Autism Diet

Autism is a complex brain disorder which can be treated in different ways, but have no specific treatment.



This can sometimes lead frustrated parents to other alternative treatment options like a diet therapy whose science is still sketchy. Specialists are skeptical to recommend an autism diet as a treatment mode for children, but you are bound to hear success stories form parents, friends, internet and books.

The most popular specialized diet for autism is gluten free and casein free diets.



Some evidence states that gluten free autism diet helps to lessen the symptoms like speech problems, lack of focus and impulsive behavior.

The opiate theory behind special diets
It is believed that the wheat protein and milk protein that is gluten and casein respectively, upon digestion breaks down into molecules which resemble opium like drugs. Because children with autism also have leaky guts and a compromised digestive system, this opium like large protein molecules instead of getting excreted gets absorbed in the bloodstream.



These molecules then travel to the brain and induce a ‘high’ state like of a drug induced state. Thus when gluten and casein are eliminated from the diet a child with autism may no longer experience a high state and his or her abilities and behavior radically improve. However this diet tends to be beneficial only to the children who have gastrointestinal problems or leaky guts. Not all children with autism have digestive problems or leaky guts.

Gluten free and casein free diets are not only difficult but also expensive to administer for a simple reason – wheat and dairy are a part of the majority of foods like pizzas ice creams, milk, and most of the kids snacks and cereals. Removing gluten and casein is often challenging for parents as it is not as simple as just removing wheat and milk from the diet. Besides being present in wheat, gluten is also found in barley, rye, oats, spelt and the derivatives and products of these grains like soya sauce, malt grain starches, grain vinegar, natural flavoring, malt wash and hydrolyzed vegetable or plant proteins. Gluten is not only ubiquitous and enters your child’s system through skin as it is also present in adhesives on stamps and stickers and many other hygiene products. A parent can choose to go for a gluten and casein free diet all at once or can start with gluten free diet and then go on to casein free diet.



There are many gluten products available in the market due to increased incidence of celiac diseases. Children on a gluten free and casein free diet can include a wide variety of foods in their meals like chicken, meat, eggs, fruits and vegetables, or any other food which has no gluten or casein. It is very important to read labels on food products as gluten and casein are often hidden ingredients in many packed products. Also other members in your child’s life like teachers, specialists and family members should be informed.

It is important to consult your specialist or a registered dietitian before going on gluten free casein free diet as this diet can often cause nutritional deficiencies in your growing child.