Nutrition and Diet

Autism, ADHD, Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD), Aspergers, and other disorders can be treated with dietary supplements, a special diet (particularly casein (dairy) free, gluten free, and maybe soy free, and yeast free), and chelation to remove mercury and other heavy metals from the body.

A good webpage on what dietary supplements are needed is at www.kids-autism.com/nutrition.htm

Casein (dairy) Free and Gluten Free

Based on my experience, a change of diet has helped me and my autism.

There were studies done that a change of diet may also help those with Learning Disabilities, Mental Retardation, Schizophrenia, even ADHD or ADD, and other disorders.

Going on a dairy free diet is a known treatment for autism or related disorders.

Here's an article from Dr. Mercola's website: Milk Linked to Autism, Schizophrenia at www.mercola.com/1999/archive/milk_linked_to_autism.htm

I've been on a dairy free (and also wheat/gluten free) diet since June, 1998.  I've been using a dairy free milk from www.vancesfoods.com and it's great for cereal or to drink.  They also have a chocolate milk.  Before, I was drinking Rice Dream, or Soy Milk, which may be found in grocery stores.  A link to a page with some dairy and gluten free tips is at www.eric.byethost.com/diet.htm

Dairy free ice cream may be available in your local store or you can ask them to order some.  Tofutti, Rice Dream, and Soy are some brands.  For more information, check out www.imaginefoods.com

It is recommended to try the diet for a minimum of 3 months to see if you notice improvement, but it may take a full year for casein and gluten to get removed from the brain.

Gluten includes: wheat, barley, oats, and rye.  There are gluten free breads available, which may be available in your local store or you can order special foods online.  Visit my website at www.ericsissom.byethost.com for links to order gluten free and/or dairy free foods.

There's a page on my website at www.autism.byethost.com which explains how being dairy and wheat free helps me and how I know it helps me.

I encourage you to have a blood, urine, or stool test done to see if dairy and/or wheat is affecting or poisoning the brain.  You don't need a doctor to do the urine test or the blood test (you may need to go to a doctors office and have nurses draw the blood).  Unfortunately, some doctors may not believe in the need for a diet, but more doctors are becoming aware of the results the diet has to offer especially for autism.  I encourage everybody to order the test in spike of what your doctor says.  I tested my urine first, then blood to confirm.  The test is called peptides to casein and gluten at Great Plains Laboratory, www.greatplainslaboratory.com.  Or you may contact a DAN doctor in your area to possibility assist you.

Another test to do would be checking the hair for toxic metals.  There's one from BodyBalance called Mineral Check that will check the hair for 9 toxic metals including mercury, and also 11 minerals.  It's better to check the hair because metals may not show up in the blood after 50 days of exposure.  If mercury or other toxic metals are found, you need to go through the process of chelation.  Dr. Amy Holmes, M.D. website at www.healing-arts.org/children/holmes.htm has more information.  Contact a DAN doctor to assist you with chelation.  I heard it's an easier process then most people would think.  A list of DAN doctors is at www.autismwebsite.com/ari/dan/dan.htm

There's a page on my website about possible causes to autism, ADHD or ADD, Epilepsy, Diabetes, Asthma, Bowel Disease, Ear Infections, Alzheimer's Disease, Chronic Diseases, Neurological Disorders, Autoimmune Disorders, and more.

There's a page with links about mercury, vaccines, Thimerosal, lawsuits, environmental, etc. and a list of mercury that is in products.

I heard many baby products contain antimony and arsenic, which are metals, and can be another cause to autism or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.  There's a page on my site with more info about that.

Another thing, digestive enzymes may be taken to improve diet.  I read digestive enzymes may not replace the need for a dairy and gluten free diet from www.gfcfdiet.com/ANDINewsletterEnzymes.htm but in some cases digestive enzymes may even replace the diet.  Visit www.enzymestory.com to read how digestive enzymes helped a child with Asperger Syndrome.  I have a page on my site with more about enzymes.

Don't forget to tell your friends about this site! www.autism.2truth.com and www.ericsissom.byethost.com