The Gluten-Free Casein-Free Diet
The GFCF Diet is a Mainstream Autism Therapy
may not help all kids, but helps at least 65%, possibly a lot more
Autism Research Institute parent ratings at http://autism.com/treatable/form34qr.htm
show 65% of parents say it helps their kids
all DAN! doctors recommend that you try the diet - Defeat Autism Now! (DAN!) is a
consortium of autism doctors who use diet, nutrition, and biomedical therapies
to treat autism
autism magazines are full of GFCF diet products
What the GFCF Diet Can Do
how it works – leaky gut, opioid theory – gluten and casein have an opium-like effect
on our kids – remove the opium and you get real progress
food intolerance versus food allergy – no testing for intolerances is conclusive
the progress you see from the diet may be really substantial
sensory distortions lessened
tactile – sense of touch returns, can feel pain again when appropriate
auditory – sound sensitivity lessened
visual – light sensitivity and visual hallucinations lessened
proprioceptive – knows where body is in space
smell – not as sensitive to smells
gastrointestinal problems lessened
cognitive progress
progress in receptive and expressive language
progress in fine and gross motor skills
progress in attention and focus
progress in relating to other people
How to Implement the GFCF Diet
don’t put it off – time is of the essence – you are losing valuable developmental time
gradual implementation is OK– but don’t take longer than a month to implement
implement the diet carefully for three months to see if it will help your child – takes
time to get the gluten and casein out of the brain
if you don’t remove ALL gluten and casein, you may see progress anyway
once you see progress, you will want to remove all of it
if you don’t remove ALL gluten and casein, and you DON’T see progress, it may be
because you didn’t remove all of it – then you will only know if it will help your
child if you remove ALL of it
adverse reactions – only 3% of parents say their child got worse on the GFCF diet
pain that used to be killed by casein will become apparent
kids on the autism spectrum tend to have gastrointestinal problems that can be
painful – constipation, diarrhea, inflammation
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withdrawal reactions – like going off of opium
foods that are prohibited
gluten- wheat, rye, barley, spelt
dairy – all cow’s milk dairy in any form – milk, yogurt, ice cream, cheese,
hidden gluten and casein – modified food starch from an unspecified source,
caramel color, natural flavors, etc. - see www.gfcfdiet.com, Directory of
Website, Unacceptable for detailed list
foods that are controversial or questionable
oats – now gluten-free oats are available, but other oats are contaminated
goat milk, goat milk yogurt – easier to digest, but still has casein
foods whose listed ingredients are GFCF, but are contaminated in the
manufacturing process – check acceptable list at www.gfcfdiet.com
(Directory of Website) or www.AllergyGrocer.com to be careful
look for gluten and casein in non-food items
Play Doh, some glue, some paints
soaps, shampoos, lotions, probiotics grown on whey, medications
see www.gfcfdiet.com (Directory of Website) for lists of acceptable products
foods that are acceptable
rice – steamed rice, rice milk (but not Rice Dream), rice crackers
potatoes – French fries, potato chips
meat
fruit
non-grain vegetables
nuts, beans
coconut - coconut milk yogurt, coconut milk ice cream, etc.
