Nutritional Fears: Bingeing and Casein

Autism is a disorder that has to be treated in a variety of ways as there is no effective way to completely cure it. One way you can help keep autism symptoms under control is to study diet. Parents of children with autism reported that by controlling the diet, they noticed a significant difference in their children's behavior. Two of the main dietary concerns are gluttony and casein.

Gluton is a substance found in many common food products, with wheat, rye and oak being the main culprits. Casein is found in dairy products, such as milk. If you or your autistic child eats many foods that contain these products, such as bread or cheese, you may be able to better control autistic behavior by reducing the consumption of these foods.

The difficulty in digesting both glutton and casein comes from the inability to handle the peptides in these substances. Since they are not broken down as in the normal body, these additional peptides are absorbed into the bloodstream. Elevated levels of the peptides disrupt key brain functions, contributing to the effects of autism. By cutting out binge- and casein-containing foods from your or your child's diet, you can help the body in the process of breaking down the peptides present in the body. To find out if you or your child has a high absorption rate of these peptides, your doctor can perform a simple urine test.

Talk to a dietitian or doctor before making any major changes to your diet. When you decide to cut binge and casein out of your diet, don't try to do it all at once. Suddenly cutting anything from your diet is unhealthy, and your body may decline. Instead, slowly start reducing the amounts of bread, cereal, and dairy until you eat nothing. Your doctor can provide you with a complete list of all binge- and casein-containing foods if you really want to eliminate them all from your diet. However, it may be necessary to get the nutrients you find in binge and casein products in another way, such as in supplements. Again, your doctor can help with this decision. In general, maintaining a balanced diet is the healthiest thing to do. Leaving gluten and casein products out of your or your child's diet may help control autistic behavior, so it's an option to consider, but a completely healthy diet is the best way to keep you and your family healthy.