A Posting We Will Go... First: Dr. Wakefield

The web, tv and papers are full of autism information this month.  Or - should I say misinformation?

Been a while since I have even had a chance to blog...  I do not know how I get so busy, but - the kids have to remain my priority, so - the blogging often gets set aside.  Since blogging is my therapy, and I do still get a little overwhelmed, I am back to blog, or at least today I am.

I recently saw this video and have been wanting to share it all day!  I wish it was good news or a "reversal or miracle cure" for what's already happened, but - it is worth sharing.



You really should head over to Dr. Mercola's page and read the full post here.

Generation Rescue and Autism One Join to Help Children

"Generation Rescue and Autism One are delighted to announce their partnership to better meet the needs of the autism community in order to help children and educate parents and medical professionals. Based on shared values and each organization’s expertise the alliance will provide creative and innovative solutions to many of the autism, ADHD and chronic illness community’s most pressing problems."

Good news. I like good news, don't you? Full story over at Age of Autism.

Taming the Yeast Beast III

Why are so many kids on the GF-CF diet and the anti-yeast? Well, hang on and keep reading... I will say it again, in a different way...

The history of this diet came from research on schizophrenia, in which these gluten and casein protein fragments were found in the urine of schizophrenic patients. Similar urine profiles were later found in the urine of autistic children. That's something to take notice of - hey? Anyway...

Opioids and autism -- Milk and dairy contain these proteins, called casein and wheat contains a protein called gluten. Inside of both casein and gluten are structures which are difficult for the body to digest completely. The "structures" or "peptides" that remain or are left over after digestion of casein and gluten react at certain sites in the brain called opioid receptors. These sites are so named because these sites are where opiate drugs such as morphine act. The internal chemicals which react at the opioid receptors in the brain are called endorphins. These peptide structures from the diet have several names, one of which is "opioids".

In experimental studies, opiate drugs such as morphine have been found to bind to brain opioid receptors and this binding leads to decreased glucose (sugar) utilization and decreased metabolic rate. In other words, structures which bind to opioid receptors in the brain slow the brain down. As already noted, the one finding that stands up in the brains of autistic children is that the brain is slowed down (metabolically less active) as shown by decreased blood flow, especially in speech areas.

These casein and gluten protein fragments also slow the brain down. This has led to the treatment of excluding casein and gluten from the diet of autistic children. There are many commercial products available to support such treatment.

So, just how good is the gluten-free casein-free diet? The main studies show that children do better. The gf-cf diet is not an anti-yeast diet. The gf-cf diet allows some major yeast offenders such as vinegar, ketchup, malt, pickles, chocolate, peanut butter and corn. Both peanuts and corn are often contaminated with mold. Chicken are fed much cottonseed and cottonseed is contaminated with mold. Grapes and blueberries have skins that are eaten along with the fleshy part of the fruit and are often mold carriers.

So - if a child is taken off gluten and casein but keeps eating foods with vinegar and is put on more chicken, peanut butter and corn, what good will it do?! It seems to me, that whatever benefits there are from removing gluten and casein will be taken away by adding (to the diet) more mold in the form of chicken, peanut butter and corn. Don't even get me started on the chicken thing! Another bloggy topic, for another day.

The intestinal yeast is still in the kids, and in there making toxic chemicals. ((Ugh...)) Kids then will show little improvement and the improvement and behavior will fluctuate with ups and downs - the usual predicable unpredictability, depending on what the kiddo has eaten. Not fair! I work so hard to made food he can eat. I work hard at buying food he can eat. I work hard at being patient and understanding when he whines and complains about all the food that he CAN'T eat... It's not fair. Where have I heard this before?

I just might try the anti-yeast diet... it's been buzzing through my head this week. I didn't just confess this - did I?

The anti yeast diet is especially helpful for anyone suffering from any of these health conditions: Headaches, including migraine; fatigue; chronic ear infection; Fibromyalgia; chemical sensitivity; depression; abdominal pain; bloating, diarrhea; constipation; eczema; psoriasis; rashes; hives; Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; Crohn's Disease; Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD or ADHD); Autism; pain or numbness in hands or feet; Multiple Sclerosis; Rheumatoid Arthritis; and many more.

I have the pink conditions...and I eat a lot of salads, with salad dressings - ALL of which have vinegar, which is forbidden on the anti-yeast diet. Don't you think I could do this? Ok - I do have the ability to do it, but - will I?

