on solids well yet, but not sure what to switch to. 

My son Holden has been on a GF/CF diet for just over a year now and he has gone from not recognizing numbers and letters to writing complete sentences and doing math. It has saved his life...our lives.

We too have just decided to attempt the GFCF diet. I'm finding it easier to weed out the dairy products than the gluten. DW has just started kindergarten and is having a very difficult time. I'm willing to try anything at this point.

I just discovered today at the store that there are things like rice and almond milk not just soy. I guess that gives us some options there since he doesn't seem to really like soy milk so far. I think the hardest thing for him to give up will be yogurt. I have heard that there are some good soy yogurts. Does anyone have any reccomendations?

Also, where can I find a good explanation of the theories behind this diet? I have heard/read that casein and gluten are like opiates to these children but I have no clue just what that really means.

thanks in advance

This is my first post. I am reading a book, that I highly recommend re:
the medical basis for autism, called "Facing Autism" by Brian Jepson, M.D.
It explains about the casein/gluten connection.

After reading this book, I am intending to start my son on a GF/CF diet.
Here is what Brian Jepson says about gluten/casein (I paraphrase):

Gluten is a protein found in grains and Casein is a protein found in milk.
Sections of these proteins (peptides) have structures similar to opiates
like morphine/heroin.

The theory is that these peptides in autistic children attatch to the opiate
receptors in the brain acting as false neurotransmitters. Because of the
self limiting diets of many autistic kids contain mostly casein/gluten
foods, the effect is similar to that of addiction. The children are addicted
to the food, often with withrawal and binging behaviors.

I can speak to the power of a food allergy. I was tested about 6 months
ago and found out I'm allergic to casein and eggs. Cutting those things
out cold turkey felt like what I imagine drug withdrawal must feel like. I
had no idea I was addicted to the foods that were causing me much GI
distress.

In addition, Dr. Jepson says that research has found evidence of food
allergies in autism (this book has tons of research and in my opinion
everry pediatrician should read it). This would cause an immune
response and inflammation to the GI, allowing toxins to leak out and
reach the brain and cause inflammation there.

I hope this helps.

I typed a really long post to this last night and as i was sending it, the internet failed on me... without saving..

The diet has done wonders for our son. We also supplement a lot and are gfcf. He is the healthiest he has ever been. Many of his physical autistic features have gone such as toe walking, flapping, stimming.. though not eliminated when under stress. His gut is far better and he is now toilet trained

It was easy for us to implement as he was only just 3 so although he ate a lot of bread and milk, we substituted easily wiht rice milk and cocoa (rice milk is sweet anyway- you need to watch yeast issues with high sugars on this diet) and I make our own bread.

Excellent books were "special diets for special kids" though the recipes in this weren't great for us in another country due to ingredients. I found better recipes in a UK book by Marilyn Le Breton. But both her and the first book have good explanations of why to do the diet.

I also recommend 'children with starving brains;" by Jacquelyn McCandless- great biomedical approach.

I believe the diet needs to be tried for at least 6 months fully committed. We now would not choose to go back due to all the benefits (except the one on the wallet...) It was overwhelming to start with but is now a way of life. The bonus is I lost lots of weight doing it myself

my son does. we tried gf for a while but he has too many adversions to bread products. he aslo has problems chewing and immense sensory/ritualistic eating habits. for this we do gluten reduced. we are dairy free completely. with dairy it takes a few weeks to know if its working, and usually if milk is an issue after a few days to a week you will see a temporary bad regression from withdrawl that usually lasts a few days to two weeks. i recommend EVERYONE try removing milk for behaviors. so many children respond. my son doesnt break down any milk protein. its really like an opiate as they say. if he gets it he gets diahrrea unless i load him up with probiotics (sometimes) and loses alotta eye contact, stimms alot more, is more aggressive and self injurous, speaks less and worst, etc. after milk is out try gluten free. this sometimes takes months to a year to leave the system and is the hardest to do. some see amazing results. most will recommend linda lewis special diets for special kids. didnt work with my picky sensory eater with chewing troublem. i swear by carol fenster (sp) phd wheat free and special diets books. namaste products like pizza crust and cake mix are great. one recommendation, whenever something calls for apple cider vinegar use equal parts lemon juice instead. it imparts no flavor and is much kid approved. also check out gfcfkids group on yahoo for anything.

good luck

I am finally seriously contemplating going casein/gluten-free for both my children.  One has autism, the other Dev. Delay.  However, both are extremely picky and their main staple in their diet is milk and starch.  Has anyone done CF GF with similar eaters?  I'm afraid they're gonna starve doing this.

My ASD son has been having incredible behavior issues lately and I'm thinking it's the milk since he was/is allergic to dairy.  He hasn't had the GI issues in the past few months or so, so I assumed he had grown out of it but now I'm not so sure.

I would love to hear experiences (both good and bad) of effects of the diet as well.

Thanks,
Maureen

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