Diet/supplements

[Guest guest]

Hi!

I was wondering if any of you have placed your kids who have autism on

a special diet and/or give them supplements. If so what kind and how

does it help your child.

Thanks

Steph

[Guest guest]

Steph, we have our daughter on a CF diet. We did the Peptide test

through Great Plains Lab. & discovered she was in the normal range

for gluten & casein. But we had the test done after having her on a

CF diet for awhile & she was barely in the normal range on casein but

well in the normal range for gluten. Of course after taking dairy

out of her diet within a week we noticed improvement. After getting

the test done it's obvious if she was eating dairy her casein levels

would be above normal. We also give our daughter EnzymeComplete from

Kirkmans lab(1/2 cap. at each meal), ProDHA (2 cap. at breakfast) &

she also gets a multi vitamin that has extra calcium & magnesium.

We've seen benfits from all of the above. From speech to her BM's.

I hope this helps.

Wendie

> Hi!

> I was wondering if any of you have placed your kids who have autism

on

> a special diet and/or give them supplements. If so what kind and

how

> does it help your child.

>

> Thanks

> Steph

[Guest guest]

Hi, we are doing the GFCF diet with both our children (daughter Sara, 5yo

and son 3 1/2 yo. Sara has PDD,NOS dx).

Although we have not seen as dramatic results as Penny has with her

daughter, we also believe that this diet has helped our daughter

tremendously. She is now a delightful, cheerful little girl, with much fewer

meltdowns and tantrums, and a large capacity for learning the world around

her.

We also give her several supplements, such as Cod Liver Oil, Zinc, and

others.

We believe that these, along with her diet, have been a big part of her

change.

I'll caution that the GFCF diet and supplements journey is not an easy one.

There is a *lot* to learn, and it can be expensive (especially to do the

testing to find out which supplements may help). You have to be very

dedicated and 'strict' with it, in order for it to have a chance of working.

However, if it works for your child, it will be *extremely* rewarding! If it

doesn't work, well, what did you really lose in trying?

I hope this helps,

Inna.

Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2003 15:18:06 -0000

Subject: Re: Diet/supplements

I hesitate posting about our experiences, because someone always

says, " My child is nothing like yours, so the diet will not work for

us. " I don't want our story to discourage you from ruling out

dietary intervention.

Our daughter didn't sound like someone who would be a good candidate

for the diet. But I didn't want to look back and wish I'd tried

it. So I decided to rule it out early.

We've had our daughter on GFCF since April of 2001 (2.5 years ago).

Before the diet, she couldn't hear us (we had her hearing tested

twice and her hearing was fine); there was no eye contact; she was

completely locked into her own world. We fed her, bathed her,

changed her diapers, but we never knew that she knew we were there.

Her favorite activity was playing with a long strand of my hair.

She would climb everything as though she couldn't help herself. She

was kicked out of her early intervention group because she " stopped

the show " as they said. She resisted (with gigantic tantrums) every

attempt to get her to do anything outside of her world.

We removed gluten first, and at the 3.5 week mark, saw her rejoin

us. We removed milk about a week after that, and in June of 2003,

we removed soy after allergy testing showed a big allergy. Removing

soy was really hard. We also watch phenols and salicylates. I'm

looking at SCD right now, considering removing more foods as an

experiment.

The diet wasn't a cure and it didn't turn on her ability to learn

naturally, but it did bring her back to us where we could teach her,

and to a point where she ENJOYS other people.

She was non-verbal, (she was not quite 2 years old when we began)

and 3 months after starting the diet, she began to label items

(nouns). I counted 32 new words in a two week period. Today, at

4.5, she's got thousands of words, speaks in 6-8 word utterances,

and her receptive language is finally growing (her expressive has

always been higher).

Good luck with your decision.

> Hi!

> I was wondering if any of you have placed your kids who have

autism on

> a special diet and/or give them supplements. If so what kind and

how

> does it help your child.

>

> Thanks

> Steph

[Guest guest]

Maybe if hannah was my only child I would give the diet a try........but

she is the middle child of 3, and I just don’t see how I could do this

change with her. She is a pleasant child, but her learning really needs

help.........she is 9 but is learning at a 6 year old level, I just

don’t know if it would do any good.........guess, I will put my head in

the sand for a bit longer, CherylS

Re: Diet/supplements

I hesitate posting about our experiences, because someone always says,

" My child is nothing like yours, so the diet will not work for us. " I

don't want our story to discourage you from ruling out dietary

intervention.

