subject: Gluten Free Nutrition Program - Children With Autism And Their Dietary Needs [print this page] A gluten-free diet plan removes all traces of the gluten protein from the overall diet. Foods and drinks containing wheat, barley, rye, oats, or anything made from these grains are avoided. Kids with autism are often helped by eating a diet free of gluten.
A lot of people that tend to follow a gluten free diet often say that autistic kids will sometimes have gastrointestinal struggles, which, in turn, makes it difficult to ingest grains well. Children suffering from autism have the potential to be, in many ways, affected by this.
One theory suggests that the consumption of gluten leads to increased levels of protein by products in the body. These by-products affect behavior much the same way drugs would. Gluteomorphines are peptides that resemble morphine. Your body will manufacture peptides out of the gluten it ingests. It is generally accepted that your gluteomorphine level will diminish once you've stopped consuming gluten, resulting in improved behavior.
Gluteomorphines are believed to drive autistic children away from social situations. It can also increase confusion as well as block pain messages.
Comments From The Experts
Autism experts agree that a gluten free diet works for the elimination process. When parents cut certain things out of their child's diet, they saw a lot of improvement. Parents who introduced a diet free of gluten usually noticed big improvements in their children.
A lot of professionals are beginning to think that wheat and wheat products have a negative effect on autistic children. By eliminating gluten as part of their overall treatment; the experts say that children feel much better and are able to function optimally.
Finding Assistance
Eating a gluten-free diet is especially challenging for children. You may want to consider getting a dietitian or nutritionist to work with you to find the right gluten free diet plan for your child, based on his or her likes and dislikes.
No harm will come to your child in implementing this diet. There will be sound nutritional advice and no major nutrient groups will be omitted.
We all know that children can be cruel at times and this is especially true for autistic kids as they may feel no comfort by being singled out and labeled as "different". A gluten free diet plan calls attention to their condition, and thus their differences. This offers a special challenge to parents attempting to meet the treatment standards. A family can stick to a gluten-free diet with the help of support groups that will provide additional resources and ideas on how to deal with the challenges of a gluten-free lifestyle.
Professionals will tell you that a diet free of gluten means much dedication and sacrifice. With so many children being diagnosed with autism though, there are plenty of resources and support groups to help you along the way.
