AutismFile_AutismDietsNotRocketScience

8/2/2019 AutismFile_AutismDietsNotRocketScience

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Research indicates that ood choices can oten makea big diference in your childs behavior.By julie matthews

Theres a lot o evidencebothscientiic evidence and anec-dotalindicating that children

with autism can improve and even re-cover rom the disorder, and that mak-ing strategic changes to the oods thatour children eat may be undamental

to that recovery, and to engaging theirpotential. Ive personally consultedwith hundreds o parents who havewitnessed the power o diet, and attri-bute much o their childs improvementto ood and nutrition choices. Manyeel that diet was the actor that helpedtheir child most, and some cited it asthe main actor in their childs recovery(losing their autism diagnosis).

By understanding the underlyingbiochemistry and systems aected by

autism, parents can inuence the be-havior, cognitive unction, and healtho their children. Food and nutritionplay a key role, and attention to theseactors can help balance biochemistry,eect systemic healing, and providerelie o autism symptoms. Certain oodsubstances (most notably, gluten andcasein, the principal proteins in wheatand cows milk, respectively) are knownto be problematic or many childrenwith autism[1], while other oods that

are rich in healing nutrients are knownto be benefcial.

A whole body disorder

Historically, autism was considered amysterious brain disorder, implyingthat it began and ended in the brain. In

recent years, a more appropriate wholebody disorder perspective o autismhas emerged, based on the theory thatthe brain is aected by the biochemistryo the body. Martha Herbert, MD, PhD,an assistant proessor o neurology atHarvard Medical School, was one o

the frst experts in the feld to describeautism in this way, and she reers to thebrain as downstream rom the body.

Common physical symptoms inchildren with autism include diarrhea,constipation, bloating and gastrointesti-nal (GI) pain, requent inections, sleep-ing challenges, and inammation/pain.[2] The act that there are physical aswell as behavioral symptoms illustratesthat autism isnt solely a brain disorder.When we appropriately identiy autism

as a whole body disorder, we can com-prehend how what happens inside thebody and cells aects the brainandhow the ood we eed a child aects thebody and its biochemistry.

For many children with autism, ac-tors such as nutrient defciencies, im-balanced biochemistry, and digestiveproblems can play a signiicant rolein causing or exacerbating symptoms.Altering ood choices can aect physi-ological unctioning and help improve

physical and behavioral symptoms.

how food mAtters

A healthy diet and good digestion areessential or good health. For many chil-dren, the physiological and behavioralsymptoms o autism may stem rom orbe aggravated by impaired digestion andgastrointestinal (GI) health. Researchhas identifed that unrecognized gas-trointestinal disorders... may contributeto the behavioral problems o the non-

verbal autistic patients.[3]Poor digestion can lead to a condition

known as leaky gut (increased intestinalpermeability), which can result in mal-

absorption o nutrients, inammatoryresponses to oods that arent brokendown, and overload o the detoxifcationsystem. Adequate nutritional status, es-sential to proper biochemical and brainunctions, requires both the consump-tion o nutrient-dense oods and properdigestion to break down and absorbthose oods.

Impaired digestion can stem romnegative environmental actors (as wellas genetic susceptibility), lack o ben-

efcial bacteria, inammation, and im-mune system response to certain oods;and studies have shown leaky gut [4]low levels o benefcial ora,[5] inam-mation, oxidative stress[6], nutrientdefciencies, and immune response toood[7] [8] in children with autism. Ad-ditionally, the response to certain oods,such as gluten and casein, can create anopiate or inammatory reaction that canaect the brain.