Our daughter didn't sound like someone who would be a good candidate for

the diet. But I didn't want to look back and wish I'd tried it. So I

decided to rule it out early.

We've had our daughter on GFCF since April of 2001 (2.5 years ago).

Before the diet, she couldn't hear us (we had her hearing tested twice

and her hearing was fine); there was no eye contact; she was completely

locked into her own world. We fed her, bathed her, changed her diapers,

but we never knew that she knew we were there. Her favorite activity was

playing with a long strand of my hair. She would climb everything as

though she couldn't help herself. She was kicked out of her early

intervention group because she " stopped the show " as they said. She

resisted (with gigantic tantrums) every attempt to get her to do

anything outside of her world.

We removed gluten first, and at the 3.5 week mark, saw her rejoin us.

We removed milk about a week after that, and in June of 2003, we removed

soy after allergy testing showed a big allergy. Removing soy was really

hard. We also watch phenols and salicylates. I'm looking at SCD right

now, considering removing more foods as an experiment.

The diet wasn't a cure and it didn't turn on her ability to learn

naturally, but it did bring her back to us where we could teach her, and

to a point where she ENJOYS other people.

She was non-verbal, (she was not quite 2 years old when we began) and 3

months after starting the diet, she began to label items (nouns). I

counted 32 new words in a two week period. Today, at 4.5, she's got

thousands of words, speaks in 6-8 word utterances, and her receptive

language is finally growing (her expressive has always been higher).

Good luck with your decision.

> Hi!

> I was wondering if any of you have placed your kids who have

autism on

> a special diet and/or give them supplements. If so what kind and

how

> does it help your child.

>

> Thanks

> Steph

Autism_in_Girls-subscribe

------------------------ Autism_in_Girls-unsubscribe

[Guest guest]

The gfcf is very difficult with other members and cost prohibitive if

you do it for everyone. We have 4 children (3 boys) and they eat us

out of house and home and Kara eats well too. We tried for 2 months,

but she would sneak food, and who knows what she ate at school, so it

is crazy to limit gluten. You really have to be dedicated and the

whole family has to join in.

On Thursday, November 13, 2003, at 02:35 AM, Mark Sommerfeld wrote:

> Maybe if hannah was my only child I would give the diet a

> try........but

> she is the middle child of 3, and I just don’t see how I could do this

> change with her. She is a pleasant child, but her learning really needs

> help.........she is 9 but is learning at a 6 year old level, I just

> don’t know if it would do any good.........guess, I will put my head in

> the sand for a bit longer, CherylS

>

> Re: Diet/supplements

>

> I hesitate posting about our experiences, because someone always says,

> " My child is nothing like yours, so the diet will not work for us. " I

> don't want our story to discourage you from ruling out dietary

> intervention.

>

> Our daughter didn't sound like someone who would be a good candidate

> for

> the diet. But I didn't want to look back and wish I'd tried it. So I

> decided to rule it out early.

>

> We've had our daughter on GFCF since April of 2001 (2.5 years ago).

> Before the diet, she couldn't hear us (we had her hearing tested twice

> and her hearing was fine); there was no eye contact; she was completely

> locked into her own world. We fed her, bathed her, changed her

> diapers,

> but we never knew that she knew we were there. Her favorite activity

> was

> playing with a long strand of my hair. She would climb everything as

> though she couldn't help herself. She was kicked out of her early

> intervention group because she " stopped the show " as they said. She

> resisted (with gigantic tantrums) every attempt to get her to do

> anything outside of her world.

>

> We removed gluten first, and at the 3.5 week mark, saw her rejoin us.

> We removed milk about a week after that, and in June of 2003, we

> removed

> soy after allergy testing showed a big allergy. Removing soy was

> really

> hard. We also watch phenols and salicylates. I'm looking at SCD right

> now, considering removing more foods as an experiment.

>

> The diet wasn't a cure and it didn't turn on her ability to learn

> naturally, but it did bring her back to us where we could teach her,

> and

> to a point where she ENJOYS other people.

>

> She was non-verbal, (she was not quite 2 years old when we began) and 3

> months after starting the diet, she began to label items (nouns). I

> counted 32 new words in a two week period. Today, at 4.5, she's got

> thousands of words, speaks in 6-8 word utterances, and her receptive

> language is finally growing (her expressive has always been higher).

>

> Good luck with your decision.

>

>

>

>> Hi!

>> I was wondering if any of you have placed your kids who have

> autism on

>> a special diet and/or give them supplements. If so what kind and

> how

>> does it help your child.

