Autsim, Bad Reaction to GFCF Diet or Just a Coincidence?

I can guarantee you that switching her to a healthier diet did not cause this behavior. There's only a little evidence that this kind of diet works for autistic conditions, but I highly suspect that it's because most of the foods you end up eating on this diet are free from chemicals, additives, and most importantly food coloring, which has DEFINITELY been linked to all kinds of crazy behavior.

Something is probably causing it, but I just don't think it'd be the diet. I hope you can figure it out!

The whole idea behind the diet is instead of Autism these children have problems with the intestine. Instead of fully digesting the foods are converted into a psudo drug which causes Autism like symptoms. If she is showing symptoms of withdrawal the diet may be working. I never did it with my son but what I read of it they go through withdrawal.

I hate to say it because I am sure you are going through hell but I would stick with it another few weeks and see what happens. I am trying to remember from eight years ago but I think it takes four to six weeks to fully leave the system.

Are you getting any support from an integrative physician or group?

We are GFCF, but for different reasons. From what I've read, when you first go GFCF things can get dramatically worse before they get better. For us it didn't go that way - I saw very quick improvement (though it was extremely hard to change our way of life). But then again I think that's because my son was extremely sensitive to wheat and dairy from a health standpoint, so we didn't have anywhere to go but up (he was very sickly).

It sounds like you need more support in this endeavor. I've heard that it takes quite a while to get gluten out of your system. Also, you might have to watch for soy too, and make sure you're not over-doing it with sugar. Again, this is where the knowledgeable support comes in.

Good luck - my heart goes out to you.

I think it is a coincidence ... this diet is more of a changing how your body feels to help reduce other issues going on in their body. Many kids with special needs of all sorts have digestive and immune system issues the diet is to help ease the potential digestive issues. The "cure" is the right comination and application of therepies.

Sounds like the withdrawal symptoms that many people experience when they no longer feed their gut gluten and casein. Our son is on the GFCF diet but we are under the supervision of a biomedical nutritionist. She plans his meals, I prepare and cook them and keep a food diary. He never had withdrawal symptoms but the nutritionist did say that it can happen.

Could be withdrawl or you need to feed only organic. IS Chex on GFCF? I wouldn't even mess with peanut butter! For now just give meats and fresh fruit and vegetables. Go to Whole Foods and buy special cookies and other things.