Thus, it is essential to understand

and address gut issues in autism. Thelargest part o the immune system islocated in the gut, and the immunesystem is oten imbalanced in autism,resulting in an inability to fght virus-es, yeast, and other pathogens proper-ly, while contributing to an overactiveinammatory and allergic response.Toxins originating in the gut, otenrom bad (pathogenic) bacteria andyeast, can aect the brain. Foods thatarent digested properly can create

inlammatory and immune systemresponses that also aect the brain.Ninety percent o the brain chemicalserotonin stems rom the gut, and it

JULIE MATTHEWS...

is a certifed nutrition con-sultant dedicated to improvingpeoples health throughnutrition, specialized diets, and

holistic wellness coaching. Shepresents at the national AutismResearch Institute conerences,

and is the author o Nourishing Hope or Autism.Visit her website at ww w.nourishinghope.com.

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has a proound eect on the gut/brainconnection and regulating gut motil-ity and pain sensitivity.

According to Hippocrates, All dis-ease begins in the gut, and this cer-tainly proves true with autism. In act,the gut was coined the second brain

by Columbia Universitys MichaelGershon, MD, who spent many yearsstudying the gut-brain connection.Derrick MacFabe, MD, director andassistant proessor at the University oWestern Ontarios departments o psy-chology and psychiatry, identifed thisgut-brain connection in autism. In hisrecent study on propionic acid, a attyacid that originates in the gut, he oundthat in rats, propionic acid caused be-havioral and biochemical symptoms

similar to those ound in autism.[9]

Choosing A

diet

I hope thatparents andpractitionerscan see thepossibilities

or positiveinuence and

realize that diet

can help autism.Diet is a powerul

personal

tool; it has ew downsides and is acces-sible to everyone. With diet, parentshave great control over choices thatcan have immediate positive impactin the health o their children.

The most successul parents (andchildren) in my private practice are

those who take steps to careully andconscientiously make diet changes.They have seen rom the experienceo others that recovery is possibleand that it can, through calculatedood choices, make a dierence ortheir child. While modern medi-cal channels present ew options,parents are ollowing Hippocratestraditional advice by letting ood betheir medicine.

There are many autism diets to

choose rom, and deciding how tobegin can seem overwhelming, but itneednt be. While eliminating glutenand casein has been the primaryonus o autism dietsvia the glu-ten-ree casein-ree (GF/CF) dietadditional advances in biomedicalnutrition research and mom-cen-tric anecdotal data have resulted inbroader dietary strategies or autism.Because every child is dierent, adiet that helps one child may not

be the best or another. Each childhas unique biochemistry, immuneunctioning, genes, environment as-saults, and eating preerences.

Some o the most eective andpopular diets apart rom GF/CF in-clude the specifc carbohydrate diet(SCD), the gut and psychology syn-drome (GAPS) diet, the paleo/primaldiet, the body ecology diet, the lowoxalate diet, the Feingold diet and theFailsae diet. I describe these diets in

my book, Nourishing Hope for Autism,along with the biochemistry that is a-ected and how to choose the best dietor an individual. For the simplicity o

As a parent, you have at your disposal a very powerful

healing tool that can complement behavioral and

other treatments recommended by your autism

pediatricianand its as simple as your childs diet.

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5 saegc fd chces

help mpve sympms

Nix the yeast, by removing sugars and yeast-containing oods rom the diet,reducing or removing reined starches (such as white bread and baked goods, and

white rice), and adding probiotic-rich oods (such as non-dairy yogurt and keir)

that naturally combat yeast growth. Yeast overgrowth is oten triggered by heavy

antibiotic use (common in children with autism, who tend to have poor bacteria-

ighting ability) and can cause gut inlammation and decrease gut unction.

Boost Biochemical pathways via vitamins B12, B6, and olate.Methylation, transsuluration, and sulation are just one set o biochemical

pathways that dont unction optimally or many children with autism [11].

