Where Do I Begin

You want to start dietary intervention but have no idea where to begin. The first step is to approach your medical team to explain that you would like to work together on dietary intervention. If the concept is new to them then direct them to this website for help and reassurance, suggesting that they also investigate the links.

Before removing gluten from the diet it is important to ask your doctor to arrange a standard blood test to eliminate a condition known as coeliac disease.

Next, you need to carry out a urine test at the Autism Research Unit at Sunderland University to identify the levels of opioid peptides in the system. This serves as a base point and also reassurance for the professionals working with you as well as friends and family, and of course yourself, especially when the going gets tough.

Now start to plan how you are going to achieve this. Read as much as possible, follow the links on this site to find the most relevant reading sources on the web and consider joining the AutismMedical forum for help and support from others.

Buy a notebook to start a food/behaviour diary and work out just what you are going to need during the first few weeks of the diet.

Don’t panic! You are going to have to go right back to basics and build up from there!

There follows a list of acceptable gluten free/ casein free foods to help start you off. You may find that your child reacts adversely to other foods on the list. The suspect ones are highlighted but don’t take them out of the diet unless you have good reason to believe they are causing problems. Substitute foods gradually to minimise withdrawal symptoms.

Your dietician will help answer any specific questions. A word of warning though, not all gluten free foods are casein free and vice versa and ; so you really do have to become a good detective. Read the labels and don’t take anything for granted! Ring the manufacturers if need be ! It also is good practice to avoid artificial colourings, flavourings and preservatives other than MSG and aspartame to reduce the overload on the detox pathway and whenever possible buy organic.

Some Beginners Basics
There is nothing wrong with water to drink and this should be encouraged at all times. The safest drink to use in the first instance, if a juice is essential, is pure pear juice.
Peel all fruit and vegetables to keep the salicylate level to a minimum.
Avoid apples, citrus fruit and bananas.
Stick with pears, pawpaws, peaches and apricots
The Golden Rules

1. Read the labels
2. Understand the labels
3. Know all the ingredients

Remember that not all ingredients have to be declared on the label.

Write a detailed food and behaviour diary until you are sure that you have everything running smoothly. Do a three-day food intake chart for your dietician from time to time to check that the diet is adequate.

Be aware that if you substitute a food which your child has not taken before e.g. soya milk, that this too can cause difficulties.

Ask yourself the following 20 questions:

1. Is constipation and/or diarrhoea a feature
2. Is there still gut pain?
3. Have these been treated effectively?
4. Has a qualified gastro-enterologist given opinion?
5. Has a blood test been done for coeliac disease?
6. Have you tested for opioid presence in the urine ?
7. Has a blood test been carried out for coeliac disease?
8. Have you made a plan of action?
9. Have you prepared a food/behaviour diary?
10. Do you know where gluten/casein is found?
11. Do you know where MSG/aspartame are used?
12. Have you seen a dietician
13. Who is likely to wreck the diet?
14. How are you going to secure the larder?
15. Do you keep dog biscuits/rabbit food in the house?
16. Are you prepared for withdrawal?
17. Who does the shopping?
18. Is your GP supportive? If not consider changing.
19. Do you need new glasses? ( to read the labels!)
20. Are you really committed to this course of action?

Remember:- Be methodical, always check your labels, (formulations can change overnight) and always know exactly what has gone into your child’s or your own mouth ! Good Luck!

Further information on the above detailing the Allergy induced Autism Methodology™ is available on the resource section of this site.

Rosemary Kessick 2008©

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