>>

>> Thanks

>> Steph

>

>

>

>

>

> Autism_in_Girls-subscribe

> ------------------------ Autism_in_Girls-unsubscribe

>

>

[Guest guest]

Cheryl,

Join the Enzymesandautism yahoo list and lurk there for a while.

You might consider trying enzymes instead of the diet. Actually,

Christmas break is coming; that would be a good time to try the

enzymes (or the diet). www.houstonni.com is one mfgr of enzymes.

www.kirkmanlabs.com is the other.

Penny

> Maybe if hannah was my only child I would give the diet a

try........but

> she is the middle child of 3, and I just don't see how I could do

this

> change with her. She is a pleasant child, but her learning really

needs

> help.........she is 9 but is learning at a 6 year old level, I just

> don't know if it would do any good.........guess, I will put my

head in

> the sand for a bit longer, CherylS

[Guest guest]

*grin* I put Alyssa on the diet with three children under the age

of four (she and her twin brother were 22 months old and their big

sister was not quite four).

Once you learn what " regular " foods you can buy, it's not as hard as

the initial getting started. The first 3 weeks were HORRIBLE

because I spazzed over everything. IS THIS SAFE? WHAT ABOUT THIS???

Anyway, if you want to try it, I'm a great encourager. Sometimes I

come across as being pushy. Forgive that enthusiasm of mine.

But if you don't want to try the diet, that's okay, too, and please

understand that I understand your reasons for NOT doing it. I

waited four months to try the diet and wouldn't have tried it if my

mother hadn't come on board to help me. (She was against the diet

when I first told her about it, and then she began to research it

and changed HER mind. Then I was trying to talk HER out of it. She

came 600 miles to help me get started.)

Penny

> Maybe if hannah was my only child I would give the diet a

try........but

> she is the middle child of 3, and I just don't see how I could do

this

> change with her. She is a pleasant child, but her learning really

needs

> help.........she is 9 but is learning at a 6 year old level, I just

> don't know if it would do any good.........guess, I will put my

head in

> the sand for a bit longer, CherylS

[Guest guest]

I must concur with Penny. The enzymes board is a great wealth of

information and I don't know what I'd do without it. We've begun Olivia

on Houston's and so far it's just been great. Over all, they are less

expensive than the diet, when you weigh it all out plus, so much more

convenient, in my opinion but I'm somewhat, well, ok, maybe more than

somewhat, lazy so for me this was a must try. However, I was reluctant

at first as I'm quite the doubting and I read everything I could

get my hands on for a year and a half before starting. Nothing works for

everyone but somethings help so much it's worth checking out. Good luck

to you.

Rhonda

Olivia's mom

[Guest guest]

Okay what's this with all the negative I can't do it...

You can do it. Allert daycare/school personal that they are to only

eat what comes from home. You can shop online for many products and

just start to transition them slowly from one gluten item to a gluten

free item. Little by little.

What I do is cook up a big batch of let's say pasta then I portion it

out into individual containers and freeze them. Just pop one of them

in their lunch bag or heat one up for dinner. I'd go insane if I had

to create something each and every night. This way you make a few

items once every week or two and it works out. When you go out get a

chicken or beef patty, fries or baked potato.

This diet just takes some creativity. Explain to the other kids the

importance of this diet and try to do the same with your kid. Make a

social story if that helps her understand.

Any other obsticals?

-- In Autism_in_Girls , karen zeigler <kzeig@a...>

wrote:

> The gfcf is very difficult with other members and cost prohibitive

if

> you do it for everyone. We have 4 children (3 boys) and they eat

us

> out of house and home and Kara eats well too. We tried for 2

months,

> but she would sneak food, and who knows what she ate at school, so

it

> is crazy to limit gluten. You really have to be dedicated and the

> whole family has to join in.

>

> On Thursday, November 13, 2003, at 02:35 AM, Mark Sommerfeld wrote:

>

> > Maybe if hannah was my only child I would give the diet a

> > try........but

> > she is the middle child of 3, and I just don't see how I could do

this

> > change with her. She is a pleasant child, but her learning really

needs

> > help.........she is 9 but is learning at a 6 year old level, I

just

> > don't know if it would do any good.........guess, I will put my

head in

> > the sand for a bit longer, CherylS

> >

> > Re: Diet/supplements

> >

> > I hesitate posting about our experiences, because someone always

says,

> > " My child is nothing like yours, so the diet will not work for

us. " I

> > don't want our story to discourage you from ruling out dietary

> > intervention.

