Wondering about GI and ASD experiences

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I have read a lot about ASD and GI tract problems, like that 9 out of 10 women on the spectrum have some kind of problem in this area. I thought I was lucky in this way, but come to think of it, I have problems with constipation unless I smoke weed. A remarkable remedy for the problem, but am off it now, and then it all seizes up. I guess this IS considered a GI tract problem (?).

Anyway, I know there have been other threads on this topic, but they all seem to be kind of old. So my question is, are you male or female, do you have a problem in this area, what kind- if not too personal to relate, and do you think it might have to do with us types being very sensitive to food additives, junk in food supply. Like have any of you had these problems and gone onto a really clean diet and had it clear up? Or do you take medications that could be a contributing factor? Looking for people's experience or knowledge on the subject.

Thank You.

As far as I know, I (female) don't have problems in this area. I have always eaten healthy, mostly grains and vegetables and fruits and a little meat, hardly any processed or snack foods.

What are some examples of the GI problems that are reportedly more common amongst people with ASD?

From what I have read, irritable bowel syndrome, acid reflux, diarreah, constipation, and more.

Still trying to find out WHY the article I sent to you said that. I think it may have something to do with a woman's reproductive system, but then again there are probably AS males who experience GI. issues as well. I'm sure I will find more articles.

Naturopaths are trained to treat autism via the gut.

They believe autistic symptoms can be reduced with improved GI health

Naturopathy has been bought up by big pharma. Corporations purchased a lot of the independant natural health industries....

I dont know what to believe myself, but I have always had gut issues

Aha! I came across some stuff online saying that, while gluten can obviously affect a man, it is much more common in women.


The article I found didn't let me copy it (on my phone) I'll see if I can find another.
I've been obsessed with this question for 2 days now ever since I read and sent that article!

Celiac disease is more common in women. But it has nothing to do with autism, except that an autistic woman with celiac disease will suffer more because she is more sensitive. Maybe that's a good thing, because the more it hurts when you eat wheat, the less you'll want to eat it, the better you will manage the celiac disease. My mom has celiac disease, and she is absolutely scrupulous about her diet. (And, in case you're wondering, yes, I've been on a gluten-free diet; no, it didn't affect anything, except that I learned to like rice bread.)

Surfman, don't fool yourself: Naturopathy is big business, and it always has been. Those people make more than most mainstream doctors, and the people who sell nutritional supplements are getting pretty rich off that, too. Whether they're independent or associated with a multinational corporation, they're in it for the money, simple as that. So are the drug companies; but at least the drug companies have to go through a rigorous multi-year testing program to ensure that their new drug is safe and effective. When it comes to alternative medicine, the honest ones will sell things they actually believe work; the dishonest ones will sell whatever you'll buy. The problem? You can't tell the difference between the two, and even the honest ones don't have the research to back up their claims most of the time. When they get that research, we call that "mainstream medicine" and the family doctor starts prescribing it.

Being in a business for the money doesn't necessarily mean that someone is unscrupulous. One of the best business strategies is to provide a quality product. So just because a company makes a lot of money, doesn't mean that they are trying to trick you. In the case of drug companies, they are always living with the risk that some new drug will be inadequately tested and will turn out to be dangerous, and their company will go bankrupt. For a drug company, it pays to carefully test a drug before releasing it.

Re. GI health and autism: Remember two things. First, GI problems are extremely common. Like, practically everybody in the world will have them at some time or another, and children are especially susceptible. And second, autistic people who are more sensitive to their own physical condition will benefit more than NT children for the exact same treatment for the exact same common ailment.

Keeping physically healthy is very important, even more so if you are autistic; but the relationship to autism is not a direct one. Staying healthy is a good coping strategy, very much like wearing soft clothing or establishing a regular schedule. I highly recommend it. But I do not think it will make you less autistic.

Come to think if it, drs once said that a person could not eat themselves to diabetes. And guess what? - they later discovered that Hey you can eat yourself to diabetes.

Not saying autism is caused by the food one consumes. I was just giving that as an example.
No one really knows why women with autism suffer the most from GI. issues. It could be anything. Science is still progressing.

I don't have a diagnosis of AS or anything else, although I suspect I have AS or ADHD-inattentive. I've had GI problems since I was a teenager. It started as a severe bout of diarrhoea and has continued intermittently since then. I've never had a proper diagnosis, other than the obvious IBS (to me this just means we don't really know what it is, so just have this diagnosis). In my case, it's certainly food related. I've tried to pinpoint culprit foods and know I do better on a low gluten low dairy diet. I've also had allergy testing and I'm allergic to a preservative found in soft drinks, sauces, desserts, etc. And I know I have an almost immediate response to maltodextrin, but strangely I've been told that this is not possible. But, I accidentally ate some a few weeks ago and was doubled over in pain, (nothing else that I had eaten has ever caused such a reaction and I've had this before when I've eaten something containing it). So I know for sure it's doing something to me.

I've been connecting with an German woman who works as a naturopath at our organic bread shop, I will pursue this with her, but at this stage have no idea of her expertise in this area.

Hopefully we can come up with something. I think there could be the potential for some good at the very least. Andrew Wakefields work highlighted changes to the GI tract after vaccinations.

Realistically at this stage, I would hazard a guess that any gains can only be achieved through
1 An extremely austere and rigid diet, eating times, basically a bland healthy diet avoiding a lot of normally healthy things...
2 digestive herbs and tonics like dandelion, milk thistle, lemon juice
3Address fungal growth like candidiasis
4

Will get back after speaking with the Frau

I should have mentioned that I'm taking turmeric to help. It has anti-inflammatory properties and I'm almost certain there's some inflammation involved in my problem, but it's not severe, persistent or widespread enough to get a diagnosis of IBD. I could just add it, when I'm cooking, but I can't be sure of always making something that I could put it into. I felt as though I was on the verge of getting another episode, so I decided to start taking a capsule of it every day. My GI problem is OK for now.

Anyway, much to my amazement, the turmeric had a bonus effect. I also have endometriosis (some women may know what I'm talking about) and my symptoms were radically reduced last month, to the point where I felt normal. The only thing I've changed is to start taking the turmeric. I'm hoping it wasn't just a once off, as the alternative, that has been suggested by my specialist, doesn't bear thinking about.

Turmeric is definitely in the top ten overall herbs category with aloe vera and other anti inflammatory herbs.

I'm going to put a lot of myself into this and see if I can make put together an approach plan for others to try. That would involve some testing, and maybe WP members going down to the store and making small incremental changes in their eating habits.

Then there's water quality, radiations, air pollutants, pesticides, posture from chairs instead of cross-legged on the floor, heating gas, stress from being an abused aspie....

This could be bigger than we first thought....... .......its....freaken....endless......

*********An aspie focused approach to eliminating environmental irritants of the GI tract*********Including emotional, sensorial and mental stressors***********

Could make us happier aspies in the end.....and maybe a reverse approach...working on emotional issues to improve the gut...........................I think(wait feel) there needs be quite a integrative approach

********An integrative aspie focused....