These pathways lead to the production o glutathione and other substances

used or detoxiication, immune unction, gut integrity, and antioxidant

statusthereore, children with autism commonly have impaired detoxiication

and digestion, and oxidative stress. In addition, methylation is required or

properly activating neurotransmittersi these arent working properly, the

likelihood o anxiety, depression, ADHD, and sleeping issues is increased.[12]

soothe gut iNflammatioN Improving digestion, reducing inlammation,

and healing the gut are important steps in overall health and healing. Commonlyreported beneits include reduced diarrhea and constipation, improved behavior,

greater language skills, and ewer skin rashes. Remove oods that inlame the

gut, such as gluten, casein, and soy; and add oods that heal the gut and are

anti-inlammatory, such as antioxidant-rich ruits and vegetables. Also add oods

that supply beneicial probiotics, and oods that support beneicial bacteria

growth (prebiotics), such as raw dandelion greens, garlic and onions.

improve detoxificatioN When childrens detoxiication systems arent workingoptimally, as is common with autism,[13] toxins rom ood and the environmentsuch

as salicylates, artiicial ood ingredients, monosodium glutamate (MSG), mercury,

and aluminumcan cross the blood-brain barrier and aect the brain, causing

hyperactivity, aggression, irritability, and sel-injurious behavior.[14] Avoid ood

additives and toxins in the ood supply by serving organic oods, and add oods thatsupport the liver, such as sulur-rich crucierous vegetables (such as broccoli, Brussels

sprouts), and eggs, beets, grass-ed liver, and probiotic-containing lacto-ermentations.

support digestioN When digestion is poor and the gut is too permeable, nutrientsarent absorbed properly. This leads to nutrient deiciencies, which can negatively aect all

cellular unction, including brain unction.

Nutrient deiciencies are common

among children with autism [15, 16,

17], and poor quality and limited diets

exacerbate the problem. In addition to

providing a wide variety o nutrients

through oods, supporting

digestion is important, and

supplementation including

B6, magnesium and vitamin C

has shown to be supportive.

[18, 19]. Measures to address

nutrient deiciencies can

include increasing the quality

and digestibility o ood, sneaking

in vegetables or children who

are picky eaters, juicing

vegetables, preparing

homemade bone broths,

and adding appropriate

supplementation.

this discussion, Ill ocus on the GF/CF diet since its the most commonplace to start and has some o the

best results or people new to specialhealing diets.

the gf/Cf diet

When parents decide to do diet,they typically begin with the GF/CF diet, which entails the removalo all gluten- and casein-containingoods rom a childs diet. Gluten is aprotein ound in wheat, rye, barley,spelt, kamut, and commercial oats;and casein is a protein ound in dairy.

When ingested by children witha compromised digestive tract (com-mon with autism), these proteins cancause gut inlammation, pain, anddigestive problems. I the protein isntproperly broken down during diges-tion, it can orm opioids (opiate ormorphine-like compounds).[20] Sci-entists believe that opioids in glutenand casein are toxic or children withautism when they have an abnormal,leaky gastrointestinal tract.[21] The

properties o gluten and casein canlead to digestive problems such as di-arrhea, constipation, gas, and bloat-ing, as well as oggy thinking andinattentiveness or many childrenwith autism.

Studies and many thousands oparental reports indicate physicalsymptoms and autistic behaviors candecrease on the GF/CF diet. Accord-ing to parents surveyed by the AutismResearch Institute, the GF/CF diet

is helpul or 70 percent o childrenwith autism spectrum disorder, eventhough a ood sensitivity panel maynot show a reaction to these oods.[22] Thereore, I typically recommenda GF/CF trial period, oten beginningthe diet by removing frst one and thenthe other, so that both are removed.

Most o the oods containingthese oending proteins are easyto identiy. Youll need to avoid anybreads, crackers, pasta, or bakery

items made with wheat and othergluten grains, and all dairy oods,such as milk, cheese, butter, yogurt,and cream. Some sources, however,

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can be sneaky, as some oods con-tain oending ingredients that arenot apparent, such as soy sauce

(except gluten-ree soy sauce), po-tato chips and ries (oten dustedwith gluten during processing, al-though it may not be listed on thelabelensure they are gluten-reeby checking with the company), andmalt (derived rom barley).

