Introduction
Gluten Free Casein Free (GFCF) is an elimination diet of gluten (found in wheat flour, barley, and rye) and casein (found in milk and dairy products). In some cases children with autism are sensitive or allergic to foods containing dairy (casein) and gluten and may experience behavioral issues such as, hyperactivity, temper tantrums, problems with eye contact, and speech skills. It is believed that some of these behaviors are reactions to the discomfort of digestive problems due to gluten and casein. The GFCF diet has reported improvement in children's behavior, social, speeches and learning skills. If you notice some of the symptoms mentioned above you should seek advice from your doctor about starting a GFCF diet.
Related Sites
Managing Autism Symptoms through Nutrition Description: The article outlines the nutritional status of children with autism with charts on common supplements to the diets of children with autism. In addition the article discusses different dietary approaches to managing symptoms of autism.
Gluten-Free/Casein-Free Diets for Autism Description: Article describing the GFCF diet and how it works.
Books
Tools
Parent Forums/Blogs
Some forums require you to sign in to Yahoo or Facebook to locate forum names.
Forum/Blog Name: GFCF Community Bulletin Board Description: You may click on your state and find support groups of parents implementing a GFCF diet.
Forum/Blog Name: The GFCF Recipes Group Description: This group is for sharing recipes for the GFCF diet. There are several families who have kids that are on such diet(s) but they struggle to find good recipes for their kids and there are families who created or know excellent GFCF recipes. Let us share so all our kids can enjoy all those tasty GFCF dishes.
Consumer Corner
Community Library
Gluten- and Casein-free Dietary Intervention for Autism Spectrum Conditions Description: The authors examine evidence suggestive that a gluten- and casein-free diet (GFCF) can ameliorate core and peripheral symptoms and improve developmental outcome in some cases of autism spectrum conditions.
Autism and the Gluten-Free, Casein-Free (GFCF) Diet Description: This article apprises families about current research regarding the GFCF diet, and help them determine whether it is best suited to their child and family lifestyle.