Re: Food Challenges

April 24, 2006

We retried all of these, and many other foods, after a few years on the

protocol. My son has been able to handle processed wheat once a week, oats

occasionally and soy anytime he wants. He's also been able to add many other

foods he wasn't able to tolerate before.

Gaylen

April 24, 2006

,

I would go very, very slowly, by giving her a small amount of something,

then waiting and watching, then trying over and over with increasing amounts

as you watch and observe carefully.

My NT daughter had severe food intolerances for a time, and we did a very

strict diet with her. It sometimes took her up to a month to start showing

signs of intolerance to something (her 'thing' was reflux/gagging/vomiting)

so we went very, very slowly when reintroducing foods to her.

Have you tried enzymes with your daughter? That is another way to

reintroduce foods. We reintroduced gluten with my ASD son last December,

very small amounts with Houston enzymes and he did fine. Being able to give

him gluten has really simplified our very busy life, especially since he has

a lot of dietary restrictions (no dairy, soy, corn, limited gluten and lots

of sensory issues so he won't each much else).

Kristy

Food Challenges

We are on a fairly strict GFCFSF which we started before seeing Dr. G and

just continued it after beginning the protocol. We are planning on

introducing some foods this summer (some white flour, soy and goat

cheese). Have any of you done this successfully? I just read a thread on

a different list where people reacted very strongly against challenging

any

foods. I don't want to cause our girl to have a set back, she is doing

well on the protocol and in school. I'm worried about messing around with

her body. She is very excited about the chance to eat cheese pizza again

and I don't want to keep her so restricted if it's not necessary. Any

advice or suggestions would be very appreciated.

Thanks so much,

Responsibility for the content of this message lies strictly with

the original author(s), and is not necessarily endorsed by or the

opinion of the Research Institute and/or the Parent Coalition.

April 25, 2006

We, too, have used enzymes for HNI. You might want to get Di Felice's book

on their use, just so you understand what to expect, side-effects, how they

work, etc. Enzymes made a HUGE difference: I regained my sanity, and we saw

almost immediate, and enormously positive results in our girl's behavior. For

others, the effects are less pronounced. The bottom line is, you're getting more

nutrition to your child's body, and you're helping the body heal itself.

Food Challenges

We are on a fairly strict GFCFSF which we started before seeing Dr. G and

just continued it after beginning the protocol. We are planning on

introducing some foods this summer (some white flour, soy and goat

cheese). Have any of you done this successfully? I just read a thread on

a different list where people reacted very strongly against challenging any

foods. I don't want to cause our girl to have a set back, she is doing

well on the protocol and in school. I'm worried about messing around with

her body. She is very excited about the chance to eat cheese pizza again

and I don't want to keep her so restricted if it's not necessary. Any

advice or suggestions would be very appreciated.

Thanks so much,

Responsibility for the content of this message lies strictly with

the original author(s), and is not necessarily endorsed by or the

opinion of the Research Institute and/or the Parent Coalition.

April 25, 2006

When we started the protocol just over three years ago, Dr. G and I

discussed enzymes as well. He said that you need to be extremely cautious with

which brand/type you use. He actually said it was ok to continue the brand we

were using because it was one of the purer brands without a lot of extras that

could cause issues but perhaps we should do a trial off them to see if it

would improve the allergy situation.

We took them out then and didn't think we saw much difference either way so

just left them out. However, my son didn't gain much weight during the time he

was off them and in hindsight, I think his allergies were a bit worse. We

added them back in several months ago and have found that overall reaction to

foods has lessened and he's gaining weight again. Unfortunately, the company

that made the enzymes merged with another and now doesn't make that particular

kind. We've switched to one that looked about as pure and plain -- Source

Natural's Essential Enzymes -- and haven't seen any allergy signs. Since my

son's

local doctor is monitoring his protocol now instead of Dr. G, I haven't been

able to ask his opinion about this brand. If any of you are considering using

enzymes and you ask him about this brand, I'd be curious to know his opinion.

My son tried Houston's enzymes twice in the years prior to us starting .

He was never able to tolerate them so we never even got to the point of

trying to go off the gfcf diet with them. He's sensative to papaya though so

that

limits the kinds of enzymes he can tolerate.

Gaylen

April 25, 2006

Regarding enzymes, I was so excited when I found out about them, but when I

asked Dr. Goldberg about them a few years ago, he said " No! " So, for any of

you whose kids are patients of Dr. G or are considering that route, enzymes

are not going to be something he approves on the protocol. Sorry to be a

party pooper... I know it would be nice to have a break on the diet!

Caroline

April 25, 2006

Houston's does have an enzyme formulation without the papaya. I know because we

had to change to that. Another brand we've had success with is Enzymedica.

Digest Gold is a good broad spectrum enzyme. I take it and know the difference

when I don't. Our daughter began with that one and tolerated that well before we

moved on to HNI. Gaylen's right: HNI enzymes are very powerful.

Enzymes aren't a license to disobey food restrictions, but they do improve the

value of what we can eat.