|
Background | How to Begin the GF/CF Diet
Background:
The science behind the GF/CF diet for the treatment of Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) and ADD/ADHD is based on a paper by Paul Shattock and Paul Whiteley entitled “Biochemical aspects in autism spectrum disorders: updating the opioid-excess theory and presenting new opportunities for biomedical intervention” published by the Autism Research Unit, University of Sunderland, UK (2002).
Simply put, the gut is a closed tube that is bound together by tightly entwined microscopic mesh-like connections called “tight junctions.” These tight junctions are necessary to provide a barrier against harmful pathogens, toxins, and food allergens. If these connections are disrupted for any reason, the resulting condition is something called “leaky gut.” A leaky gut is harmful to the body not only because toxins are then allowed to pass into the bloodstream, but also because food substances are not as effectively absorbed by finger-like projections (villi) in the small intestine, and children then become malnourished. Biochemically, a vicious cycle of worsening inflammation and improper immune stimulation ensues, making healing very difficult. We can look to patients with celiac sprue, in which such immune mechanisms have been elegantly studied by scientists.
The over-stimulation of the immune system, coupled with a lack of proper pancreatic digestive enzyme activity, causes food to be poorly broken down and absorbed. In children with ASDs, two of the most toxic partially digested proteins are gluteomorphins and casomorphins, which arise from gluten and casein. Gluten is found in wheat, barley, rye, and oat products, and casein is found in dairy products. Gluteomorphins and casomorphins are toxic because they chemically resemble morphine-like compounds, and are, in fact, known as exorphines, or stimulatory chemicals. Exorphines have opioid, and therefore, addictive properties. When these partially-digested proteins ‘leak’ through the damaged wall of the intestines, they enter the bloodstream and can easily able to bind to morphine receptors in the central nervous system. A temporary euphoric effect occurs when the body receives these exorphines, much like the good feeling the body experiences when endorphins are released after exercise or any other pleasurable activity. The body then learns that it “needs” (or, is addicted to) the gluteomorphins and casomorphins to “feel good.” Unfortunately, the body’s immune system eventually treats these stimulants as foreign invaders and a state of inflammation and hyper-immunuity occurs, which ultimately weakens its ability to protect the self, which is the immune system’s primary job. Even more concerning in patients with ASDs, as these opioid-like peptides travel through the bloodstream due to a leaky gut and cross the blood/brain barrier, a drugged-like or “foggy” state occurs; hence, the Opioid Excess Theory.
What causes the original breakdown in the wall of the gut is not easily pinpointed or understood, and probably varies from child to child. One plausible theory is that the now pervasive trend of practitioners to over-prescribe antibiotics early in a child’s life is disrupting the delicate flora, or balance of “good” and “bad” bacteria, along with yeast, which is necessary for proper digestion and gut protection. An overgrowth of the yeast Candida albicans may be responsible for literally poking holes in the wall of the gut (www.overcomingcandida.com/candida_albicans_picture). Many families anecdotally report that their children received consecutive courses of antibiotics for a string of chronic ear or sinus infections prior to the onset of autism. Many families also report that these initial infections were connected to or occurred shortly after routine vaccinations (which are often given several at a time). In certain genetically predisposed individuals, such as those with a family history of autoimmune disease, the current CDC recommended schedule of 36 vaccines in the early childhood years may, in fact, weaken the immune system that it was intending to strengthen (www.ageofautism.com).
Why the GF/CF diet helps most children is far from simple, just as what set up the internal conditions leading to each child’s autism is unique; however, this diet usually acts as the foundation that allows for the beginning of meaningful clinical recovery (e.g., interaction, language, cognition, behaviors, work and play ability) while promoting deep healing of the digestive system by halting overactive immunity. It is important to remember that 70% of the immune system is located in the gut! Thus, as macro- and micronutrients become properly digested and absorbed, the body no longer needs to inappropriately attack itself. Children with ASDs are usually malnourished and their guts are damaged and in need of repair, but with improvement of the diet, we can promote basic healthy cellular, metabolic, and neurotrasmitter functions (www.ari.com).
back to top
How To Begin the GF/CF Diet:
Remove dairy products from your child’s diet first. There is no right or wrong way to do this. Some people remove dairy one meal at a time over the course of a week and others eliminate milk “snacks” in between meals. We recommend you do find replacement foods before you move your child to a totally dairy-free diet. We also advise that the child be on some form of calcium (preferrably calcium citrate) and vitamin D supplementation.