> >

> > Our daughter didn't sound like someone who would be a good

candidate

> > for

> > the diet. But I didn't want to look back and wish I'd tried it.

So I

> > decided to rule it out early.

> >

> > We've had our daughter on GFCF since April of 2001 (2.5 years

ago).

> > Before the diet, she couldn't hear us (we had her hearing tested

twice

> > and her hearing was fine); there was no eye contact; she was

completely

> > locked into her own world. We fed her, bathed her, changed her

> > diapers,

> > but we never knew that she knew we were there. Her favorite

activity

> > was

> > playing with a long strand of my hair. She would climb everything

as

> > though she couldn't help herself. She was kicked out of her early

> > intervention group because she " stopped the show " as they said.

She

> > resisted (with gigantic tantrums) every attempt to get her to do

> > anything outside of her world.

> >

> > We removed gluten first, and at the 3.5 week mark, saw her rejoin

us.

> > We removed milk about a week after that, and in June of 2003, we

> > removed

> > soy after allergy testing showed a big allergy. Removing soy

was

> > really

> > hard. We also watch phenols and salicylates. I'm looking at SCD

right

> > now, considering removing more foods as an experiment.

> >

> > The diet wasn't a cure and it didn't turn on her ability to learn

> > naturally, but it did bring her back to us where we could teach

her,

> > and

> > to a point where she ENJOYS other people.

> >

> > She was non-verbal, (she was not quite 2 years old when we began)

and 3

> > months after starting the diet, she began to label items

(nouns). I

> > counted 32 new words in a two week period. Today, at 4.5, she's

got

> > thousands of words, speaks in 6-8 word utterances, and her

receptive

> > language is finally growing (her expressive has always been

higher).

> >

> > Good luck with your decision.

> >

> >

> >

> >> Hi!

> >> I was wondering if any of you have placed your kids who have

> > autism on

> >> a special diet and/or give them supplements. If so what kind and

> > how

> >> does it help your child.

> >>

> >> Thanks

> >> Steph

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Autism_in_Girls-subscribe

> > ------------------------ Autism_in_Girls-

unsubscribe

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Cheryl, the enzymes we use from Kirkmans come in a capsule. My

daughter gets half a capsule with each meal. I open the capsule &

mix it with a very small amount of water & juice. My daughter takes

all of her supplements with a syringe because if I put it in food or

her drink she will not eat or drink it. It was a fight at first, but

now she thinks it's fun to take her vitamins(that's what we call it).

Wendie

> So these enzymes.......are they in tablet form or liquid?? If its

all

> tablets, I honestly would not know how to get her to take

> them...........cherylS

>

> Re: Re: Diet/supplements

>

>

> I must concur with Penny. The enzymes board is a great wealth of

> information and I don't know what I'd do without it. We've begun

Olivia

> on Houston's and so far it's just been great. Over all, they are

less

> expensive than the diet, when you weigh it all out plus, so much

more

> convenient, in my opinion but I'm somewhat, well, ok, maybe more

than

> somewhat, lazy so for me this was a must try. However, I was

reluctant

> at first as I'm quite the doubting and I read everything I

could

> get my hands on for a year and a half before starting. Nothing

works

> for everyone but somethings help so much it's worth checking out.

Good

> luck to you. Rhonda Olivia's mom

>

>

> Autism_in_Girls-subscribe

> ------------------------ Autism_in_Girls-

unsubscribe

>

>

[Guest guest]

Penny, I take Sky to see Dorfman(nutritionist in D.C. area).

She's been a wonderful support for us. She helped us get started &

based on all the info I gave her decided which supplements & enzymes

to begin with.

Wendie

> > Cheryl,

> > Houston's come in capsules. I just open them up, pour them in a

> shot

> > glass and add a little pear juice. Stir til they've broken down,

> suck em

> > up with a syringe and shoot em down her throat! Easy as that.

The

> make

> > one called AFP Pep that has no flavor so that one's pretty cool,

> some

> > people just sprinkle it right on the food. (THis one breaks

down

> the

> > proteins in casein and gluten). The No Fenol is for fenols,

doesn't

> > taste that great but mixed my way or with applesauce or even

> gatorade,

> > it's not so bad. Tell me, are you seriously considering trying

this

> > route? The good thing, or one of the many good things about these

> > enzymes is that it doesn't take 3 months or whatever to notice

> wether

> > it's going to work or not. Usually within 3 weeks or so.

> > Rhonda

> > Olivia's mom