flours – rice, tapioca, potato, amaranth, quinoa
water – the only thing your child needs to drink
you have total control over younger children
get an older child to sign on to the diet, help them understand the benefits
your child will not starve for longer than a day or two
the GFCF diet will help heal the gastrointestinal tract, and thus improve absorption of
nutrients – your child will actually gain weight
digestive enzymes help remove any inadvertent gluten or casein, and help the body
digest all foods, but are not a substitute for the GFCF diet – buy them from:
Kirkman Labs
Houston Nutraceuticals
Klaire
dealing with school
put it in the IEP
notify all school personnel who work with your child
send lunch and snacks to school
bring a special cupcake to birthday parties
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eating at restaurants
always tell the restaurant that your child is on a GFCF diet, ask lots of questions
P. Terry’s, Five Guys, Hat Creek, Elevation Burger, Mighty Fine – fries are GFCF,
ask them to cook meat carefully, buns have wheat
Macaroni Grill and steak houses – ask them to cook fries in clean oil and separate
pan, use unmarinated meat
beware of battered French fries, pre-cut French fries, fries cooked in the same oil
with wheat products, marinated meat
Other Dietary Recommendations
avoid soy – it’s a major problem for kids with autism – GFCF is turning into GFCFSF
may need to avoid corn – can cause aggression
avoid artificial sweeteners, especially Nutrasweet/Aspartame (very toxic)
avoid excessive sugar, refined sugar, and high fructose corn syrup – limited fruit juice,
limited deserts, limited fruit
go low salicylate – limit fruit mostly to pears, mangos, and bananas - avoid dark fruits
buy organic fruits and vegetables, avoid pesticides
buy grass-fed/pastured meat and eggs
buy fermented/probiotic-rich foods
buy whole, unprocessed foods
buy products with simple ingredients
avoid artificial colors – can cause hyperactivity, insomnia, learning problems
avoid artificial flavors
avoid artificial preservatives
avoid MSG (hydrolyzed protein, yeast extracts)
avoid hydrogenated oils, partially hydrogenated oils, and trans fats
buy good fats – fish/olive/coconut oil, animal fats
may need to go low carbohydrate, especially for severe gastrointestinal problems - SCD
(specific carbohydrate diet)
Books
Bette Hagman cookbooks - Bette Hagman is the Gluten-Free Gourmet. Her recipes are
gluten-free, but not necessarily casein-free, so substitutions for the dairy items in her
recipes are necessary. Her cookbooks include wonderful information about alternative
flours, how to substitute alternative flours into other recipes, and where to buy
alternative flours. Her cookbooks include: The Gluten-free Gourmet, More from the Glutenfree Gourmet, The Gluten-free Gourmet Cooks Fast and Healthy, and The Gluten-Free Gourmet
Bakes Bread (her best book on alternative flours and how to use them.)
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The Encyclopedia of Dietary Interventions for the Treatment of Autism and Related
Disorders, by Karyn Seroussi and Lisa S. Lewis, Ph.D. Lots of important information
about dietary interventions. It was Karyn Seroussi and Lisa Lewis who first popularized
the GFCF diet.
The Kid-Friendly ADHD and Autism Cookbook: The Ultimate Guide to the GlutenFree, Casein-Free Diet, by Pamela Compart and Dana Laake
Nourishing Hope for Autism: Nutrition Intervention for Healing Our Children, by
Julie Matthews. See www.NourishingHope.com. A really important contribution to the
field.
Special Diets for Special Kids, and Special Diets for Special Kids Two, by Lisa S.
Lewis, Ph.D. – Excellent background on why the diet is important and how it works,
recipes, and lists of foods that are, and are not, GFCF.
Websites
TACA - Talk About Curing Autism – www.tacanow.org – Extensive website with lots
of great information about the diet.
The ANDI News (Autism Network for Dietary Intervention) - www.AutismNDI.com
- Newsletter published online by Karen Seroussi and Lisa Lewis, who first popularized
the GFCF diet.
GFCF Diet website - www.gfcfdiet.com – Click on “Directory of Website” for well
researched lists of foods by brand name that are GFCF, divided into categories, and
notes about foods to be wary of. Also has other helpful information about the diet. A
good way to stay current, as the ingredients in foods change from time to time.
Kirkman Labs – www.kirkmanlabs.com – Perhaps the largest purveyor of nutritional
supplements for people on the autism spectrum, including digestive enzymes.
Other Resources
Nutritionists at the Johnson Center for Child Health & Development –The Johnson
Center is a medical clinic here in Austin for the bio-medical treatment of autism
spectrum disorders. Their nutritionists are well versed in the GFCF diet. Their web site
is www.Johnson-Center.org, their address is 1700 Rio Grande Drive #200, Austin, TX
78701, and their phone number is 732-8400.
Food For Life – GFCF restaurant and catering business located at 2051 Cypress Creek
Road, Suite L, Cedar Park, TX 78613, 331-0096, owned by health care professional
Sherrie Kjar. See www.gfcfcuisine.com.
Wild Wood Bakehouse – Gluten-free (but not necessarily casein-free) bakery and café
at 31st and Guadalupe. See www.wildwoodartcafe.com.
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