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Diet in Autism
by Dr. Rajesh Shah
The
theory is that some people with autism cannot properly
digest gluten and casein, which form substances that act
like opiates in their bodies. This "drug" substance alters
the person's behavior, perceptions, and responses to his
environment, according to this theory. Research in the U.S.
and Europe has found substances with opiate activity in the
urine of a significant number of children with autism.
Some
parents, doctors and researchers say that children have
shown mild to dramatic improvements in speech and/or
behavior after a gluten-free, casein-free (GFCF) diet.
Gluten
and gluten-like proteins are found in wheat and other
grains, including oats, rye, barley, bulgar, durum, kamut
and spelt, and foods made from those grains. They are also
found in food starches, semolina, couscous, malt, some
vinegars, soy sauce, flavorings, artificial colors and
hydrolyzed vegetable proteins.
 Casein
is a protein found in milk and products containing milk,
such as cheese, butter, yogurt, ice cream, whey and even
some brands of margarine. It also may be added to non-milk
products such as soy cheese and hot dogs in the form of
caseinate.
Foods
that CAN be eaten on a gluten-free, casein-free diet include
rice, quinoa, amaranth, potato, buckwheat flour, soy, corn,
fruits, vegetables, beans, tapioca, meat, poultry, fish,
shellfish, teff, nuts, eggs, and sorghum, among others.
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