Selecting an Autism Diet A Review of Popular Approaches

Art therapy may be an ideal way to develop social skills, but an autism diet may also be another form of effective treatment. Art therapy is a form of expressive therapy, and like expressive therapy, when it comes to food control, there is more than one type of diet that can be used to treat autism.

Many health practitioners believe that an autism diet may be beneficial treatment. The reason is because most autistics have distorted immune response which causes their body to respond abnormally to certain types of food, viruses and toxins. Furthermore, it is not uncommon for many autistics to suffer from gastrointestinal inflammation and other intestinal disorders. It is thought that these intestinal problems might decrease the body's ability to absorb specific essential nutrients. Thus, by following a diet and other alternative treatment methods, certain abilities and overall health may be improved in an autistic individual.

The following are 4 autism diets you may want to consider -

Gluten and Casein Free Diet

Gluten and Casein are both proteins found in many foods which some autistics have a hard time digesting. Gluten occurs in wheat, oat and rye products, while casein is found in human milk, cow milk and many other dairy products. Both of these proteins are also in the ingredients of many medications.

Research has discovered that abnormally high level of specific peptides related to gluten and casein have been found in the urine of autistic children. This could mean that these proteins are not being effectively broken down into amino acids, and this over-absorption of peptide can actually affect brain function. Thus, by removing gluten and casein from the autism diet, this will prevent further gastrointestinal and neurological damage from occurring.

Yeast- Free Diet

Some research is based on the belief that some autistics have high levels of candida albicans (a type of yeast that occurs naturally in the body) in their intestinal tract. A candida overgrowth in the intestines can cause "leaky gut" syndrome, a condition that causes tiny holes in the intestinal tract. The yeast grows fast and releases toxins in the bloodstream which has the potential to affect brain functioning.

In fact, aside from causing stomach distress, it is thought by some that a candida overgrowth can cause a number of behavioural difficulties such as fatigue, confusion and hyperactivity.

Candida can be controlled naturally through an anti-candida (yeast) diet or with essential oils. In short, an anti-yeast diet involves cutting out all natural and artificial sugars, caffeine, most diary products, preservatives and, of course, yeast products (I.E. bread).

Specific Carbohydrate Diet

This is a science based autism diet, and it involves the cessation of ingesting specific carbohydrates (sugars and starches) that have been found to cause problems within the digestive tract. In addition, carbohydrates are small enough that they can slip by the surface of the small intestine into the blood stream, and can cause abnormal brain function.

This diet limits the amount of carbohydrates ingested and slowly adds them back once the intestinal tract has had time to heal.

Body Ecology Diet (BED)

This particular diet used to treat autism was originally created to treat systemic fungal infections typically caused by Candida overgrowth. It has been used to treat the inflammatory bowel diseases ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, as well as a number of autoimmune diseases and AIDS. Like the other autism diets, the BED works to heal the gastrointestinal system and prevent future infections.

The BED diet involves eliminating gluten and casein from the diet as well as drastically limiting bad fats, carbohydrates and sugars.

It is best to talk to your child's health care provider to find out which autism diet would be the best course of treatment. It is also important to have your doctor monitor your child's condition while on a diet treatment. This way you can ask any questions or concerns you may have about the autism diets, and to ensure your child is receiving the sufficient nutrients his/her body requires.

Grab your free copy of Rachel Evans' brand new Autism Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you and your family find out about autism strategies and for information on autism diet please visit The Essential Guide To Autism.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rachel_Evans

Is There an Updated Approach For Helping Autistic Children That Is Simple?

I have learned the best way in helping autistic children is to keep it simple. By keeping it simple, it creates an updated approach. How is this accomplished?

I know you are probably thinking, you as a parent(s), caregiver(s), do not know how to keep it simple. How can you help your autistic child, who is different with his or her own range of the severity, that autism causes? This can be frustrating.

In addition, each child who has autism, expresses unique personalities with their various symptoms that are challenging.

Every family who has a child with autism makes an impact on that family. For this reason, you want an updated approach that is simple which can help your child and family.

Children with autism will determine how you, your family and other siblings within your family live their lives.

Back to the question. Is there an updated approach for helping autistic children, that is simple?

The simple methods that I have used in helping my brother are in the following suggestions:

* Give positive support and positive reinforcement.

* I tried to improve the quality of life, for my brother and his surroundings.

* Allow your child to do things that would normally be of interest to him or her. For instance, Mix the new things with the old things, that is familiar to your child.

* By taking advantage of the approach, mixing new things with old things, you are adding positive reinforcement. Your child will gain more confidence to accept challenges and grow. In addition, you are keeping it simple. It will help your child and you.

I had to take an approach that I felt was updated for helping my brother who was autistic.

We were going to the Minnesota State Fair and my brother usually rode in a family car. That day, we had to take another car, that was different. It did not belong to us, and there was a new person driving the vehicle that he did not know.

I knew there might be some confusion regarding the change of a different car and driver. Therefore, I talked to my brother about the new way we were going to travel to the Minnesota State Fair, but we would still be traveling by a car.

I also told my brother, we would be enjoying a new way, but we were able to continue to enjoy the scenery he loved so much, with a new driver and sit back and relax as we did by going in our car, the old way. I kept it simple.

The approach I made by explaining to my brother about the change from the new to the old, was an updated way of helping my brother who was autistic.

I have experienced, by keeping things simple, your approach can be updated.

Using things your autistic child cares about, is interested in, loves the most, you might be able to encourage him or her to interact with new and challenging experiences. He or she will become more confident and gain more awareness.

Are you willing to take the new things and add to the old things? This approach can be updated and it is simple.

Bonita Darula invites you to visit and click on>>> http://www.autismintoawareness.com to learn what can be done about an updated approach for helping autistic children. Go to her web sight and take action now. Receive you FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER with new links added to order your E-Books.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bonita_Darula