When beginning the GF/CF diet,be careul not to introduce a buncho GF/CF junk oods, such as cookies,candy, and chips. Even though theydont include gluten or casein, the sugar

can eed yeast, imbalance blood sugar,and dysregulate energy. Remember,diet is more than just the removal ooending oodsattention must beplaced on ensuring healthy and nutri-tious ood intake. While ollowing anyautism diet, it is important to monitorand moderate the intake o certainadditional ood-based substances as

needed. Common problematic oodsubstances are:`` Phenols and salicylates (removed in

the Feingold Diet and Failsae diet).`` Amines and glutamates (also

removed in Failsae, along withphenols and salicylates).`` Oxalates (reduced in the low-

oxalate diet).In addition to removing prob-

lematic oods, such as wheat, dairyand others, its also important to addnutrient-dense oods. These includegrass-ed meat, pastured eggs, livelacto-ermented oods (such as non-

dairy yogurt and raw cultured veg-etables), organic and locally grownproduce, homemade bone brothssuch as chicken stock, and reshlypressed vegetable juices.

you CAn do it

You may be thinking, My child ispicky and very inexible with eating

new oods. Im never going to be ableto get him to eat anything other thanwheat and dairynever mind any-

thing healthy. I appreciate these con-cerns! Ive had some very picky eatersin my nutrition practicemany chil-dren ate only bread and dairy; otherssubsisted on just pancakes and ries.However, there are solid reasons whythese children were so one-sided intheir ood choices. When the bodycreates opiates rom oods, one can be-come addicted to them and thus cravenothing but those oods; or, when yeastovergrowth is present, a preerence

or only carbs and sugars can result.Children eventually narrow their oodchoices to include only those that makethem eel better (in the short term).

Its worth trying diet because oncethe child gets past the cravings (in aew days to a ew weeks), they otenexpand their ood choices dramati-cally. Ive polled many parent groups



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and fnd this truea majority o thetime. Now, there are

some children whoare very sel-limiting,and it takes time to changetheir dietsbut keep at it.Sometimes, as occupational therapy orsensory integration begins to addressood textures, a child begins to expandmore. Also, seek out the support o aeeding therapist i you have a pickyeaterthey can be incredibly helpul.

You can help the situation by get-ting creative. Make oods crunchy or

smooth based on your childs preer-ences. Begin to add new ood options,such as gluten-ree pasta, beore re-moving existing oods. Be aware thatbrand preerence may be based on thepresence o MSG or other additives thatcan be addicting and make that oodexciting. Add enough salt to makeyour versions o avorite oods more

lavoruldontgo overboard, but

dont eel you need

to limit salt.Today , g rowingnumbers o parents are

wisely and correctly applyingautism diets with great success. Thesediets and nutritional approaches arehelping children recover rom autism.Any childs diet can change, and recov-ery is possible. It may take time and re-quire great patience, but you can makeimprovements. Its crucial that parentsbelieve its possible or their children

to change and improve. By envision-ing the changes, you project a positiveimage that is important or your childand the success o your overall eorts.Ive never known a child who didntbeneft rom dietary intervention, andIve never seen a childs diet that didnt(with proper attention) eventually ex-pand and improve.

1. Knivsberg AM, Reichelt KL, Nodland M. (2001) Reportson dietary intervention in autistic disorders. NutritionalNeuroscience, 4(1):25-37.

2. Molloy CA, Manning-Courtney P. Prevalence o chronicgastrointestinal symptoms in children with autism and

autistic spectrum disorders. Autism. 2003 Jun;7(2):165-71.3. Horvath K, Papadimitriou JC, Rabsztyn A, Drachenberg C,

Tildon JT. Gastrointestinal abnormalities in children withautistic disorder. J Pediatr. 1999 Nov;135(5):559-63.

4. DEuemia P, Celli M, Finocchiaro R, et al. Abnormalintestinal permeability in children with autism. ActaPaediatr. 1996 Sep;85(9):1076-9.

