Gluten-Free Casein-Free (and Starch-Free Sugar-Free Soy-Free) Diet and Autism

I had been thinking about the GFCF diet lately, not only because that's how we eat, but because the Hubs and I are keenly aware of any changes with our son.  When something feels "off", we ask questions like:  Why is he doing that?  Is he regressing?  Did he eat something he wasn't supposed to?  etc.

As I learned more about GAPS through reading, I started to cut grains out completely from our diet.  This means no rice and quinoa.  I downloaded a list of GAPS legal  and illegal foods, and it says no potatoes, yams, beans other than navy, green, and lima.  No starchy anything if we can help it, including no tapioca or any roots really.

Now that I'm learning about the science behind GAPS, I get it (well, I think I do). Some people say the GFCF diet didn't work for them.  Many didn't stick to it strictly, which you REALLY need to do if you're going to do it.  Many didn't give it enough time.  And many, including us initially, replaced gluten foods with their processed non-gluten counterparts.  Not good.  Not HORRIBLE (though there is MUCH more processed GF food out there now than there was a year ago).  When pondering the efficacy of eating GFCF, I think it should actually be the Gluten-Free Casein-Free Starch-Free Sugar-Free Soy-Free Real Foods Diet.  Really, I'd first suggest the GAPS Diet far above anything else since it at least has dairy (though not at first, and its introduction could be delayed for anyone with severe sensitivity).

In our GFCF jouney, we're just about at the GFCFSF^3 point, and while it's doable, I'm not sure how much progress we're making as far as healing our son's gut.  On to GAPS we go!

GAPS

Gut And Psychology Syndrome

I finally purchased Gut and Psychology Syndrome by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride.  My son was officially diagnosed as high functioning autistic back in November 2010, but it didn't take a diagnosis to realize some things weren't exactly the way they should be.  At the end of July 2010, we started the GFCF diet, which produced positive results.  We reintroduced dairy which resulted in mood swings and tantrums.  We've been GFCF since that reintroduction.

Mainly through my searches for GFCF recipes on the internet did I keep coming across something called the GAPS Diet.  Earlier this year I learned about the Weston A. Price Foundation and Nourishing Traditions. After obtaining that book, I wanted to learn more about traditional foods.  Turns out that quite a few traditional/real/whole food bloggers know about GAPS and its corresponding diet.

GAPS had helped so many with autoimmune disorders, such as eczema and allergies.  The most noteworthy (to me) dilemma it has helped is autism.  Whoa.  Sounds a little too good to be true.  What charlatan is professing to cure autism??  A neurologist.  Who studied nutrition.  Who has a son who was diagnosed as severely autistic.  A son who no longer displays autistic behaviors and is considered "completely recovered."  If my son responded to dietary changes (going GFCF), why couldn't we just try this?

I ordered the book last Friday along with the much-recommended-by-GAPS-Dieters GAPS Guide, and it's seriously like all the pieces of puzzle are falling into place.  I'm a science junkie, not that biology was my thing (chemistry was), and this stuff makes SENSE.  Our gut wall is lined with billions of beneficial bacteria.  These bacteria are not only there to aid digestion, but play an integral part of our immune system.  Too many changes in current food, medical practice, environment, etc. have compromised that wall of beneficial bacteria.  If one too many things cause a breach in that line of defense, the gut wall can no longer contain the toxins that need to be contained within the digestive system.  Those toxins leak out of the gut, enter the bloodstream, and end up in places they do not belong.  As a result?  The author suggests autism, ADD/ADHD, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, allergies, learning disabilities, and more.  A connection between our guts and our psychology.

Reflecting on my own health, I didn't have skin issues when I was younger.  But when I was in college and not eating so great, I developed eczema.  Bummer.  Before reading GAPS, I realized certain foods triggered my eczema.  An allergic response that I didn't have before.  I have never had persimmons until a few years ago.  Yummy!!  Last year I bought some, and found I am now allergic!  Whaaa?  These are autoimmune responses.  I eat well now, but once the gut wall has been compromised, that doesn't matter until it's fixed.

