| Both autism and celiac disease are fairly well-defined. | | | | The gluten-free/casein-free diet has shown some |
| There might be a link between them that hasn't been | | | | success with autism. The belief is that these proteins |
| as well-defined, but there are some things we know. | | | | are causing some sort of reaction in autistic children |
| First of all, autistic people have a higher risk of | | | | and that removing them from the diet can remove |
| developing celiac disease. Research has shown that | | | | these reactions. Now although there is no such thing as |
| this risk is almost three times greater than that of the | | | | an allergy to gluten, there can be sensitivity...where |
| average person. We're not entirely sure whether it's | | | | similar symptoms can arise. Research is still looking into |
| autistic people who are more likely to have celiac | | | | this. |
| disease or the other way around. | | | | There is another thing to consider. When certain |
| Autism itself might actually be celiac disease or gluten | | | | autistic people eat gluten or casein, these chemicals |
| sensitivity. This would not be too outrageous because | | | | are not broken down properly. They can actually end |
| the symptoms of these conditions are very similar. It | | | | up in the bloodstream as morphine-like chemicals, |
| might explain why a gluten-free diet can help treat | | | | which might be putting them in the "high" states typical |
| autism. | | | | of opiate drugs. This is called the Opiod Excess |
| Or maybe autism and celiac disease don't have any | | | | Theory of Autism, developed in the early 90s. It's also |
| actual connection, but the symptoms of both simply | | | | interesting to note the similarities in mental state |
| improve on a gluten-free diet. | | | | between autistic people and opiate drug users. One is |
| Or maybe the fact that celiac disease leads to leaky | | | | the tendency towards monotonous movements that |
| gut syndrome and severe malabsorption affects your | | | | you can see it autistic children. There is also the desire |
| body's ability to synthesize neurotransmitters, which | | | | for a certain social isolation. And there is the |
| promotes autism. | | | | preoccupation with examining the parts of a system or |
| But maybe if there is a link and we put certain children | | | | whole. |
| on gluten-free diets, we could prevent autism from | | | | Actually if you examine the urine of autistic people, |
| even occurring. | | | | they typically have higher levels of these morphine-like |
| But regardless of the possible connections between | | | | chemicals than the average person, which has led to |
| celiac disease and autism, they do have one thing in | | | | the urine peptide test. If the elevated chemical levels |
| common: leaky gut syndrome. Maybe it's this leaky gut | | | | are found, a doctor might suggest that the person go |
| syndrome that allows toxins to enter into the | | | | on a gluten-free/casein-free diet. |
| bloodstream that help promote autism. | | | | |