Gluten free diet helps with autistic behaviour

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FemiRocker93
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19 Aug 2014, 9:42 am

I have come across a few studies about gluten free diets can improve an autistic persons behaviour. Has anyone tried this diet? :)



Chrome_Oxide_Green
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19 Aug 2014, 10:52 am

Haven't tried it myself, but my cousin swore it worked wonders for her children.



lostonearth35
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19 Aug 2014, 11:34 am

I think it's a bunch of hogwash, mostly. But there seems to be a lot of people now who can't eat gluten because it makes them sick, so gluten-free products are good for that reason at least.
No gluten, no lactose, no nuts ... feels like in a few years people won't be abler to eat actual food anymore. :(



cathylynn
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19 Aug 2014, 11:39 am

no actual good scientific studies to support gluten elimination in autism.



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19 Aug 2014, 12:03 pm

People observe what they want to observe. The brain will take note of evidence of improvement while disregarding evidence to the contrary. That's the placebo effect. There is no evidence that the gfcf diet leads to any measurable improvement.



eggheadjr
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19 Aug 2014, 12:12 pm

I eat a gluten free and low casein diet because of my intestinal issues. Been eating gluten free a year and a half now - didn't notice any behavioural improvements, just a happier tummy.


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AardvarkGoodSwimmer
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19 Aug 2014, 2:05 pm

some people. I think eating gluten free can help some people.

If it causes inflammatory issues, well, that could be brain fog, joint pain, maybe increased vulnerability to sensory issues. Maybe.

Here's the challenge. Can someone try it with a light touch? The chief harm to way out health claims is that the person abandons the most likely stuff while they put too much hope and credence in the way out claim. If a person can avoid this, then sure, go ahead and try it in a sensible way.



PlainsAspie
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19 Aug 2014, 2:20 pm

If you're an adult, I can't nor would I try to stop you from trying it out, but when parents put their kids on this diet, I'm concerned. Autistic people tend to be picky eaters. Adding more dietary restrictions without scientific evidence of benefit is a terrible idea.



MaKin
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19 Aug 2014, 6:01 pm

Holy crap. No! Unless one has a gluten intolerance or Celiac Disease, going gluten free has no benefit. I'm Aspie and was diagnosed with a medical gluten intolerance a couple of years ago. Not only is going gluten free a shock to the body, all of that change of diet and habit is a real blow to emotions and the senses. I am still devastated by having to change nearly everything I eat, and how I prepare things, and my meal making routines and meal enjoyment, and having to read every damned label while shopping and having to be very limited when going out to restaurants to the point where I need to do research just to be sure I won't become ill.

All that said, I don't notice any change in my Aspieness. Matter of fact, I think all of those changes have increased some of my sensory triggers.

I can't stress this enough.....Don't go gluten free without a medical need to do so!!



AardvarkGoodSwimmer
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19 Aug 2014, 7:13 pm

Laying in bed in the morning as I start to wake up, I sometimes think so clearly. Okay, and maybe a number of people do this. And sometimes the magic happens and sometimes it doesn't and is not to be forced but merely allowed to happen.

And also, I will sometimes write and/or study for two whole hours before breakfast, and then breakfast will kind of wipe me out. And I wonder if this is that common.

So, I've thought about a food allergy, too many carbs all at once, low blood pressure which I do have, etc.

If someone is to experiment, maybe start with single meals? And like any single thing, 'gluten sensitivity' is over hyped. Again, if someone is going to try "way out" health possibilities, please don't do so by neglecting the basics or by impinging too much your quality of life. Not unless you gave a valid, demonstrated health reason like MaKin says.



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19 Aug 2014, 9:23 pm

It helped my daughter because she was intolerant to gluten and casein. For her the bigger difference happened when I remove milk. She started to gain weight for the first time (at 5th percentile all her life) even though she was eating a lot less calories without all the milk. She stated talking in full sentences and made eye contact for the first time within a few weeks. Gluten was less obvious. I tested her years later and she still had some gluten and casein in her diet because she was still registering intolerant to them. Years later her digestive issues had resolved and she resumed a normal diet with enzymes to help her digest and eventually no enzymes. She is old enough now to notice how she feels when she eats certain foods. The one area that became a problem again after resuming eating regular foods was tactile hyper-sensitivity. No other behavior changed but she was 4 when she started and 7-8 when off the diet.

The diet works the most with people who seem addicted to dairy and bread and feel euphoric after eating. There has to be 'leaky gut syndrome' for it to work. I would suggest a blood test for IGg (food intolerance instead of the test for true allergies). We did not do this test first and just did an elimination diet.


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motherof2
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19 Aug 2014, 9:25 pm

AardvarkGoodSwimmer wrote:
Laying in bed in the morning as I start to wake up, I sometimes think so clearly. Okay, and maybe a number of people do this. And sometimes the magic happens and sometimes it doesn't and is not to be forced but merely allowed to happen.

And also, I will sometimes write and/or study for two whole hours before breakfast, and then breakfast will kind of wipe me out. And I wonder if this is that common.

So, I've thought about a food allergy, too many carbs all at once, low blood pressure which I do have, etc.

If someone is to experiment, maybe start with single meals? And like any single thing, 'gluten sensitivity' is over hyped. Again, if someone is going to try "way out" health possibilities, please don't do so by neglecting the basics or by impinging too much your quality of life. Not unless you gave a valid, demonstrated health reason like MaKin says.


I noticed in myself less of a craving for gluten free bread. I would eat one slice of pizza instead of 3 even though it tasted good.


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