And that's what the GAPS Diet is supposed to do.  Restore the good bacteria wall.  It's almost like a do-over.  There is an intro diet with easily digested foods, such as bone broth.  It is a heavily meat-based diet, but that meat needs to be pastured and preferably organic.  There are no grains, and few, if any, starches.  Dairy IS on the diet, but it must be cultured dairy.  No plain milk, but instead there is yogurt, kefir, butter, certain aged cheeses, and ghee.  Everything should be prepared at home as well, so there's a huge dedication factor to this diet.  Oh, and the diet only needs to happen for 1.5 - 3 years, depending on the condition of the gut.  After that, for some, gluten can be reintroduced, along with the starches!  All in moderation though, which is always great advice.  The style of eating post-GAPS is a traditional foods diet.

I've been slowly preparing for a while now, and we're looking to start at the end of this month.  It's just a coincidence that that is exactly a year from when we began the GFCF diet.  Maybe that's a good time for our family to implement dietary change!

gapsdiet.com

Gluten-Free Casein-Free Egg-Free Pancakes

Can be made soy-free too!

A little late to post this for National Pancake Day, but boy did these turn out great!  They're high in fiber and very filling.  Did I mention that the kids loved them too?  Added bonus:  I froze the leftovers (I said they were filling!) which toasted up nicely the next day in the toaster oven.

While I do enjoy buckwheat pancakes, some recipes result in a dense disk (for me anyway), but these were just right.  They were heavier, but still light.  Paradox!  Another paradox would be that something called buckwheat is gluten-free.  Don't let the "wheat" part fool you though, it's definitely gluten-free!  Thank goodness too, because what a delicious way to start the day!


Gluten-Free, Casein-Free, Egg-Free Banana Pancakes
Makes 12 4"  pancakes

Dry Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups buckwheat flour
1/2 cup almond flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients:
1 tablespoon agave nectar (or honey for a non-vegan recipe)
1-1/4 cups rice milk or soy milk
2 tablespoons coconut oil (melted) or canola oil
1 banana, mashed

Directions:
1. Combine dry ingredients. 
2. Combine wet ingredients.
3. Add wet to dry, mix until just combined.
4. Cook pancakes as if any regular pancake recipe.  
5. Serve with your favorite pancake toppings and enjoy!

Reintroducing Dairy

We are almost at 3 weeks in our reintroduction of casein/ dairy.  Our son was never into drinking milk directly, but he LOVED yogurt.  Cheese was also very popular.  We figured we'd bring back dairy in cheese form, since cheese is the stuff dreams are made of.  Also, he used to eat grilled cheese sandwiches with rice cheese (meh) and Earth Balance vegan buttery sticks, so slipping regular cheese into his gluten-free bread wouldn't be as conspicuous.  If necessary, returning to non-dairy may have not been as obvious.

I'll admit we I was extremely wishy-washy about bringing back the dairy.  My apologies to both sets of grandparents.  They politely asked if dairy was okay, and both sides heard no which places many limitations on food options if you aren't accustomed to that diet.

What are we looking to happen?  If all goes well, nothing will change.  However, one of the most discouraging aspects of this journey are the many, many variables we encounter that have an impact on our son.  For instance, he caught a little stomach bug the week dairy came back.  Nothing major, but enough to disrupt his bowels for a few days.  Not helpful, especially since we were checking them to see if that would have an effect (it was a bug though; I got a touch of it myself).  Then a week off of school, which throws the routine off a bit.

What have we noticed... His language is pretty much where it was, and his interactions are slowly improving every day.  I thought his emotions were quicker to change; he became upset quicker a few times, and that felt "off" to me (though he may have been affected by the stomach bug).  I did notice some exaggerated hand-flapping from him.  He hadn't done it in a while, so not only did that make it more noticeable, but the time he used it was odd to me.  It seemed more stereotypical autistic hand-flapping.  Honestly, I'm not sure what to make of all this.  He did have a BM today (sorry for the TMI) and the consistency was good, so I was pleased to see that (Wow.  Never thought I'd be here.).

Basically, I'm still not sure how I'm feeling about the dairy.  I'll be revisiting this post over the next few weeks to see if I can make a decision on whether to keep the dairy or not.  I can't believe how time flies with all this.

For anyone wondering if they should try a gfcf diet for any health-related reason, I say go for it, but know it can take up to 3 weeks to get the casein out of your system, and up to 6 months to get the gluten out.  It can be challenging at times, but absolutely doable with proper preparation and information.  We consulted a dietitian and discussed the diet with our son's pediatrician.  I would recommend finding a similar professional who believes in the diet and seeing what recommendations they have for you.