Diet and/or Enzymes

March 10, 2006

Hello again. This is really confusing, but please hang in there

with me!

We have been trying to get this equation right since June, when we

started the GFCF diet for our son. After three months, we thought

we had nearly cured our kid, then he began to get worse and worse

and after 4 weeks it was like it almost never happened. We kept up

with the diet, and then I read about enzymes. First we decided to

challenge the diet, so around Thanksgiving and Christmas - about a

month total we went off the diet, and he was definitely worse.

Before we put him Back on the diet (which we were sure was at least

doing something, though not giving us the same benefit we originally

had) we did two things. We ran the peptide test (both were high,

gliadomorphi VERY high) and we decided to try enzymes instead.

We used Houston AFP for a good four weeks before deciding that it

would not work in place of the GFCF diet. I wonder a few things

though. I wonder if were consistent enough. I know we missed his

school snack everyday - though it was a GFCF snack. I wonder if we

tried long enough. I also wondered if you get better results after

being GFCF for a long while - and then challenge with enzymes

gradually.

So, I know that we are still experimenting like the rest of you. He

will stay GFCF maybe until this summer, when I'll try challenging

gradually with enzymes. I wonder, have any of you who use enzymes

in place of diet had the peptide test run to see if there is a

difference there? That would be awesome info to have. In fact,

maybe we'll try that this summer. So many variables.

March 10, 2006

We do the diet along with the enzymes, and we avoid BHT, food dyes, and

dextrose. This has helped us greatly. I think if you read DeFelice's book

you'd have more confidence with what you're seeing and doing. We had the same

experience with the diet, it worked for awhile, but my son became intolerant to

more and more foods. At one point, the low point, we were down to pork, chicken,

white rice, water and salt and pepper to taste, 3 meals a day. It was awful.

After the adjustment to enzymes, approx. 2 mo. for all three enzymes to be

introduced to his system and level out, we were able to add back a number of

foods, some that I'd just plain given up on, are now back in his food

repertoire, like bananas, popcorn, things that before would just send him into

orbit. We added one food at a time, and each beverage counted as one challenge,

they get absorbed a lot quicker than food so they're actually even harsher of a

challenge. It took about a year, and the GFCF diet was working pretty darn well

again, but, here's the big But, we couldn't and still can't do BHT, Dextrose or

most food dyes. Every kid is different, and the only thing that helps is being

vigilant with a food diary. It will help you track patterns, and you will learn

what things don't go together, for us, most carbs need, absolutely need a

protein, so like GFCF pretzels are okay, with peanut butter. However, peanuts

alone, no good, can't handle them. So, it's not peanuts that are a no-no, but

the form that matters. It seems like a lot of work, but once you start seeing

long lasting results, and you're not counting every morsel your kid consumes,

and the dark circles under the eyes go away, and they're gaining weight and

energy, and the moodiness disappears, and bowel movements level out, etc. It

becomes second nature. Good luck to you, we'll all cheer you on as you work

through this.