Gluten Free Is NOT Just A Fad….

For many autistic families, meltdowns are a constant problem.  They occur at some of the most embarrassing of moments - while out shopping, during the church service, at the park, you name it, no event is off-limits to a meltdown.

I speak from very real experience.

The problem is, most autistic families simply accept these as a fact of life.

I want to offer a word of hope: in many instances, while meltdowns may not completely be eradicated, they can be moderated by doing just one thing.

And, no, it isn't an easy thing.

Removing gluten and casein from their diets.

What are they?

Gluten is the protein in wheat and some other grains, including barley and rye, that gives structure and elasticity to breads and other baked goods.

Casein is a chemically similar protein that comprises 80% of the proteins in cow's milk and up to 45% of the proteins in human milk (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casein).  Since it is chemically similar to gluten, it can trigger similar reactions when ingested.

For reasons for which I have yet to find a suitable explanation, gluten and casein are not well-tolerated by many with autism.

In fact, they can set off terrible meltdowns.

Giving foods containing gluten, wheat, and milk to a person with autism can be like giving speed to an addict.  In the best cases, it merely charges up the child with a surfeit of energy, causing them to bounce off the walls for the next hour or so.  In the worst cases, children turn into gremlins, screaming, fighting, obstinate, oppositional.

You see, what many doctors still refuse to accept is that an allergic reaction to food isn't ALWAYS anaphylactic.  In many instances, it is BEHAVIORAL.

We saw what happened to RJ when he ate foods containing these proteins.  We also see how many kids with autism love to absolutely gorge themselves on foods containing these proteins.

But many parents haven't made the connection - or refuse to make the connection.

Why?

While it may be eminently beneficial to their child, specifically, and the family, generally, it takes WORK - lots of it - to go gluten free.

And it isn't cheap, either.

It means carefully reading labels for even the slightest hint of gluten and casein.  

It means learning to cook using alternate grains and milks.  

It oftentimes means bringing alternate foods along when going out to eat.

It takes work.

But seeing one's child begin to calm down is worth it.

It takes time.

As a rule, it is recommended that you remove gluten and casein from a child's diet for a minimum of six week to see if there is any change.  And those can be six VERY LONG weeks.  In many instances, the behavior will get worse as the toxins are removed from the body and the child goes through withdrawal.

But it is worth it.

The changes in RJ were significant, easing life for him AND for us.

Over time, you may discover that it is possible to allow your child to indulge in foods containing gluten and casein occasionally by first giving them digestive enzymes such as Glutenease (Enzymedica) or AFP Peptizyde (Houston Nutraceuticals).  These enzymes wait in the stomach for gluten and casein, breaking them down before entering the digestive tract, so that the body no longer recognizes them as allergens.  It allows the child to enjoy the food without causing an allergic reaction, allows them to reap the nutritional benefits of the food, and then, because the enzymes are derived from foods themselves, the body digests the enzymes.

Do yourself a favor: give SERIOUS thought to beginning your child on a GFCF (Gluten-free/Casein-Free) diet.