Gluten and casein-free diets are believed to enhance or ameliorate Asperger’s symptoms, with some parents reporting positive effects such as better moods and longer attention spans. Dr. Karl Ludwig Reichelt was the first to report a relationship between Asperger’s and eating methods, noting that many autistic children, including those with Asperger’s syndrome, also had gastrointestinal problems such as celiac disease. However, there is controversy in the medical community as to whether there is a relationship between Asperger’s and diet.
The relationship between Asperger’s and diet is commonly attributed to proteins such as gluten and casein. These proteins are said to enhance or ameliorate the symptoms of Asperger’s syndrome. Many people or parents of children with Asperger’s believe that they see a positive effect from adopting a gluten and casein free diet.
Dr. Karl Ludwig Reichelt was the first to report a relationship between Asperger’s and eating methods. He initially noted that many autistic children, including those with Asperger’s syndrome, also had gastrointestinal problems such as celiac disease, an intolerance to gluten. Dr. Reichelt now teaches that the ideal diet for people with autism and Asperger’s would be completely gluten and casein free.
The relationship between Asperger’s and diet has not been thoroughly studied, but many parents report positive effects with a gluten- and casein-free diet. Some notable changes include better moods, longer attention spans, and better eye contact. Many parents report that their children with Asperger’s become more independent once they implement a change in diet; they can quickly learn how to perform daily tasks that used to involve the help of a parent.
A gluten-free diet is largely about avoiding wheat products, but wheat isn’t the only substance to watch out for. Those striving for a gluten-free diet will also need to avoid barley, rye, and malts. Oats are also generally avoided due to the risk of cross contamination. Gluten-free cooking often involves the use of alternative ingredients, such as rice flour.
Casein can be found in dairy products, and followers of a casein-free diet will find that even lactose-free dairy products can still have small traces of dairy. Casein is sometimes known as calcium caseinate or sodium caseinate. Reading labels can be very important for those following a casein-free or gluten-free diet.
There is some controversy as to whether the relationship between Asperger’s and what a person eats is strictly a treatment or if it could also be a cause of autism. Some people believe that the peptides resulting from undigested gluten and casein proteins can create the same health risks and brain damage as opioids like heroin or morphine. They theorize that this damage may result in Asperger’s or other forms of autism. Others dispute this thinking as premature, claiming that satisfactory scientific testing has not been done.
Some in the medical community disagree that there is a relationship between Asperger’s and diet. They would say that gluten and casein cannot treat or cause autism. Casein-free diets might even be avoided for younger children who benefit from dairy while growing healthy bones. Children with Asperger’s sometimes have thinner bones than their peers, and a lack of calcium could make it even more difficult for them. Either way, most agree that more study is needed for the relationship between Asperger’s and diet.
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