I found a new book that I want. I am praying it will fall out of the sky and into my lap! It could really help us right now. Funny thing is that the doctor who wrote it, isn't very far from where we live. Isn't that interesting? And Dr. Rimland wrote the forward. THE Dr. Rimland, who founded the ARI (Autism Research Institute)

Ah, I just gotta have it! Mostly wheat and dairy free... it's calling my name. Hubs - if you've ever read this blog, now is the time to take notice (hint-hint).

Taming the Yeast Beast

For last 8 weeks, we have been:

• Gluten-free
• Wheat-free
• Dairy-free
• Casein-free
• Mostly soy-free
• Low sugar
• Red #40 free
• Artificial sweetener-free
• MSG Free
• Mostly fluoride-free
• Teflon-free
• High fructose corn syrup-free
• Toxic metals, such as copper and aluminum - free
• Avoiding added folic acid
  
  

...and it was tricky, especially the first 2 weeks. I had to re-learn how to plan menus, shop, buy and store food and how to cook. Yes - I said how to cook. Recipes and foods that I had already converted over to being (what I thought was) healthy... well – those foods were now no longer healthy for Nicolas. In fact, the food I was giving him was bad for him - and that's an awful fact and feeling. But it’s the truth… and the truth, in this case – will set him free.

I won’t lie - it was a discouraging and frightening discovery, when I realized that his poor little body could not handle certain foods and that he really was "imbalanced". I didn’t want to believe it. As a parent, it was my "job" to care for him and obviously, I wanted what is best for him... and I couldn't provide it, and I didn't know how. Clearly God intervened in our lives by guiding us and providing us with tools (books) and friends with similar situations. That's another bloggy subject for another day! I have a lot to say today.

We have added a new component to Nick's diet - but just for a month 0 I hope. We are going to tame the “yeast beast” inside our son by going...(ta-da) -- yeast free. No yeast or yeast foods. The anti-yeast food list is long and might surprise you!

Once again, I am glad to (attempt to) explain why we are doing what we are doing. By going on a GF-GF diet, we have been able to experience first-hand, some improvement with our son. Simply put, the gluten (wheat protein) and casein (milk protein) are improperly digested by Nicolas’ body; they then break down into opiate peptides, and subsequently cause a drugged/zoned-out demeanor, which is behavioral. I don’t know how else to keep saying it.

Kids “in the spectrum” or that have an ASD (autism spectrum disorder) have “allergies”… to certain foods, which cause a cerebral allergy, with behavioral effects. When the opiate "high" effect wears off, the kiddo feels bad and craves more of the offending food or the very food that they shouldn't have, same as an addiction. These foods do become addictive to an ASD child and... when we started, I realized his favorite foods were ALL foods that he should not be eating (and that we no longer eat). I do not see this as giving them up, but – rather, simply replacing them with other healthier choices. And yes – our emergency travel food that it readily available at most gas stations is - Frito’s -- which are now “healthy”. (Check the label on a bag of Frito’s the next time you buy some; you’ll be surprised, especially if you compare it to the labels of Cheetoh’s or Doritos!)

Most ASD, ADD and ADHD kids have other food sensitivities or allergies that we do not see the physical signs and symptoms of: hives, rashes and swelling; but what we do see are: body aches, headaches, mild diarrhea, disorientation, irritability, depression, hyperactivity and unpredictable behavior. Without knowing that food allergies and improper digestion are causing these symptoms, I do understand why parents automatically choose medications for ADD/ADHD to deal with the symptoms - without treating the cause. We are not doing that. By using biomedical DAN! treatments, we are treating the symptoms by treating the causes. Slowly, and with God's help, we will get our son back.

I will attempt to explain the yeast connection more tomorrow. Here is one attempt...

The antibiotic connection to the anti-yeast diet - Why so much interest in antibiotic use history? Because antibiotics help the yeast Candida albicans grow in the intestinal tract. Candida albicans make toxic chemicals which harm the brain.

The yeast Candida albicans can be found inside of our intestinal tract, mouth and in the female genital tract. Sometimes this yeast overgrows and the doctor recognizes this overgrowth of yeast as a yeast infection of the female genital tract or in the mouth, where this infection is commonly called thrush.

Bacteria also reside inside the intestinal tract, sharing space with yeast. Antibiotics kill bacteria, not yeast. After the use of antibiotics the yeast grow to fill in the space left by the removal of the bacteria. Yeast make chemicals which kill bacteria, which enables the yeast to grow at a higher level, even after the antibiotics have been stopped.

