Considering implementing the gluten-free, casein-free (GFCF) diet for an autistic child can be overwhelming at first, as gluten and casein are everywhere. Walking down the supermarket aisle, a parent will see that many processed foods, probably including most of their child's favorites, are off-limits on the GFCF diet.
But many parents, including celebrity Jenny McCarthy, report huge gains in their autistic children on the GFCF diet. And while it isn't a simple diet to follow at any time, it can be done if the parent is willing to study food, shop carefully, and maybe even do a little cooking.
Gluten and Casein: Autistic Child's Favorites
Gluten is a protein found in the grains wheat, barley, and rye, while casein is a protein found in milk and milk products such as cheese and ice cream. Common child-friendly foods such as macaroni and cheese and pizza contain both gluten and casein.
Parents of many autistic children report that their children are literally addicted to gluten- and casein-containing foods. This can make it difficult to place the child on the GFCF diet, but these children are the ones most likely to benefit from the diet.
If a child suffers from skin conditions such as dermatitis or dry skin, migraines, tantrums that include long screaming sessions, red cheeks or ears, abnormal bowel movements (either constipation or diarrhea), insomnia or other altered sleep patterns, or seizures, he or she is more likely to respond to the diet, according to GFCF diet guru Karyn Seroussi, who covers Frequently Asked Questions about GFCF on the website she edits.
Implementing GFCF Diet for Autism
To implement a GFCF diet, parents will need to learn to read labels on food products carefully and be able to recognize suspect ingredients. Casein, for example, can hide under the terms "artificial butter flavor" and "caseinate," while gluten lurks in all malts, along with some "vegetable proteins," emulsifiers, and food starch ingredients. There are many, many other ingredients where gluten or casein can hide, and several websites include lists of what to avoid. When in doubt, call the manufacturer.
There are two schools of thought among parents on how to implement the GFCF diet: jump right in and go "cold turkey" on gluten and casein foods, or slowly cut back on gluten- and casein-containing foods until they're gone from the child's m diet.
Jump Right In to Get Rid of Gluten, Casein
The cold turkey approach requires some prior planning. Parents need to survey their child's diet and determine what will be needed to replace the foods, hopefully in a way that will cause the least disruption for the child.
If the child always eats cereal for breakfast, for example, the parent should locate a GFCF cereal similar to the one the child will be giving up. Increasingly, supermarkets carry mainstream-brand cereals that are GFCF; for example, Rice Chex is both gluten- and casein-free.
Instead of milk, parents can try soy milk or other types of milk replacements (making sure the replacement is GFCF, because some are not). And GFCF chicken nuggets (another common favorite food of both autistic and non-autistic children) are available.
Cheese is perhaps the most difficult item to replace; faux cheeses often contain casein, and many children reject truly GFCF alternatives. If the child demands macaroni and cheese, parents can try rice-based macaroni (parents report good results with the Tinkyada brand) with a different type sauce.
Alternative Approach: Drop Casein First, then Gluten
Some parents recommend eliminating casein products first from the child's diet, and then tackling gluten. This turns GFCF into a two-step diet, which may make it easier for parents to implement.
Many children improve immediately once casein is removed from their diets, making parents wonder if they truly need to remove gluten as well. Seroussi says that most children who benefit from a casein-free diet also will need to eliminate gluten, and children who improve immediately on a casein-free diet often begin to slip backward after a few weeks. That's the point at which to eliminate gluten.
Parents who take the slow approach might want to tackle one meal at a time, starting with making breakfast casein-free, then gluten-free, and then moving on to lunch, for example.
Gluten removal often is followed by behavioral deterioration or regression, which scares many parents. However, this is a good sign – it actually represents a type of withdrawal from the foods to which the child is addicted.
Next Steps for Responders, Non-Responders
Many parents report a dramatic change in behavior once they completely eliminate gluten and casein from their child's diet. Some children make enormous gains in language and eye contact almost immediately.
But others may not appear to respond much at all, or may respond initially but then seem to regress. In these children, additional, more difficult dietary measures may be needed. That's when parents should consider turning to an even stricter diet for autism.
Jane Anderson - Jane M. Anderson spends as much time as possible on the water, working and sailing on boats. She grew up sailing Sunfish and Rhodes 19s on ...
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