Autism Awareness

April is National Autism Awareness Month. According to the National Health Institute of Child Health and Human Development, autism is defined as, “A complex developmental disability that causes problems with social interaction and communication. Symptoms usually start before age three and can cause delays or problems in many different skills that develop from infancy to adulthood.”

Autism effects individuals in unique ways; different children may not experience all the symptoms of autism and may be given diagnoses such as Asperger syndrome or Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified including Rett syndrome and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder. Because of the varying degrees of severity and symptoms, autism is thought of as a “spectrum” disorder.

Children with these diagnoses or other behavior and developmental disorders (i.e. ADD/ADHD) are more likely to suffer from food sensitivities and allergies. Autism is linked to an inflamed gut. Undigested proteins, such as gluten found in wheat and other grains, and casein, a milk protein, wear away at the mucosa layer of the gut, causing irritation and destruction throughout the digestive tract. These proteins escape when the gut layer becomes permeable over time and the proteins will interact with brain chemicals. In other words, the leaking of these proteins cause a sensitivity to certain foods.

Also, specific nutrients such as B vitamins, zinc, and selenium have been shown to improve behavior. Herbal supplements that support the gut integrity can also be extremely helpful to prevent food sensitivities from aggravating the body.

If you would like help navigating these special diets, turn towards the Registered Dietitians at EB Nutrition. We are experts at helping clients remove these "toxins" from their body by starting with gut health. We are extremely familiar with food options available when trying to avoid casein and gluten, as it can be tricky to start. Read more anecdotal success stories and be convinced this is the right choice for your child.