| With autism among children rising to astounding rates | | | | care-special enzymes for digestion, medical treatment |
| of 1 in 150 children worldwide, it is the fastest growing | | | | for yeast infections and other conditions found during |
| childhood epidemic of our time. The number of children | | | | testing, attention to digestive issues, special dietary |
| affected by this whole-body disorder is expected to | | | | requirements (autism diets), nutrient and fatty acid |
| rise even further over the next decade. According to | | | | supplementation, behavioral therapy and more. |
| research reports, more children will be diagnosed with | | | | Specific autism diets can help children improve in many |
| autism this year than cancer, diabetes, Downs | | | | ways. When diets are correctly implemented by |
| Syndrome and AIDS combined. Approximately 1 million | | | | parents, improvement in gastrointestinal problems, |
| individuals in the United States have autism---as of | | | | diarrhea, constipation, language, learning, focus, attention, |
| today, there is no known cause and no known cure. | | | | eye contact, behavior, sleep difficulties, toilet training, |
| You know the statistics. You are keenly aware of | | | | skin rashes/eczema and body pain have been |
| how interesting your path has become-a life you didn't | | | | observed. Since every child is unique, improvements |
| exactly imagine you would be in. You see the autism | | | | will vary. |
| awareness ad campaigns on television. You hear a | | | | There are several diets that are used by parents, |
| new president dedicate himself to helping children with | | | | autism nutritionists and pediatricians. These diets include |
| autism through research dollars and insurance | | | | the Gluten-Free Casein-Free (GFCF) Diet, Specific |
| coverage requirements. You are connected to your | | | | Carbohydrate Diet (SCD), Gut and Psychology |
| local autism support group. You participate in lively | | | | Syndrome (GAPS) Diet, Low Oxalate Diet, Body |
| debate over genetics, vaccines, ABA therapy and a | | | | Ecology Diet, Feingold Diet and Weston A. Price |
| new topic-biomedical intervention and autism diets. | | | | dietary principles. Most practitioners suggest parents |
| You may be watching your child carefully stack cans | | | | begin with the GFCF Diet-removing all gluten and |
| on top of one another---over and over for hours, | | | | casein from the foods they serve their children. |
| instead of playing with toys and other children. You | | | | Autism Research Institute (ARI) surveyed thousands |
| serve French fries day after day, because they might | | | | of parents and found that 65% of those applying the |
| be the only thing your child will eat. You've decided that | | | | GFCF Diet saw improvement. For the Specific |
| "hope for recovery from autism" is an interesting | | | | Carbohydrate Diet, 66% noted improvement. |
| collection of words-but do they really fit into your | | | | Successful parents begin with simple steps: they serve |
| world? | | | | fresh fruits, vegetables and grass-fed meats |
| You hear the word "recovery" more and more lately. | | | | whenever possible. They read labels for ingredients |
| How can your child recover from autism? Is it really | | | | and they clean out their cupboards. They shop for |
| possible? Parents you know are coming back from | | | | organic foods in order to remove antibiotics, hormones, |
| conferences enlightened and hopeful. The terms | | | | pesticides and PCBs from the dinner table. Parents |
| "biomedical intervention" and "autism diet" are rising to | | | | choose to no longer serve their children easy-to-serve |
| the top of conversations, literature and web sites. Of | | | | pre-packaged, canned or frozen foods that contain |
| course you would be curious. | | | | preservative, additives, colors and artificial ingredients. |
| Pursuing recovery is not about "curing" autism. Pursuing | | | | They immediately decrease the amount of sugar they |
| recovery is about believing in and taking action toward | | | | feed their children. The guidance of a qualified nutrition |
| improved health and healing. The term "recovery" is | | | | profession is always recommended. |
| best explained by esteemed autism organizations such | | | | After the initial clean up steps are completed, parents |
| as Autism Research Institute and Generation Rescue, | | | | embark on the finer points of an autism diet, which |
| the use of this term is intended to convey the extent | | | | often means removing gluten and casein-as |
| of the possibility that exists for these children--to reach | | | | implemented in the GFCF diet. Gluten is the protein |
| their potential of health and happiness - whatever that | | | | found in wheat, rye, barley, commercial oats, kamut, |
| may be. As Jenny McCarthy analogy explains, while | | | | and spelt. Casein is the protein found in dairy. The |
| you can't be cured of getting hit by a bus, you can | | | | GFCF diet has become popular for autism and the |
| recover. Indeed, thousands of children have, and are, | | | | general population, and there are many GFCF foods |
| recovering from autism. | | | | available in stores. Parents who are successful with |
| Many parents today are learning things they can do to | | | | applying a GFCF diet cook from great recipes they |
| help their children thrive and pursue recovery. Autism | | | | find online and in autism diet friendly cookbooks. They |
| pediatricians, researchers and nutritionists are now | | | | actually enjoy the process. |
| suggesting that parents consider implementing autism | | | | For the parent of a child with autism, the food that |
| diets, autism-specific nutrition and specialized | | | | they choose to serve their children is vitally important |
| supplementation, in addition to traditional behavioral | | | | to their healing. Autism diets are an important first step |
| therapy and other proven treatments. | | | | all parents should consider as they are creating a |
| Doctors now know that the body of the child with | | | | recovery program for their child. |
| autism is quite unique and requires very specific | | | | |