5. Finegold SM et al. Gastrointestinal microora studies inlate-onset autism. Clin Inect Dis 2002 35(Suppl 1):S6-S16.

6. Adams JB, Audhya T, McDonough-Means S, Rubin RA,Quig D, Geis E, Gehn E, Loresto M, Mitchell J, Atwood S,Barnhouse S, Lee W. Nutritional and metabolic status ochildren with autism vs. neurotypical children, and theassociation with autism severity. Nutrition & Metabolism2011 Jun 8;8(1):34.

7. Jyonouchi H, et al. Proinammatory and regulatorycytokine production associated with innate andadaptive immune responses in children with autism

spectrum disorders and developmental regression. JNeuroimmunol. 2001 Nov 1;120(1-2):170-9.

8. Jyonouchi H, Sun S, Itokazu N. Innate immunity associatedwith inammatory responses and cytokine productionagainst common dietary proteins in patients with autismspectrum disorder. Neuropsychobiology. 2002;46(2):76-84.

9. MacFabe DF, et al. Neurobiological efects ointraventricular propionic acid in rats: possible roleo short chain atty acids on the pathogenesis andcharacteristics o autism spectrum disorders. Behav BrainRes 2007:176(1): 149-69.

10. Logan BK, Jones, AW. Endogenous ethanol auto-brewerysyndrome as a drunk-driving deence challenge. Med SciLaw. 2000 Jul;40(3):206-15.

11. James SJ, Cutler P, Melnyk S, Jernigan S, Janak L, Gaylor DWand Neubrander JA. Metabolic biomarkers o increasedoxidative stress and impaired methylation capacity

in children with autism. American Journal o ClinicalNutrition. 2004 Dec;80(6):1611-7.

12. Miller AL. The methylation, neurotransmitter, andantioxidant connections between olate and depression.Altern Med Rev. 2008 Sep;13(3):216-26.

13. Waring RH, Ngong JM, Klovrza L, Green S, Sharp H.Biochemical Parameters in Autistic Children. Dev BrainDysunct 1997;10:40-43.

14. Wang HT, Luo B, Huang YN, Zhou KQ, Chen L. Sodiumsalicylate suppresses serotonin-induced enhancement oGABAergic spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currentsin rat inerior colliculus in vitro. Hear Res. 2008 Feb;236(1-2):42-51. Epub 2007 Dec 15.

15. Vancassel S, et al. Plasma atty acid levels in autisticchildren. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2001Jul;65(1):1-7.

16. Arnold GL et al. Plasma amino acids proles in childrenwith autism: potential risk o nutritional deciencies. J

Autism Dev Disord 2003 33(4):449-54.17. Adams JB, George F, Audhya T. Abnormally high

plasma levels o vitamin B6 in children with autism nottaking supplements compared to controls not takingsupplements. J Altern Complement Med. 2006 Jan-Feb;12(1):59-63.

18. Dolske MC, Spollen J, McKay S, Lancashire E, Tolbert L. Apreliminary trial o ascorbic acid as supplemental therapyor autism. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry.1993 Sep;17(5):765-74.

19. Martineau J, Barthelemy C, Garreau B, Lelord G. Vitamin B6,magnesium, and combined B6-Mg: therapeutic efects inchildhood autism. Biol Psychiatry. 1985 May;20(5):467-78.

20. Reichelt KL, Knivsberg AM, Lind G, Nodland M: Probableetiology and possible treatment o childhood autism.Brain Dysunction 1991; 4: 308-319.

21. Shattock P, Whiteley P. (2002) Biochemical aspects inautism spectrum disorders: updating the opioid-excess

theory and presenting new opportunities or biomedicalintervention. Expert Opin Ther Targets. Apr;6(2):175-83.

22. Rimland, B., & Edelson, S.M. (2005). Parent ratings obehavior efects o biomedical interventions (Pub. 34, Rev.March 2005). San Diego: Autism Research Institute.

`You can help the situation by getting creative.

Daily Web Newspaperof the Autism Epidemic

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