Caution with restricted diets in autism

[Guest guest]

> besides the now

> realized risk of GFCF promoting adverse yeast and bacteria).

>

> >> This is by far my biggest regret from the gfcf diet. I saw the

> diet as a no lose, unintrusive intervention to try. Boy was I

wrong.

> My daughter never had the yeast/bacteria problems we battle now

> before the 8 months she was on that darn diet. I shudder to think

> where she would be at by now if it weren't for the Houston enzymes.

>

>

Same for my son. He is doing MUCH better now with the enzymes,

Brainchild minerals and organic/additive free foods.

[Guest guest]

>>>The difference is that somehow in autism the problems arise from

the gastrointestinal tract.

I think the other conditions also have much based in the gut. The

difference seems to be what is expected of children versus what is

expected of an adult. With children, you have attentive parents and

teachers carefully gaging progress and abilities according to

an 'average' scale or certain expectations. When those aren't met, it

is pointed out and investigated. With adults, there really isn't any

such thing. Contrast this with the phenomenon that once people

become 'adults with autism' instead of 'children with autism' the

adult either has to adapt and wing-it himself in society (if he is

able to), or sort of disappears from the landscape of society.

>>>> Disorders like MS,CFS, diabetes, AIDS, etc., also have research

> showing immune reactions to milk and/or wheat, yet it's considered

a result of the immune problems, not the cause.

My feeling is that this happens to adults who become progressively

ill versus starting out and always being that way. So they are seen

as an adult who 'developed a medical condition' whereas the child

diagnosed with autism is not really seen as a child 'with a medical

condition' even though that is changing by huge leaps and bounds.

>>>>This is obviously a reaction that is a result of the illness and

I'm sure nobody would seriously consider milk as causing either

disorder.

Exactly. Unfortunately by putting out the theory that autism is

caused by food derived opioids stalls people from seeing that it is a

result of some impaired process/illness and not a cause. I think most

people see now see that it isn't food opioids (or ever believed that)

but is that digestion is impaired and this causes multiple symptoms.

Improper digestion of wheat and dairy is simply one little resulting

problem. This is why the target for gastro health should be to heal

the gut and not worry about every molecule of one or two foods. With

impaired digestion *anything* you eat can be a problem....as many

quickly find out.

.

[Guest guest]

thanks to all who replied on the SCD diet issue. My friend has some

enzymes and will probably use them as she does the allowed milk

products and perhaps she will go all enzymes at some point. It's

hard to direct someone -- they have to read up and decide for

themselves. The boy improved somewhat with gfcf but never got past a

certain point of progress. More progress was obtained when they

added in ADP tablets (emulsified oil of oregano). They are

definitely going to do a diet (they really want to), and I just think

the SCD might be better for him in the long run than staying GFCF.

I'll be sure to pass along LOTS of enzyme information for them to

reconsider, too. I appreciated all the information in the posts.

W

[Guest guest]

Any diet high in sugars and carbs will feed yeast. GFCF " per se " is

not a yeast-feeder, it is that most people usually give lots of rice

and potatoes

>> Also the guar gum(a biggie when doing gfcf) compounds bacteria

problems. I remember warning me of this when I wanted to try a

fiber product on my daughter to help with constipation (Benefiber)

its totally made of guar gum.

---

In , " danaatty " <danaatty@y...> wrote:

>

> > Which part of the gf/cf promotes adverse yeast and bacteria? How

> > can I learn more about this? Thanks!

>

>

> Any diet high in sugars and carbs will feed yeast. GFCF " per se "

is

> not a yeast-feeder, it is that most people usually give lots of

rice

> and potatoes.

>

> Dana

[Guest guest]

This is absolutely fascinating. But for me somewhat perplexing. My

son's severe autistic behaviors were completely eliminated on a

gf/cf/soyf/cornf/phenolf diet. Which of course, left him with only 6

foods. But he did not start growing until we removed those things.

Then his growth and development jumped. But like mentioned,

his " disease " is not gone. He is being treated symptomatically with

the diet.

Also interestingly, I have followed the same diet because I was

nursing him (for two years).I am also vaccine damaged from an MMR

revax in college which left me with IBS, CFS, severe food allergies,

chemical sensitivities, asthma, and many other issues. Mostly, the

same biological issues my son suffers from. I have also had great

recovery while on the diet after 12 years of suffering.

Also, this diet by default, allows only " from scratch " cooking, and

all natural ingredients. This I am sure has contributed to both of

our successes. And incidentally, yeast and bacteria have always been

issues for us even before the diet.

