Gluten Free and Casein Free Diet
Many DAN (Defeat Autism Now) doctors suggest that autistic children try a special diet called the GFCF diet. Mainstream medical doctors rarely recommend special diets for autism. Many parents, including Jenny McCarthy tell their success stories of such diets through websites, books, friends and conferences. The gluten (wheat) free, casein (dairy) free diet is the most popular of the specialized diets, and there are stories by parents that the diet is often helpful in reducing autistic symptoms such as impulsive behaviors, lack of focus, and even speech problems. Wheat and dairy are a part of almost everything we serve in this country. Keeping a child away from ice cream, pizza, milk, and most snack foods and cereals is no small task. I tried the diet with my son for 2 months. He said it was the hardest thing he has had to do in this lifetime. But, I did see results. For example, one night he stepped into the shower by himself and turned on the faucet. Now to a neurotypical child this is not big feat, but for an autistic child with Anxiety disorder who is afraid to turn on any knobs, let alone, get into the show alone.... I was amazed!! The strangest thing was that he didn't realize at the time, that anything was different! Some of his fear and anxiety was just gone! So I do recommend that if you haven't tried it yet, it is worth trying and see what differences you notice in yourself and your own child.
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