Once you have successfully removed dairy (casein), move slowly to a gluten-free diet. This can be more challenging, as there are many hidden sources of gluten. Find a good gluten-free shopping guide, call companies from the grocery store if you’re not sure if a food item contains gluten, and read labels, labels, labels!
It is usually easier to see the results (e.g., better interaction, connectedness, language) of removing dairy more quickly than gluten. A very common mistake people make in trying the diet is not staying on the gluten-free portion long enough and therefore judge it to be ineffective. Patience is required! There are two main reasons for this: 1) Gluten is by its nature a sticky – glue like substance and it can take up six months or more to be successfully removed from deep within cells and tissues, and 2) Hidden sources of gluten as we mentioned are tricky, and it’s easy to make mistakes in the first few weeks (also, well-meaning relatives or school staff may introduce a source of gluten). Unfortunately, re-exposure to this substance often results in a behavioral setback or halting of current progress. We believe that you will only see the full potential benefits of the diet when the child is truly gluten-free for several months.
If the GF/CF diet brings you some gains in language, behavior, and connectedness, but you still feel like your child has more room for improvement, consider removing other common allergens / sensitivity foods such as soy, corn, and eggs. You may want to try removing them individually for a few days, and then re-challenge for one day by giving a substantial portion of the food you are testing. If there is any loss in skills or behaviors, regression in language, or appearance of clinical signs/symptoms such as eczema, redness, wheezing, nausea, or bowel problems – then you have proved that your child is sensitive to and should be restricted from that food (some children are able to take digestive enzymes, which aid in breaking down the “offending” agent). As an example, it is not uncommon for parents to switch their child from cow’s milk to soy milk, and then after determining that stimming behaviors have not decreased on soy, find that trying them on rice or almond milk, yields a significant improvement. It is important to remember that foods that children most crave are often the ones to which they are most sensitive.
There are other, even more restrictive diets that may be helpful in promoting healing and improvement in the autistic or hyperactive phenotype, such as The Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD). It restricts all complex carbohydrates and sugars, except honey. This is in an effort to allow the body to more easily digest monosaccharides (single sugars). A great bulk of the American diet consists of products/foods high in complex carbohydrates and disaccharides (two single sugars linked together). The diet principally consists of meat, fruits and vegetables, and baked goods made from nut flours (www.pecanbread.com). Another alternative is the Body Ecology Diet. While it has many helpful ideas, its main focus is on the ingestion of cultured fermented foods to facilitate a better pH conducive for digestion in the gut (e.g., less acidic). It contains live cultures of probiotics. Since children on the GF/CF diet should not eat yogurt (made from milk), this diet offers a wonderful, and often clinically helpful, staple of coconut milk kefir, which is similar to yogurt, containing good probiotics (www.bodyecologydiet.com).
It is important to remember that while you are in the process of substituting and reworking your child’s diet, it is almost always a good idea to scale back on sugar. Our kids get too much of it! White table sugar is the prime feeder of candida (yeast overgrowth). Cutting back on fruit juices can also be very helpful here. Eliminating all sugar is very difficult and not appropriate, as we need carbohydrates to live, but it is important to provide a balanced blend of healthy sugar types, with emphasis on fruit and natural sugars. It is also a good idea to have safe dietary treats worked into the diet – depending on your child’s specific sensitivities.
Finally, we believe it is important to feed your child as organically as you possibly can. Many children on the autistic spectrum have difficulty with detoxification for many reasons (in part due to build-up of heavy metals in the body along with low levels of glutathione and poorly functioning liver detoxification pathways). Foods that are not organic contain significant amounts of pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics that are used in their growth and production. Eating healthy is a frontline of defense for many children, and frankly, for all of us! This includes avoidance of artificial (and even some “natural” flavors) and added dyes in foods (FD&C Yellow #5, Red #40, Blue #1), as well as preservatives in packaged foods such as monosodium glutamate, sodium benzoate, sulfites, and nitrates in packaged lunch meat. If you don’t recognize a word in the list of ingredients, it is probably a chemical – find out what it is before giving it to your child – because he or she may be sensitive to it.
We wish you the much success as you embark on the GF/CF diet!
back to top
|