However, now that we are trying enzymes. I'm having minimal success

with the AFP Pep and am concentrating on the No Fenol which was

helping a lot with both my son and my NT daughter (who has sensory

integration issues and was displaying ADD type behaviors). However,

son will now not eat anything that has one smidgeon of No Fenol on

it. But wants to eat the bananas he was tolerating wonderfully while

on the No Fenol. I say no NoFenol, no bananas. He flips out.

Anyway, where does this leave us, I don't know. Without the

restricted diet, my son would still be the headbanging,

spinning,licking, non-verbal, disassociated misery he was. And with

any slip ups, he is. But I now believe he is calcium and Vit. D

deficient as well as a whole host of others I'm sure. Are these gut

issues or brain issues - arguably both.

Me, although I've never felt better, have some serious food issues

to address and now that we are officially done nursing as of this

week, the idea of eating a slice of pizza is enough to leave me in

tears and wanting to see a therapist. This is not normal, obviously.

However, had I to do it over again, I would choose the same route.

The diet gave me back my loving, sweet, happy little boy. He went

from off the weight charts to the 25th%. He grew from the 5th to the

50th. Does he still have the same biological issues he did - yes. Is

he suffering nutritionally despite supplementation - probably. Are

enzymes really the answer to all of this - I don't know. If I can't

get him to take them, it doesn't do us much good.

Sorry, just rambling.

Truly,

a

[Guest guest]

>>> This is absolutely fascinating. But for me somewhat perplexing.

What is perplexing?

>>>>My son's severe autistic behaviors were completely eliminated on

a gf/cf/soyf/cornf/phenolf diet.

If you had encountered enzymes first, the exact same thing might

have happened with enzymes that happened with food eliminations. I

don't think there is one right or wrong way. Just sort of the

sequence of events that we come into. Some people will do a little

better with one route and other people will do a little better with

another.

And as you mention, if he will do diet but not enzymes, it becomes

easier to do diet. Some won't do diet, but will do enzymes, so they

have a good option too. Some people like diets because it is like

being in a 'club'. Other people hate diets. Maybe a combination

approach. It doesn't have to be one OR the other. There are many

variations possible.

>>>>He is being treated symptomatically with the diet.

This is why I like enzymes (one of the reasons), because it isn't

just a band-aid...it goes in and does proactive healing.

.

[Guest guest]

> What is perplexing?

What is perplexing is what do I do from here. I am finding even

though the diet has helped significantly, it is not all it's cracked

up to be. I feel like he is deficient in certain vitamins and

minerals, supplementing all of it is a nightmare, blah, blah, blah.

I want him to take the enzymes! It was so awesome to see him

enjoying a banana with no consequences. I know that sounds dumb but

to me that is a huge victory. To lose that again just plain stinks.

>>>He is being treated symptomatically with the diet.

> This is why I like enzymes (one of the reasons), because it isn't

> just a band-aid...it goes in and does proactive healing.

Exactly.

Sorry, I was really just thinking aloud while I try to work this all

out. Enzymes are new for us and after 2 years on six foods, it's

hard figuring this all out. That's what is perplexing me. I'll

figure it out. I guess it's just getting trickier about getting him

to take the enzymes.

Truly,

a

[Guest guest]

Since phenols are in everything (per my understanding--obviously some foods

contain more than others), how did you do a phenol-free diet? Or, what did

you feed your little boy based on the GFCF, soy free, corn free, phenol

free diet??? I can tell foods really affect my son. I eliminate things,

but there doesn't seem to be much left he can eat. Also, did you try the

Feingold diet? Did you eliminate salicylates or amines?

At 12:49 AM 10/4/2003 +0000, you wrote:

>This is absolutely fascinating. But for me somewhat perplexing. My

>son's severe autistic behaviors were completely eliminated on a

>gf/cf/soyf/cornf/phenolf diet. Which of course, left him with only 6

>foods. But he did not start growing until we removed those things.

>Then his growth and development jumped. But like mentioned,

>his " disease " is not gone. He is being treated symptomatically with

>the diet.

>

>Also interestingly, I have followed the same diet because I was

>nursing him (for two years).I am also vaccine damaged from an MMR

>revax in college which left me with IBS, CFS, severe food allergies,

>chemical sensitivities, asthma, and many other issues. Mostly, the

>same biological issues my son suffers from. I have also had great

>recovery while on the diet after 12 years of suffering.

>

>Also, this diet by default, allows only " from scratch " cooking, and

>all natural ingredients. This I am sure has contributed to both of

>our successes. And incidentally, yeast and bacteria have always been

>issues for us even before the diet.

