Has any tried GFCF diet for autism and did it work?

Page 1 of 1 [ 10 posts ] 

blessedmom
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 9 Apr 2007
Age: 56
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,701
Location: Western Canada

23 Apr 2007, 2:27 pm

I am rather new to AS and autism and have been reading some info about the gluten-free, casein free diet. I am considering putting my family on it and would like to know if anyone has any thoughts.



KimJ
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 10 Jun 2006
Age: 55
Gender: Female
Posts: 2,418
Location: Arizona

23 Apr 2007, 2:50 pm

The GF/CF diet is not for autism, it's for an allergy that a minority of autistic people have. It seems most if not all autistics have some type of allergies, it's just a matter of figuring out which ones.



blessedmom
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 9 Apr 2007
Age: 56
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,701
Location: Western Canada

23 Apr 2007, 3:16 pm

I have Crohn's colitis, ADHD and allergies to dairy, all types of grasses and most pollens from trees and plants. The GFCF diet was first developed for Crohn's. It is no surprise that 3 of my children also have allergies to all of these things. They do not eat dairy. Also, 16 year old has asthma and AS, 14 year old is NT but has hayfever, 13 year old does not show any physical allergies but has more severe AS and is developing stomach problems and 6 year old has asthma and ADHD. I often wonder if my 13 year old is worse because he didn't show any outward symptoms of intolerance so he had dairy and no dietary restrictions. He will be seeing a pediatrician about that this week to rule out celiac disease. It is a big puzzle that I am trying to solve.I also realize that the diet is for allergies and not a cure for autism, just as it doesn't cure Crohn's. :) I would still like to know if it has been helpful to anyone.



cruimh_shionnachain
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 22 Aug 2006
Gender: Male
Posts: 913
Location: Looking for the ubermensch

23 Apr 2007, 3:35 pm

I tried it just after being diagnosed, but I saw no change.
I suppose it just works on low-functioning autistics, not aspies.
Plus, it takes about 6 months for all the gluten and casien(sp?) to be expelled from your diet, and I was not willing to wait that long.


_________________
I'm like an opening band for the sun.
-Pearl Jam

Apathy is not a vice, it is a relieving and downright enjoyable life-choice.


tigerlily
Blue Jay
Blue Jay

User avatar

Joined: 23 Sep 2006
Age: 69
Gender: Female
Posts: 76
Location: ireland

23 Apr 2007, 3:41 pm

well myself and my kind of partner and my son felix , who is 9 are all diagnosed aspies and coming off gluten has been significant for us all. but especially felix. you would notice how big a deal it is when there is an accidental slip up .kapow!! !! ! i really think its worth a six month try. it gets easier to put together with time. good luck.



blessedmom
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 9 Apr 2007
Age: 56
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,701
Location: Western Canada

23 Apr 2007, 4:00 pm

Thank you tigerlily. I think my whole family would benefit seeing as how we all have one thing or another. Six months seems do-able. :)



solid
Velociraptor
Velociraptor

User avatar

Joined: 18 Jun 2005
Age: 32
Gender: Male
Posts: 486
Location: wisbech (england)

23 Apr 2007, 5:27 pm

if you get what i mean, just try it, this diet is very healthy anyway and it does no harm so i'd just try it.


_________________
What's that...
Mercury causes autism... Vaccines cause autism

Stop talking trash


willem
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 6 Apr 2007
Age: 59
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,148
Location: Cascadia

23 Apr 2007, 6:17 pm

Whenever my wife is doing a carb-free (which I think also means gluten-free) diet, I go along with her and I (Aspie) feel very good on that. I couldn't eat casein-free though, casein is in cheese and I just love cheese too much.
Another autism-related dietary theme I read about is healthy fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6). Apparently we autistics have a deficiency in those, so I'm taking capsules containing those fatty acids and this definitely seems to make a difference. It seems to me these capsules make me less moody and better able to prioritize (so it's easier to make decisions and I don't get overwhelmed as fast when bombarded with too much information).


_________________
There is nothing that is uniquely and invariably human.


blessedmom
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 9 Apr 2007
Age: 56
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,701
Location: Western Canada

23 Apr 2007, 7:12 pm

I take omega-3 and omega-6 for ADD and it works better than the medication the Dr. had me on. I hadn't thought to give it to my AS kids.



Sophist
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 23 Apr 2005
Age: 43
Gender: Female
Posts: 6,332
Location: Louisville, KY

23 Apr 2007, 8:49 pm

B12 and zinc are good to add as supplements, too. :)


_________________
My Science blog, Science Over a Cuppa - http://insolemexumbra.wordpress.com/

My partner's autism science blog, Cortical Chauvinism - http://corticalchauvinism.wordpress.com/