Autism or autistic spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a condition that affects the autistic person’s brain functioning due to which they cannot live an everyday life like others. They‘ll face problems in social skills like communication, making friends, etc.
There is no exact cure for autism but research shows if you maintain your diet and make a diet plan you can see some positive changes in autistic people. Every autistic person has different nutrition requirements and body needs which can only fulfilled by a diet plan. With the help of a diet plan, their nutrition intake improves.
Nutrition plays an important and essential role in everyone’s life. It leads the human body to a strong mind and a healthy body. We all know that foods that are rich in nutrients can remove toxins from the body, which makes an excellent immune system for autistic children.
Children with autism or ASD are mostly affected by eating disorders and the parents of such children usually can’t help in controlling their eating habits. In this case, only a dietician or a diet plan can help these children eat healthily.
ABA therapy (Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy) is used to treat Autism. A professional ABA therapist can help you in that.
Diet and Autism
Research shows that diet and autism both are linked, Autistic person has an imbalance in their gut due to the formation of microbiota. This imbalance results in discomfort due to irritation and low concentration.
With the help of a diet plan, you can reduce the symptoms of discomfort and irritation. The plus point of a diet plan is you have no side effects but before starting any new diet for your child always consult with a doctor.
Doctors found a special diet plan called GFCF which is used for autistic children. It’s very important to work with your dietician or a specialist to expand the nutritional value of your child’s diet.
GFCF diet autism (Gluten-free/Casein-free diet)
GFCF refers to Gluten gluten-free and casein-free diet. This diet is especially for autism where a person has to avoid all types of Gluten and casein from their daily food intake. Studies have just started it will be some years before we know if a diet plan like GFCF really works or not more research is still going on.
In research, many parents of autistic children report that it helps with positive changes in their child like their behavior is improved, they can sleep better and their speech is improving.
Remember GF/CF diet is not easy to follow. Gluten and casein are a big part of our daily food intake because of it your child may not be able to get enough calcium, fiber, vitamins, and calories. Be sure to ask your doctor for supplements and for proper growth.
But first, let us know more about Glute and Casein because if you are removing them from your daily food intake you should know about it.
What is gluten?
Gluten is a protein which generally found in some grains. It’s a sticky substance that acts like a binder to hold food together and add a stretchy quality.
Some people have gluten intolerance which can cause some serious side effects to their bodies. If they take gluten-containing food they face pain and bloating. It’s a long-term problem and the only solution is to avoid gluten-containing food.
Example: Wheat, Rye, Barley, Triticale, Malt, etc,
What is casein?
Casein is a protein which generally found in milk and dairy products. It gives milk a white color Cow milk generally consists of around 80% casein protein.
Some people have casein allergy. It occurs when your body mistakes casein as a harmful substance and reacts instantly in an attempt to fight. After that, you can see allergy reactions like hives, Rashes, Wheezing, severe pain, etc,
Example: Milk, Cheese, Cream, Yogurt, Butter, Cream cheese, Ice cream, Custard, Pudding, etc,
Hidden sources of gluten and casein
There are some hidden places in our food items where Gluten and Casein are hidden without us knowing. Here are some mentions below:
- Medications and Supplements
- Processed Foods
- Ots
- Beer
- Salad dressings
- Margarine
There are many more products too but these are some most consuming items we take.
Improvements you can see after the GFCF diet
In the below list you can see some common improvements after implementing a Gluten-Free/Casein-Free Diet:-
- Reducing anger issues
- Improvement in expression
- Improvement in repetitive communication.
- Better digestion and less constipation.
- Reduce illness
- Reduce ear infections
- You can also see improvement in their focus
- Response of Pain
Food list for autism child
When we make a food item list for an autistic child’s diet plan we have to focus on many aspects like what to add, want not, their taste, and many more things too…
A study found that we should also know that nutrient insufficiencies can be very widely found in individuals who have autism. Not all kids face this issue but it’s very common and you focus on that too.
Nutrients are:
Vitamin D, A, B, C, K, B6, Calcium, Omega3, Fiber, Zinc, Magnesium, Iron.
Here is the autism food list according to that:
Fruits and Vegetables: Apples, bananas, berries, oranges, and other fresh food.
Protein Source: Chicken, turkey, beef, salmon, mackerel, chickpeas, and black beans, eggs. Veg and vegan options are Tofu or tempeh.
Whole Grains: Brown Rice, whole wheat bread, and whole grain pasta. You can give oats and oatmeal too for a fiber-rich breakfast option.
Dairy and Dairy alternatives: Almond milk, soy milk, or oat milk.
Healthy fats: Avocado, Nuts and seeds, almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, etc.
We also attach a diet plan link below according to their nutrient need and tastes in detail read below.
Things to know about GFCF before starting a diet plan
There are a few things you should know before starting a GFCF diet or any diet plan. Many people are not aware of these. So here I’m mentioning that for you:
- Eggs are not dairy and don’t contain Gluten or casein. So eggs are allowed and you can eat them and eggs are a good source of protein too.
- Lactose-free milk is not casein-free. Lactose is the sugar component and casein is a protein. So think before consuming lactose-free milk.
- On some products they mention organic products which means how they grow that product it means how they grow that product.
- It’s a life-changing diet so take it one day at a time.
- This diet needs all sources of gluten and casein to be removed from your diet, even the smallest amount of gluten and casein.
- The ultimate aim of this diet is to live a better and healthier life.
Conclusion:
Autistic spectrum condition (ASC) is a lifelong condition and every patient has special requirements emotionally, mentally and diet too. Many people don’t focus on diet but when they do they can see many positive changes with the help of Gluten-Free and Casein-Free Diet.
Many people have no idea that a small diet plan can also help them and for you we attached a link to a diet plan for autism.
