Diet Number One:
THE GLUTEN-FREE, CASEIN-FREE DIET
This diet can be difficult for many kids, but this one element of dietary intervention
has consistently had remarkable effects.
I put virtually all children with 4-A symptoms on this diet, for at least a trial period of
a month or more.
This diet means: No wheat. No milk.
Gluten is a protein in wheat that is very hard for many people to digest, and casein
is a protein in dairy products that is very hard for many people to digest. Gluten is
also present in rye and barley, and to a lesser extent it is present in oats. Gluten is
the protein that makes wheat sticky, and gives it the ability to bake properly.
The enzyme that breaks down gluten is called DPP4, and it seems to be lower
among kids with 4-A disorders, particularly autism and ADHD. When gluten is not
properly broken down, it creates chemicals that can interfere with thought and
mood.
In my practice, approximately 60% of children with autism improve when they go
on the gluten-free, casein-free diet, or GF/CF diet. The diet also achieves a high
rate of positive response among kids with ADHD and asthma. Kids often show
improvements in symptoms relatively quickly, after beginning the GF/CF diet.
The GF/CF diet has become the single most popular dietary intervention for
autism, ADHD, and asthma. Because it’s an anti-allergenic diet, it is also, of
course, appropriate for kids with classic allergies to foods with gluten and casein,
such as wheat and milk.
Symptoms that often begin to improve on the GF/CF diet are:
- Poor language skills
- Bowel disorders
- Mood disorders
- Hyperactive behavior
- Skin problems (particularly eczema)
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Cognitive disorders
- Various metabolic disorders, such as thyroid dysfunction
Many common symptoms of food reactions also improve, including swelling,
bloating, and food craving.
The GF/CF diet turns lives around.
Sometimes results are not quick. They can be especially slow to appear with the
restriction of gluten, which tends to stay in the system longer than casein. It can
take up to 3 weeks for symptoms associated with casein to improve, and it can
take as long as 3 months for symptoms associated with gluten to abate. During
this time, kids sometimes experience heightened symptoms, especially during the
first few days of restrictions.