Yeast make a number of chemical compounds which are then picked up and absorbed into the body. These compounds are toxic to the nervous system. These chemicals slow the brain down (so that the brain no longer works correctly); and - these chemicals should be cleared by the liver so that these chemicals never reach the brain. However in some people, these chemicals are apparently not cleared, reach the brain, and cause mental symptoms.

There are also chemicals in the diet which slow the brain down. Barley malt, the raw material for making beer, contains twenty chemicals which slow the brain down. Vinegar also contains such chemicals.

The combination of chemicals from internal yeast and from food could partially account for brain slowing in ASD children.

The important reason to look at yeast as a major contributor to autism and ASD's is that yeast is easily and safely treatable.

Why the GF/CF Diet?

Q: Why the GF/CF Diet?

A: Because I don't know what else to do - to be honest.

I just wanna survive the holidays. Usually I would have baked 5-8 different kinds of cookies, half a dozen different candies, toffees, fudge, etc. Not this year. Sugar is evil to Nicolas. It does very bad things to him. So, I will have to buy my Christmas candy and hide it. And eat it all myself. I will, if the Hubs doesn't' find it. He seems to be able to sniff out my hiding stashes. It must be his "gifting", cuz it sure isn't figuring out what's happened to Nick. I mean, he seems to still think it's my parenting style. Duh... He might just be getting a lump of coal... just kiddin'. He knows. He has to. Doesn't he?

What is GFCF?

Gluten is more than just wheat – it’s grains like wheat, barley, oats and rye. Casein is the protein found in all things dairy – more specifically, anything juiced from a mammal – including cow’s milk, sheep, goat and human breast milk. Labels that say “wheat-free” do not necessarily mean gluten-free and certainly not GFCF. Dairy-free isn’t casein-free. Lactose is milk sugar. Lactose-free isn’t casein-free either. Organic doesn’t mean GFCF. Organic milk still comes from a cow and organic wheat is still wheat. Reading labels and understanding the difference is crucial. Gluten-free also includes things that do not have gluten in them but are either grown near them or processed in a facility with them, contaminating them, such as millet and oats. Here is a list of common hidden sources of gluten.

What is organic?

Organic foods are produced according to certain production standards. For crops, it means they were grown without the use of conventional pesticides, artificial fertilizers, human waste, or sewage sludge, and that they were processed without ionizing radiation or food additives. For animals, it means they were reared without the routine use of antibiotics and without the use of growth hormones. In most countries, organic produce must not be genetically modified.

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STAGE ONE	STAGE ONE REMOVE ALL DAIRY (CASEIN) More Information
STAGE TWO	STAGE TWO REMOVE ALL GLUTEN More Information
STAGE THREE	STAGE THREE: ADVANCED DIETARY INTERVENTION FOR CONSIDERATION: Some children may be allergic or intolerant to soy , corn or other food.
STAGE FOUR	STAGE FOUR: ADVANCED DIETARY INTERVENTION FOR CONSIDERATION: Artificial (synthetic coloring) Artificial (synthetic flavoring) Aspertame (nutrasweet, an artificial sweetener) Artificial (synthetic preservatives BHA, BHT, TBHQ) For more information contact: The Feingold Assocation www.feingold.org 554 East Main Street Suite 301 Riverhead, NY 11901 1-800-321-3287 (U.S. only) 1-631-369-9340
STAGE FIVE	ADDITIONAL NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS

"The GFCF Diet is one of the very first recommendations made by the Autism Research Institute. It is considered to be a cornerstone of the DAN! Approach. The reasons are many: first, many of the children lack the [dpp4] enzyme that allows them to break down the peptides from gluten and casein. As a result, a subset of autistic individuals have these improperly digested proteins which cross the intestinal membrane, travel in the blood, pass through the blood-brain barrier and interfere with neurotransmission. When this happens, Dr. Karl Reichelt, M.D., Ph.D., and other researchers have shown that these opioid-like substances can be responsible for poor attention, odd behavior, a deficit in socialization skills and poor speech.

Conversely, when gluten- and casein-based foods are removed, there can be an initial drug-withdrawal phase [when symptoms can worsen], followed by improved behavior, better attention, at times improved speech and an increase in socialization skills."
Maureen H. McDonnell, R.N., DAN! Conference Coordinator and former DAN! clinician

For autistic children, their bodies do not process gluten (wheat) and casein (dairy) correctly and cause an opioid reaction and like all opioids (heroin, etc.) they need to feed their habit with more of the same. They come out of their fogged state with their senses emerging. They reduce their dangerous climbing, can feel pain and are clearer and more compliant. DO NOT GO COLD TURKEY, as you will have an ugly withdrawal reaction as any addict would.