>

>However, now that we are trying enzymes. I'm having minimal success

>with the AFP Pep and am concentrating on the No Fenol which was

>helping a lot with both my son and my NT daughter (who has sensory

>integration issues and was displaying ADD type behaviors). However,

>son will now not eat anything that has one smidgeon of No Fenol on

>it. But wants to eat the bananas he was tolerating wonderfully while

>on the No Fenol. I say no NoFenol, no bananas. He flips out.

>

>Anyway, where does this leave us, I don't know. Without the

>restricted diet, my son would still be the headbanging,

>spinning,licking, non-verbal, disassociated misery he was. And with

>any slip ups, he is. But I now believe he is calcium and Vit. D

>deficient as well as a whole host of others I'm sure. Are these gut

>issues or brain issues - arguably both.

>

>Me, although I've never felt better, have some serious food issues

>to address and now that we are officially done nursing as of this

>week, the idea of eating a slice of pizza is enough to leave me in

>tears and wanting to see a therapist. This is not normal, obviously.

>

>However, had I to do it over again, I would choose the same route.

>The diet gave me back my loving, sweet, happy little boy. He went

>from off the weight charts to the 25th%. He grew from the 5th to the

>50th. Does he still have the same biological issues he did - yes. Is

>he suffering nutritionally despite supplementation - probably. Are

>enzymes really the answer to all of this - I don't know. If I can't

>get him to take them, it doesn't do us much good.

>

>Sorry, just rambling.

>Truly,

>a

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

This is everything we ate:

rice (basmatti and aborio)

potato

chicken

beef (he wouldn't eat but I did)

pork (he wouldn't eat but I did)

pears

Plus variations of above: pancakes, muffins, waffles, and cookies

made out of rice flour, potato starch flour, tapioca flour,

ricemilk, egg yolk, and canola oil, sea salt, sugar

maple syrup

homemade frenchfries

potato chips containing only potatoes, canola oil, and sea salt

ricemilk

ricecakes

homemade chicken nuggets using chicken, rice flour, and canola oil

That's it. Everything was prepared from scratch (except the flours)

and we bought all organic if available. Once or twice a week I would

try brocolli or asparagus. He could mostly tolerate both if he would

eat them.

And we supplemented with:

Super Nu-Thera

Culturelle (when necessary)

Calcium & Vit.D (sporadically)

DMG

We've since added Carlson's Cod Liver Oil

While I know this is not a complete diet, it helped heal his gut

tremendously. He was a mess before - all over body hives, eczema,

severe reflux, no sleep, hypotonia, stims: headbanging, spinning,

licking things, walking on tip toes, stimwords.

Today he doesn't display any autistic symptoms (unless he has a food

exposure), sleeps 12 hours a night, plus a 1.5 hour nap, plays very

well, interacts wonderfully, and is a very happy little boy. But he

still has the underlying biological issues, bacterial issues, and

disordered and delayed speech, plus several processing issues. He

does have mercury poisoning plus high arsenic. But overall, someone

meeting him for the first time would never suspect anything was

wrong with him.

I hope that helps.

Truly,

a

Or, what did you feed your little boy based on the GFCF, soy free,

corn free, phenol free diet???

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 04/10/2003 19:40:36 GMT Daylight Time,

elisabeth@... writes:

> Since phenols are in everything (per my understanding--obviously some foods

>

> contain more than others), how did you do a phenol-free diet?

Its not possible to do a phenol; free diet. We use No Fenol enzymes with good

effect and relief from phenol 'behaviours'

<A HREF= " www.houstonni.com " >www.houstonni.com</A> and <A

HREF= " www.enzymestuff.com " >www.enzymestuff.com</A> for info

Epsom salts baths often help too by helping the body process the phenols,

there is info on the enzyme stuff site and in this groups files

Good luck

Mandi in UK

[Guest guest]

Yes, I agree - it is impossible to do a " completely " phenol free

diet. However, eliminating all fruits and vegetables high in phenols

(basically every fruit and vegetable except pears) eliminated all of

my son's stimming behaviors. I'm hoping to add back in some of those

with the No Fenol.

I will be the first to admit it is not healthy to completely

eliminate fruits and vegetables but at least we have a baseline to

move forward. For me (and every one is different), I will eliminate

the fruits and vegetables to have a non-autistic child that

is " overall " much healthier and happier. Now that I know my son is

in there, I can add things back in one at a time and see where the

problems are coming from. For example, this past week on the NoFenol

he tolerated bananas but didn't tolerate strawberries.

Truly,

a

> Its not possible to do a phenol free diet. We use No Fenol enzymes

with good effect and relief from phenol 'behaviours'

this message have been removed]