ANDI Network - We Rescued Our Child From Autism

Parents of Autistic children have found that removing diary and wheat products from their diet can in fact reverse the symptoms of Autism.

I found this incredible article that any parent with an Autistic child should pay attention to. The controversy of diet and Autistic symptoms continues to rage on. Parents of Autistic children have found that removing diary and wheat products from their diet can in fact reverse the symptoms of Autism. Doctors continue to poo-poo the idea claiming lack of medical evidence. In this country where dairy and wheat lobbies are so strong, it's hard to raise a voice about how damaging these foods can be.

As an adult with mild autistic symptoms such as lack of eye-contact, sensory overload, pacing, narrow interests and lack of social skills, I've become incredibly focused on all aspects of Autism and Asperges Syndrome. My entire life I've had a love hate relationship with milk/wheat products. I often crave them. Then after eating these foods, they strip me of the ability to concentrate and handle sensory overload. Add this to a general inability to digest these things and you have a ticking time-bomb.

Whether it's food allergies, Autism or a combination thereof remains to be seen. I inadvertently found out how harmful milk and wheat were while on the Atkins and South Beach diets which naturally limit both dairy and wheat products. Those diets had me feeling fantastic. Digestion improved dramatically. Of course I lost weight, which is a good feeling, but at first, I didn't realize how my concentration level increased as well. It was much easier to do things like focus on a reading a book.

There is a lot of controversy with "The Opiate Theory" and Autism. This site goes into that some. As the theory goes, milk casien and wheat gluten can create peptides in the body that, "alter the person's behavior, perceptions, and responses to his environment". Normal people avoid this effect, but people within the Autistic spectrum are at high risk. An obvious symptom is how hard it is to digest something like pizza which is a double whammy of dairy and wheat.

Other times I've reached ethical dilemmas. I once tried to go vegetarian, which was an absolute disaster, because of the increase in dairy, wheat and soy. My vegetarian stage gave me immediate indigestion, lack of concentration and lethargy. These days, I try to eat heavy amounts of vegetables with light amounts of lean organic, 'ethical' meat, rice and beans. It is a constant battle though because many social engagements practically require you to eat wheat and dairy combinations. You have to be a real stick-in-the mud to keep true to your eating needs. In the end, an autistic person may have to refrain from milk and wheat at the social engagement in order to avoid the sensory overload of the thing in the first place.

I tend to agree with the author in the article that doctors can often be full of baloney which is why parents of autistic children and adults suffering from these symptoms should research and share information online. Rapid changes in diet can be dangerous, so consulting a doctor is 'recommended', but I would be armed with as much research as possible beforehand . I've searched for studies concerning the connection, but good information concerning adults is harder to find. This About.com article gives a brief summary of the GI tract / Autism connection.