We cannot stress enough the importance of reading labels on all of your food purchases. While we strive to have our lists of foods as accurate as possible, some food manufacturers are known to change their ingredients without warning. Some of these foods may still be included on our list without our knowledge of ingredient changes. If you come across any changes, please contact us by email as soon as possible products@gfcfdiet.com

Laboratory Testing

We feel that because of the successful improvements seen after strict adherence to the diet, a test for allergies is not always necessary to prompt parents to start using Dietary Therapy. Many parents see dramatic changes the first few weeks. It has been reported that this diet has helped children who have NOT tested positive for gluten and/or casein allergy. However, keep in mind that lab testing may help some parents make the decision to try the diet and stick with the GFCF Diet.

An ELISA blood test measuring IgE and IgG anti-bodies will help you determine your child’s food sensitivities.


Important Suggestions
Start the diet gradually, one meal or one food at a time. That is, for a week , just make dinner gluten free and casein free. Then once you've got that figured out, add in breakfast. Then after that's done, add in lunch and snacks.

Add more foods to your child's diet that are acceptable BEFORE you start the diet. Start introducing rice and potatoes if your child only eats noodles. Add fruits and vegetables to every meal so that you child may eventually try the new foods. The reason this is suggested is the gluten free and casein free substitutes don't really taste like the "real things" they know and love. Rather than having them starve during a a hunger strike, you will have backups in case they reject the gluten-free and casein free substitutes.

Understanding How To Read Labels
This food listed on this website must be used with caution due to the fact that manufacturers change their ingredients without warning. This may be due to changes in the recipe, changes in the ingredients supplied to the manufacturer, or changes in the production & manufacturing methods. Parents and individuals with food allergies and intolerances are responsible for reading the label of all products they intend to use regardless of how the product is represented on this site. Certain unacceptable ingredients may be hidden under the name of natural flavorings. Modified food starch is also a vague term which does not indicate the source of the starch (wheat or corn). Any and all questions and/or concerns about a product should be directed to the manufacturer. This website cannot guarantee that the list of foods are gluten and casein free. This is a guide to calling and verifying that products are gluten and casein free. If anyone has reason to believe that the manufacturing process and or ingredients have changed in the following products and should be either included or deleted, please write to us at products@gfcfdiet.com.

Read all labels, verify that they are gluten and casein free. When in doubt call the company. Toll free numbers have been provided for most of the food listed on this website.

Cross Contamination
Gluten and casein cross contamination is a legitimate concern. Some manufacturers produce food on machinery that is also used to make many different products. The rinsing process on manufacturing lines may well vary between different companies. There are some companies that are not concerned with rinsing their lines but most companies are committed about thorough rinsing. Some manufacturing companies sterilize and clean machinery between each item, using much higher water temperatures than water used in most households. Some of these manufacturing companies insist there is more chance of contamination in a consumer's kitchen due to improper washing of counter tops, plates and utensils or pots and pans.

Gluten contamination from products which use flour ingredients is harder to control due to airborne flour dust. Dairy cross contamination may be easier to control when lines are washed between manufacturing products since airborne contamination at most times does not exist unless a powdered form is used. It is important for you as consumers to contact companies and tell them these issues are important to you. If you do not tell them, they will not know. Avoiding cross contamination is a personal choice but one that should be based on being informed.

Some other cross contamination considerations are listed below and recommended by the Celiac Organization (They restrict gluten from their diet).

*Use separate baking pans that have never been used with gluten-containing foods. These baking pans should be used only when baking GFCF foods.

*A separate toaster or toaster oven should be used for GFCF breads, waffles, bagels, rolls, etc.

*A separate Waffle iron should be used strictly for cooking regular waffles.

*Cross contamination can also occur when a knife is used for spreading jelly, jams, peanut butter, etc. on breads. The knife can collect crumbs which remain on the utensil after used on regular breads and also gluten free breads. Keep two of the same product, labeling the products which are used for your gluten free family member(s).

*Also keep in mind that purchasing products from bins creates a high risk of cross contamination. Frequently scoops are used in multiple products, hence contamination is likely to occur.