Here's Your Weekly Tip for Autism Families from The Autism File
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 6:34 pm
From: The Autism File Team [mailto:pamela@livingwithout.ccsend.com] On Behalf Of The Autism File Team
Sent: 10 August 2011 16:29
To: finrod@finrod.co.uk
Subject: Here's Your Weekly "Tip for Autism Families" from The Autism File
Welcome to the new Autism File weekly e-letter! You are receiving this email because you previously gave us your email address and requested information. If you do not wish to receive our weekly "Tips for Autism Families", please click the opt-out link at the bottom of the email.
Rethinking the Gut-Brain Connection
We talked to leading research Ken Bock, M.D., who described the incredible but little understood gut-brain link
Why does diet matter?
There’s a strong connection between the gut and the brain, and with autism. Substances in the gut profoundly impact the brain. The gut is like a huge, amazing factory with trillions of players that are incredibly metabolically active. If things aren’t in balance, metabolic byproducts produced by the overgrowth of bad microorganisms—bacteria, yeast, fungi—can cause dramatic neurobehavioral effects. Our children with autism and ADHD are like canaries in the coal mine. They’re vulnerable to toxins in the environment, as well as microbial and metabolic toxins from within. There are certain things in the diet, specifically gluten and casein, which are incompletely digested in a significant number of kids who have autism, as well as those who have ADHD. With insufficient digestion, gluten and casein produce endogenous opioids, brain-active compounds similar to morphine. In this way, diet can have a very, very profound effect on the brain. In essence, it’s like these kids are stoned.
Stoned?
Often when children first come into my office, they have glazed eyes, dilated pupils, staring, unresponsive and inappropriate behaviors and they’re craving foods with gluten and dairy, like chicken nuggets and mac and cheese, as if they’re addicted. When you remove gluten and dairy from the diet, they can actually go into withdrawal. Not every child and not all the time but a number of children do. They become really hyper, agitated, irritable or they become lethargic and really spacey. I let the parents know that this might happen. If parents can bear with it, in one to three days, sometimes up to a week—and trust me, this is a very difficult period—the child comes out of it. The dazed look, the staring is gone. They make eye contact for the first time, hug mom for the first time or sometimes say something they’ve never said before. Mothers call me, crying and saying, “It’s unbelievable. I have my child back.” Read the complete article by clicking here.
This Week's Living With Autism Tip
Taking Your ASD Child to the store
When shopping, temptations are even greater at this time for an impulsive ASD child to take things from stores or get distracted and wander off, especially since you are also distracted trying to accomplish so much in such little time. I would recommend you make arrangements for your ASD child to stay at home. The stress of all of the crowds may be too much for your child or adult. If you should have to venture out with your child, make plans of where you are going, review these plans with your child, check all clothing pockets before leaving the stores (our son hoarded, and this often led him to take things), and carry snacks.
For more tips and information on living with autism, visit our website .
Featured Reading:
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Sent: 10 August 2011 16:29
To: finrod@finrod.co.uk
Subject: Here's Your Weekly "Tip for Autism Families" from The Autism File
Welcome to the new Autism File weekly e-letter! You are receiving this email because you previously gave us your email address and requested information. If you do not wish to receive our weekly "Tips for Autism Families", please click the opt-out link at the bottom of the email.
Rethinking the Gut-Brain Connection
We talked to leading research Ken Bock, M.D., who described the incredible but little understood gut-brain link
Why does diet matter?
There’s a strong connection between the gut and the brain, and with autism. Substances in the gut profoundly impact the brain. The gut is like a huge, amazing factory with trillions of players that are incredibly metabolically active. If things aren’t in balance, metabolic byproducts produced by the overgrowth of bad microorganisms—bacteria, yeast, fungi—can cause dramatic neurobehavioral effects. Our children with autism and ADHD are like canaries in the coal mine. They’re vulnerable to toxins in the environment, as well as microbial and metabolic toxins from within. There are certain things in the diet, specifically gluten and casein, which are incompletely digested in a significant number of kids who have autism, as well as those who have ADHD. With insufficient digestion, gluten and casein produce endogenous opioids, brain-active compounds similar to morphine. In this way, diet can have a very, very profound effect on the brain. In essence, it’s like these kids are stoned.
Stoned?
Often when children first come into my office, they have glazed eyes, dilated pupils, staring, unresponsive and inappropriate behaviors and they’re craving foods with gluten and dairy, like chicken nuggets and mac and cheese, as if they’re addicted. When you remove gluten and dairy from the diet, they can actually go into withdrawal. Not every child and not all the time but a number of children do. They become really hyper, agitated, irritable or they become lethargic and really spacey. I let the parents know that this might happen. If parents can bear with it, in one to three days, sometimes up to a week—and trust me, this is a very difficult period—the child comes out of it. The dazed look, the staring is gone. They make eye contact for the first time, hug mom for the first time or sometimes say something they’ve never said before. Mothers call me, crying and saying, “It’s unbelievable. I have my child back.” Read the complete article by clicking here.
This Week's Living With Autism Tip
Taking Your ASD Child to the store
When shopping, temptations are even greater at this time for an impulsive ASD child to take things from stores or get distracted and wander off, especially since you are also distracted trying to accomplish so much in such little time. I would recommend you make arrangements for your ASD child to stay at home. The stress of all of the crowds may be too much for your child or adult. If you should have to venture out with your child, make plans of where you are going, review these plans with your child, check all clothing pockets before leaving the stores (our son hoarded, and this often led him to take things), and carry snacks.
For more tips and information on living with autism, visit our website .
Featured Reading:
Forward email
This email was sent to finrod@finrod.co.uk by info@autismfile.com |
Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe ™ | Privacy Policy .
Autism File Magazine | 800 Connecticut Avenue | Norwalk | CT | 06854