An Autism Doctor Explains the Effects of Gluten On Children With an Autism-Spectrum Disorder:
What is Gluten?
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, kamut, and spelt. Wheat tends to have the highest amount of gluten and is the most problematic to those who are gluten sensitive.
Wheat is the grain of choice for bread, pasta and other baked goods. The amount of gluten in wheat today is much higher than it was a century ago due to hybridization and the preference for the doughy texture that high gluten wheat provides. Gluten can literally be described as the "glue" that holds the flour together.
Although whole wheat and sprouted wheat are generally healthy foods, to a person who is gluten sensitive - particularly a child with autism - these foods can be a real problem.
Gluten Can Wreak Havoc On The Digestive System
The health conditions associated with gluten sensitivity include skin disorders (hives, psoriasis, eczema), autoimmune diseases (lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disorders, diabetes), digestive disorders (irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac, reflux, ulcers), neurological disorders (ataxia, autism, ADD/ADHD), and others.
In some children, failure to thrive or tendencies to chronic infections are also seen. The main reason that gluten can have such far - reaching effects is that it promotes inflammation in the gut and other body systems - common problems for autistic-children.
Food Allergies And Gluten Sensitivity
Gluten sensitivity can predispose to the development of increasing food allergies due to the damage of the lining of the intestines.
If you look through a microscope at a tissue sample of a healthy intestine you would see finger-like projections called villi. Villi increase the surface area of our intestines increasing our capacity for nutrient absorption. Along the surface of the villi are hair-like projections that secrete the enzymes needed to digest our food. In a gluten sensitive child, you see a flattening of the villi with a loss of the ability to produce enzymes. The development of malabsorption, nutrient deficiencies and food allergies are the result.
Gluten Sensitivity Can Cause Behavioral Problems
Food allergies increase because of the inadequate breakdown and absorption of particular food particles. This can also be the reason for the cognitive issues seen in autism - including language issues, poor attention and focusing, self-stimulatory behavior, etc. as the gluten proteins interfere with brain chemicals. Behavioral problems are also associated with gluten sensitivity and autism such as aggression, self-injury, and tantrums.
Biomedical Autism Treatment - Gluten Elimination Trial
If you suspect that your child is gluten sensitivity, or has chronic symptoms for which your doctor has no explanation, do a trial elimination of gluten for 3 to 4 months to see how your child responds. The cure for the problem of gluten sensitivity is quite simple -eliminate gluten in all its forms. Gluten-free grains are available and include rice, millet, buckwheat and corn.
Don't let ANYONE tell you there is nothing you can do to help your child. Autism really is treatable! Start your child down the road to recovery from autism. Biomedical Autism treatments and therapies have resulted in many, many children improving - even losing their autism-spectrum disorder diagnosis. For more information and a free ebook on biomedical autism treatment go to http://www.AutismActionPlan.org
Dr. Kurt Woeller is an autism biomedical specialist, with a private practice in Southern California for over 10 years. He has helped children recover from autism, ADD, ADHD, and other disorders, and has the information you need to help your child. Get his ebook, "7 Facts You Need To Know About Autism (But Probably Weren't Told)." You can download it right now for free at http://www.AutismActionPlan.org
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