| can be a particularly difficult condition to deal with | | | | casein. Of course, it is best to take away one |
| as a parent. It involves making sacrifices, changing | | | | source of food at a time to lessen the shock of |
| your lifestyle, and exploring a variety of methods | | | | change. Experts recommend removing dairy |
| that can help reduce the intense social anxiety | | | | products first, and then forming a plan to |
| that is linked to this condition. | | | | introduce a totally gluten-free diet. It is important, |
| One of the least recognized ways to deal with | | | | as a parent of an autistic child, that you become |
| autism is through the adoption of a specialized | | | | a devout label-reader. Oftentimes, there are |
| diet. There is so much ongoing research into | | | | gluten and casein proteins that are not obvious! |
| autism from the scientific and behavioral | | | | Planning a gluten and casein free diet is not an |
| standpoint that dietary factors are sometimes | | | | easy task. Fortunately, many autistic children |
| overlooked or just ignored. In reality, however, | | | | come to enjoy their new diets in a short period |
| some parents of autistic children have noticed a | | | | of time and will actually begin to try different |
| strong connection between autism and diet for | | | | foods. |
| many years. Today, there is a growing body of | | | | Planning out a proper diet is extremely important |
| research that is starting to back up this | | | | and it is probably a good idea for you to consult |
| observation. | | | | with a nutritionist. You may need to get certain |
| This new way of thinking has led to the creation | | | | vitamins for your child in order to make their diet |
| of the gluten and casein free diet. You may be | | | | healthy as well as reducing some of the |
| wondering how gluten and casein affect children | | | | symptoms of autism. Again, many vitamin |
| with autism? Researchers have discovered that | | | | products are actually made with gluten, so it is |
| some autistic people may have difficulty | | | | important to select products that do not include |
| processing the proteins - gluten and casein. Gluten | | | | this protein. The best place to find these kinds of |
| is found in wheat, barley, and oats and casein is a | | | | supplements are health and natural food stores. |
| type of milk protein. What happens is that the | | | | They usually have a tremendous selection of |
| breakdown of these foods in the body causes | | | | gluten and casein free products. |
| opiates to be produced, so in essence, children | | | | Many food products exist that are gluten and |
| with autism can become addicted to foods | | | | casein free. They are available at supermarkets, |
| containing these proteins. The result is that like an | | | | organic grocery stores, and other specialty |
| food allergy, behavior can be effected. | | | | locations. Some of the products are slightly more |
| Take note of what your child chooses to eat. If | | | | expensive than regular groceries of the same |
| your child constantly eats products containing | | | | variety, but the difference in price can be worth it |
| dairy and wheat, then this can be a sign that | | | | if your child’s behavior improves. |
| there bodies are struggling to process these | | | | If you are skeptical about the affect of diet on |
| foods and therefore, they crave more. Of course, | | | | autism it is completely understandable. But recent |
| the child does not understand what is going on | | | | research has indicated that it is very likely food |
| physically, he or she only realizes that eating such | | | | can affect behavior in autistic persons. Since |
| foods produces a pleasurable feeling. | | | | these findings are relatively new, even your |
| There have been many reports of autistic children | | | | doctor might not be aware of the possible link. |
| showing vast improvement after making | | | | Eliminating these proteins from your child’s |
| wholesale dietary changes. This means getting | | | | diet will not cause any damage or increase the |
| away from products that contain gluten and | | | | symptoms of autism. |