Best Foods for My Child

Every parent wishes for their children to enjoy healthy and happy lives. Unfortunately, in their efforts to help their children with autism, parents often fall prey to deceptive claims that push them to undertake risky, expensive, and inefficient non-evidence-based treatments.

Before commencing any treatment, parents should consider whether there is a logical scientific explanation for it, as well as the dangers and advantages that come with it. They should also inquire if the treatment has been shown beneficial and safe in objective scientific research and if those studies have been published in well-known, highly respectable peer-reviewed journals.

What is autism?

Autism is a neurological illness that alters how a person's brain functions. It is the most frequent mental illness that affects kids. Autism affects about one child in every 165 Canadian children.

The following are some of the most common autistic symptoms:

• Having difficulty talking and interacting with others
• Differentiated behavior from that of others
• Eating is less appealing to them, or they have unusual food preferences. They are also less interested in social activities.
• Picking up little things, catching a ball, and riding a bike are all examples of motor skills problems.

What are gluten-free diets and casein-free?

The Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Diet is a gluten-free and casein-free diet. Gluten is the primary protein found in rye, wheat, barley, Kamut, triticale, and spelling. Dairy products like cheese, cow's milk, yogurt, as well as ice cream include the major protein casein. This diet helps autistic youngsters improve their behavior. When following this diet, some children with autism experience a short-term reduction in autistic behaviors. However, the study on this diet for autistic children is limited, and additional research is needed before it can be suggested.

Those who advocate for gluten-free (a protein found in rye, wheat, and barley products) and casein-free diets argue that children with autism have "leaky intestines," allowing opioids to escape into the circulation, travel to the brain, and produce autistic behaviors. There is no proof for this assertion, and studies have shown that children with autism have no more opioids in their blood than typically developing youngsters. Furthermore, children on the GFCF diet had lower bone density than control children, which may contribute to osteoporosis. A large-scale investigation of the GFCF diet's safety and efficacy found that children on the diet had similar outcomes.

Autism and dietary troubles

Autism is a developmental disorder that expresses itself in a variety of behavioral characteristics and challenges. People who are classified as autistic generally require behavior treatment for a variety of issues, including difficulties with verbal and nonverbal communication, social etiquette, attention span, and memory.

The most extensively used and recommended strategy to helping persons with autism regulate their behaviors by converting maladaptive behaviors into good interactions is applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy. In people with autism, these behavioral issues might manifest as food issues. 

Food concerns in autistic people can take the following forms:

• Eating customs and rituals.
• Food is being pocketed in their cheeks or sucked instead of chewed.
• Having a strong preference for certain meals.

Certain foods should be avoided

Gastrointestinal disorders are also more common in those with autism. Because of the physical discomfort, they associate with those experiences, children with autism may avoid specific meals or develop significant texture or temperature aversions.

Working with your pediatrician and a behavior therapist to increase your child's diet is critical. You and your child's treatment team can build a list of ideal foods that your child enjoys over time, as well as a list of foods to avoid that frequently cause digestive problems.

Food should be included in the diet

• Fish and eggs both contain the beneficial omega 3 fatty acid. The American diet is deficient in healthful fats, particularly omega 3. Omega-3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory. Autism has been linked to a lack of omega 3 fatty acids in the diet. If possible, purchase wild fish. Not only is sustainably raised fish better for the environment, but it also contains more nutrients and contains less mercury than farm-bred fish.
• Low zinc levels can be improved by consuming beans, nuts, and seeds, which can help with fussy eating. Zinc-rich foods should be included in your diet.
• Animal proteins

Foods to avoid

• Milk and other dairy products
• High-sugar foods
• Wheat products
• Processed meats

Seeds, steak, enriched eggs, fatty fish, almonds, and beans are some of the healthiest foods for children with autism. Before turning to exclusion diets to assist improve health and autism symptoms, it is recommended that you first develop a well-rounded nutritional diet.