Wednesday, 30 March 2011

• Ideal Diet for Autistic Children

  
  

  Parents are always fretting over what to feed their kids.  Are they getting enough nutrients?  Why do they hate vegetables?  What is it about macaroni and cheese that makes them want to eat it for every meal, every day?  Are their taste buds really that different from yours?  These are questions that everyone inevitably faces when trying to feed their little ones.  But parents with autistic children may have additional questions about the nature of food and how it can help or hinder the progression of treatments for the disorder.  In fact, several studies have shown that certain types of foods may influence advancement in children and adults with autism, so here are a few you may want to consider adding to (or removing from) your child’s diet.

  1. Probiotics.  Many children who are diagnosed with autism are first misdiagnosed with any number of other disorders.  As a result, they may be treated for any number of infections, which are generally treated by the administration of prolonged doses of antibiotics.  In fact, this is fairly common for children who are eventually found to be autistic.  This means that they are often left without the good bacteria that allows for proper digestion and they may suffer from weakness in the intestinal lining, lesions, or chronic inflammation.  Probiotics such as those found in many yogurts will help your child to restore digestive balance.  If your child is on a dairy-free diet, you can opt instead for supplemental pills.
  2. Sugar.  A crossover between autism and ADHD is fairly common and it centers on either a physical inability to process sugars correctly (abnormal glucose tolerance) or simply a poor diet.  To keep you child in a calm and focused state of mind, consider cutting processed sugars out of their diet and limiting their intake of natural sugars throughout the day.
  3. Omega-3 fatty acids.  Found mainly in certain types of fish (such as salmon), some nuts, and flaxseed, these essential fats are well known to improve brain activity by bolstering brain cell membranes.  Many also believe they are important in the brain development in children (which is why you can now find them in many infant formulas).  Including this essential nutrient in the diet of your autistic child may improve not only their mental state (including focus, speech, creativity, and sleep habits), it may also benefit their emotional interactions (behavior and mood).
  4. Gluten and casein.  Found in wheat and dairy, respectively, these two items have been shown, in many cases, to be harmful to autistic children.  This is mainly because of the prevalence of weak intestinal linings that lead to large protein molecules escaping into the blood stream and reaching the brain (where they may cause an opiate-like experience).  The removal of wheat and dairy from the diet may lead to a marked improvement in both behavior and brain function.
  5. Vitamins.  For years, studies have shown that autistic children, especially those with pyroluria, are deficient in certain vitamins (particularly B6, zinc, and magnesium).  Many autistic children also seem to suffer from a shortage of vitamin A, which is essential for vision and healthy brain cells.  For this reason, it is important to have your child tested so that doctors can determine which vitamins are lacking and whether or not supplements may help them.

  In any case where you are considering changing your child’s diet, it would behoove you to first speak to a doctor or autism specialist to determine if the effects of the switch will be beneficial.  In some cases, your child may be better off sticking to their current regimen, especially if they have exhibited no signs of other disorders or if they seem to be progressing.  But if you begin to notice increased or worsening symptoms, a new diet may be just what the doctor orders.

  Kyle Simpson is a writer for a culinary arts website where you can browse schools and the latest trends in the culinary arena.

   

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