Gluten Free Diet
And Autism

A gluten free diet and autism therapy are commonly interwoven interventions in the treatment of the autistic disorder. There are mixed results with this nutrition program, but many families offer positive feedback.

The gluten free diet and autism therapy interventions can work together to help a child with conditions like Asperger syndrome and related pervasive developmental disorders. The Autistic Network for Dietary Interventions is a driving force behind taking a gluten and casein-free approach to treating autistic disorders.

What kinds of intervention does this organization promote?

The Autistic Network for Dietary Intervention makes several recommendations in the treatment of Asperger syndrome and related pervasive developmental disorders. These recommendations include:

• Try the diet for a minimum of three months.
• No cheating whatsoever.
• Watch labels closely.
• Gradually take foods with gluten and casein out of the diet, starting with milk products.
• Take an all-or-nothing approach. Traces of gluten or casein will undo the efforts.

The main challenge that parents face when trying the casein and gluten-free diet is keeping common foods out of the child’s eating plan. This program is not like any other diets that limit sugar, fat, and carbohydrates. This approach requires all foods with these substances
to be completely removed.

What are some foods that I should avoid in a casein and gluten free diet?

The list of casein and gluten foods is exhaustive, and it's nearly impossible to list them all in one place. Many families look to focusing on what the child CAN eat rather than what he or shed can’t have. However, the diet is so strict that parents do need to keep the foods that are not on the diet in mind.

Common foods to avoid include:

• whey
• wheat
• oats
• milk
• cheese
• ice cream
• yogurt

This is just a minor sampling of the foods that need to be avoiding in this program concerning a gluten free diet and autism. The challenge lies in the fact that gluten and casein are almost everywhere.

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