Mar 27 2009
How to substitute Gluten and Casein in Autistic Child’s Diet
We are much more than what we eat. Often diet and nutrition is overlooked or dismissed. But it is a human fact that many of the symptoms present in autism are directly related to nutritional deficiencies, disturbances in nutritional imbalance, poor diet and negative effect of the specific food. Children with Autism respond very well to change in the diet and nutrition. If you choose carefully the food you give to an autistic child, it will help in optimizing brain and body functions. The child will respond to the all other treatments provided and give best possible outcomes. Diet and nutrition are critical components of overall treatment plan because they address underlying problems.
An autistic child can benefit from a gluten- and casein-free diet. Gluten and casein are the main offenders. Soy and corn can also be bothersome for some children. Casein, a protein, is mainly found in milk and other dairy product like yogurt, ice-cream. This is also present in baked goods and fish like tuna. Gluten, another protein, is found in wheat and other grains. The food containing Gluten, casein and soy are not properly digested. When they reach the intestinal tract, they form undigested amino acids chains called peptides and then further processed into basic amino acids. Some evidence suggests that in autistic, this process does not occur fully. The resulting peptides, which fail to break down completely, may have an effect on the body similar to that of morphine or other opiates. The peptides are absorbed into the blood-stream and they cross the blood brain barrier and negatively effect mood, mental and neurological functions and behaviors. There is another problem associated with the food containing Gluten and casein. Children may develop addiction to the food sources containing gluten and casein. Children crave to food which are actually harmful for them and begin to limit their food to gluten, casein and soy containing food only. This results in significant withdrawal symptoms when these foods are eliminated from their food. For this reason experts on autism recommend that people suffering from autism should avoid gluten and casein in their diets.
So, what to do?
You can use a number of substitutes for gluten and casein while preparing food for your child. These are easily available in the market.
Substitutes for Gluten
|
S.No |
Food Source |
Substitute With |
|
1. |
Wheat, oat, barley, Rye, Kamut, groats and their products |
Gluten free grains - Buckwheat, basmati rice, black rice, sweet and wild rice; tapioca, corn, amaranth, Montina(Indian rice grass), millets.
|
|
2 |
Non grain substitutes |
Arrow root, lotus, malanga, sweet potatoes, taro and yam |
|
3 |
Nuts |
Almonds, hazelnuts, chestnuts. |
|
4 |
Legumes |
Beans, chick peas, mung, peas and soy |
|
5 |
Thickeners |
Agar, bean flour, gelatin, guar gum, starch and sweet rice flour. |
|
6 |
Pasta and noodles |
Gluten free flours, rice noodles, spaghetti squash |
|
7 |
Beverages including malted drinks, beer, ale, some grain alcohol, flavoured water, juice, punch or drinks having additives |
Water, herbal teas, tea, coffee(unflavored), wines, distilled liquors, fresh or frozen juice.
|
|
8. |
Sweets and sweeteners including artificial flavours, candy, caramel coloring, confectioner’s sugar, commercial cake decorations, syrups and nutritional yeast |
Pure flavours, distilled or labelled Gluten free pure colors, Gluten free candy, caramel made from corn, Gluten free confectioner’s sugar, Gluten free cake decorations, Gluten free rice syrups, Gluten free yeast (Baker’s, Autoyzed)
|
|
9. |
Other food including canned soups, powdered broth, flavoured yoghurt, sausages, hot dogs, deli meats, malted milk, processed cheese spreads, pudding, marshmallow cream, stuffing mixes |
Home made or Gluten free soups, broths, fresh meat, poultry, fish, eggs, pure milk products, natural cheese, 100% natural oils, Gluten free breads and stuffings. |
|
10. |
Soy sauce, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, flavoured vinegar, yoghurt and yoghurt drinks with thickeners |
Wheat free Tamari soy sauce, Gluten free ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise. Distilled vinegar, organic/ natural yogurt. |
Kamut grain is an ancient grain which is closely related to durum wheat. People allergic to wheat find Kamut a good substitute.
Substitutes for Casein
|
S.No |
Food Source |
Substitute |
|
1. |
Milk and yoghurt |
Coconut milk, potato milk, rice milk, hemp milk, soy milk, soy yoghurt, nut milk(almond), Tofu products. |
|
2. |
Chocolate |
Gluten free chocolate chips, semi-sweet chocolate chips |
|
3. |
Ice cream |
Italian ice cream, Tofutti, Vance’s Dari Free milk fruit Popsicles, Soy Ice and ice cream. |
|
4. |
Buttermilk |
Make butter milk at home- 1 cup buttermilk can be made from 2 tablespoons of lemon juice in 1 cup milk substitute |
|
5. |
Butter |
Coconut oil/butter, Earth balance whipped spread, Ghee and lard. |
