Autism is a neurological, developmental disorder that seems to be more common nowadays – or maybe it always was prevalent. Still, thanks to all the advanced research and enhanced awareness, we are now more knowledgeable about ASD and related symptoms. The interlink between autism and diet is a common research topic, although the research is still inconclusive. It is always best to work with a doctor when changing a diet.
Ensuring a healthy, well-balanced diet is essential for everyone. For many autistic individuals, however, dietary needs can be more complex due to sensory sensitivities. These sensitivities can lead to aversions to certain food textures, tastes, or smells, making it difficult to explore a variety of foods.
A personalized approach, often involving a sensory diet, can be helpful in supporting individuals with autism.
Connection of Nutrition and Autism
People with autism may have challenging meal times due to sensory issues and rigidity. As a result, many limit their diets to only the food they like and may be overwhelmed by new foods. Such selective eating can lead to impaired gut health which affects overall health, and disturbing conditions such as constipation or diarrhea – further inconveniencing sensitive autistic individuals. Therefore, it is important to work with a competent and experienced medical professional to identify which dietary components are crucial and understand how they can be incorporated into meals in acceptable ways for picky eaters.
Diet and Autism Management
Gluten Free Casein Free Diet
As the name suggests, the GFCF diet is devoid of gluten and casein. What does this look like at the dining table? Imagine meals without grains such as wheat, barley, or rye as they are common sources of gluten. Casein is a milk protein found in all dairy products – so remove any meals with milk, butter cheese, or any other milk derivative from this image as well.
The result is the main problem here: the GFCF diet is very limited and restrictive. It is difficult to completely avoid gluten or casein, and this results in people missing out on some of the best dishes of all time (who doesn’t like pizza?), but more importantly, nutrients. Milk is important for the development of strong bones and teeth. Gluten helps with smooth digestion and acts as a rich source of energy. Eliminating all options containing gluten and casein consequently causes a deficiency of other essential vitamins and nutrients as well such as Vitamin B, which can exacerbate autism symptoms or impair cognitive and physical health.
What is the logic behind choosing the GFCF diet?
The only reason to adopt this diet would be if the individual has an allergy that makes those foods difficult or impossible to digest as there is limited medical research to support the effectiveness of this diet solely based on an autism diagnosis.
Supplementation Strategy for Autism
Since autistic individuals are very picky when it comes to food, it is no surprise that their meals of choice may lack several nutrients important for proper brain and body development. This is where supplements may be appropriate with physician approval.
Supplementing diets with vitamins can help make up for deficient meals to prevent any obstacles to healthy development. Some important supplements commonly taken by autistic people are:
- Vitamin D: Important not only for strong bones and teeth but for cellular growth as well. It is commonly found in milk, tuna, or egg yolks.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acid: Enhances brain health and function which may help alleviate social problems associated with autism such as difficulty in understanding how others think or feel, and improve communication and interaction. Omega-3 fatty acids are abundant in fish such as salmon or mackerel, or supplements such as fatty liver oil capsules.
The Elimination Technique
Research has shown autistic children can be more prone to allergies, specifically respiratory allergies, than their peers without autism. Being unaware of allergies can cause discomfort at the very least or severe medical conditions requiring a prompt trip to the emergency ward.
The elimination technique, which should be done under the guidance of a physician, focuses on identifying these problematic allergens and removing them from meals. Thanks to the vastness of food options, it is relatively easy to choose options or alternatives for foods with allergens.
However, autism is not one-size-fits-all. It is complex and unique for each individual. Therefore, it is important to visit a physician and take an allergen test to correctly identify allergens.
Managing Autism with Nutrition
Gut Health and Autism
The gut is home to trillions of microorganisms collectively called the gut microbiota. They are responsible for the seamless functioning of the processes carried out by our gut such as secretion of hormones and digestion. Disruption in the gut microbiota causes numerous gut health issues, most of which are also experienced by people on the autism spectrum. Coincidence? Not really.
Good gut health is a direct result of thriving microbiota. This is why the intake of pre and probiotics may be important as they enhance gut health and could contribute to the alleviation of certain autism symptoms.
The terms pre and probiotics can be confusing – here is a simple way to remember the difference:
- Probiotics are the friendly bacteria in our gut.
- Prebiotics are food for the friendly bacteria in our gut.
Both are important, because not only should microbiota be present in our gut, but it needs to be in a healthy state as well to effectively support gut functions. Always work with a dietician or physician prior to making changes in diet or taking medicines, vitamins, or supplements.
Practical Tips to Implement Dietary Changes
As discussed earlier, autistic individuals may be set in their routines and opposed to any sort of change; they may not be quick to explore and accept new things. With certain tips and tricks though, parents and caregivers can implement dietary changes to manage autism symptoms. Here are some of them:
- Start slow: It is not practical to eliminate or add everything you learned about in one meal. It is better to start with one texture or flavor and add it in small amounts to some meals.
- Familiarize first: It will be a good practice to talk about a certain ingredient or food item and involve autistic children in the process of choosing the food item.
- Be patient: It is important to understand that progress will not come easily. A lot of patience and consistency is required to see real progress, which surely comes but in its own time.
- Incorporate visual appeal: It can be fun to prepare a colorful plate of food or have fruits or vegetables cut out in interesting ways to encourage autistic children to be excited about eating them, however, this may not be the right approach for your child. Know what your child enjoys with respect to color and texture.
- Seek advice: Always work with a professional before making significant changes to your child’s diet or taking supplements.
Takeaways
Autism is a complex developmental disorder that affects how people communicate, interact, learn, and often, eat. Autistic people may be sensitive, and anxious and may not respond well to change. Diet can play a role in ameliorating autism symptoms to reap long-term benefits and improve quality of life. Strategies such as the GFCF diet, elimination diets, and enhancing the use of supplements and pre/probiotics may be right for your child based on conversations with your physician. Lastly, it is important to remember that autism is not curable, but the symptoms associated with it are often manageable with patience and professional help.
