Gluten and Caseiin

Free-Mealer: THE GF/CF DIET: What, Why & How

"What is Gluten & Casein?
ASD children tend to be intolerant - not necessarily allergic - to gluten (wheat) and/or casein (milk). In simple terms, in normal functioning bodies, the peptides of these two items: gliadorphin and casomorphin are derived from, respectively, the wheat and milk proteins and are typically broken down into smaller amino acids during the digestive process and absorbed or eliminated. However, in most Autistic/ASD children, this breaking down into the smaller amino acids does not occur and instead, the peptides leak through tiny perforations in the gut, cross the blood-brain barrier and enter the brain. In peptide form, gluten and casein act as opiates, similar to morphine, in the brain. Thus children often appear to be “in their own world” and seem to not feel pain. Like any addict, Autistic/ASD children who are intolerant to these, tend to self-limit to these foods so they can continue to get their "high". For some, the fixation on the "offending" foods can be obsessive and some will throw tantrums if they don't get it, or until they get it."

I'm still 'barking up this tree'. I cannot begin to tell you the sense of frustration that I've been undergoing. I tried to remove dairy from my son's diet several days ago...he almost immediately started wetting his pants (after having been potty trained for several years), started showing more agression and complaining of a pain in his forehead. Since my husband wasn't 100% on board with all of this...he went along...but that was about it...he lacked knowledge and I lacked the strength to be convincing. So...we stopped it.

Now a week later, it's starting to ease off a bit...but not quite back to where he used to be...we need to constantly remind him to go to the bathroom and so forth. We took him to his doctor just to rule out uti and so forth and all is well. So...now I'm starting to think that we were on the right track to begin with. Do I have the energy and strength to do this all over again...with very little support? It's not something that I even want to mention to our doctor. SIGH!