Casein

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In answer to:

Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2005 17:07:51 -0600

Subject: casein

I need a study on what the effects casein has on the body when you are autistic

and show the very hyper intolerance to it. My mother-in-law is trying to learn

about the benefits of not including casein in my little one's diet. Does it

actually destroy brain cells like some drugs do? Please if anyone has info. on

this, SEND to me. My private email is jlessard@.... Thank in advance!!

Jenn & Kali 6 months scd non-dairy

and Seroussi, the first well-known proponents of GF/CF diet,

had a very informative Frequently Asked Questions section on their website:

www.autismndi.com

The direct link to the FAQ's page is below. I don't see as their answers are as

in-depth as I have found in the past, but the in-depth answer to your question

may be elsewhere on the website. Also, the original FAQ's that I found so

helpful were listed in the book: Biological Treatments for Autism and PDD by

Shaw, PhD. About 5 years ago, these 2 sources explained well to me how

casein is a protein that breaks down into peptides, and in a leaky (damaged) gut

like our children have, these peptides go straight to the body's systems through

the blood, rather than getting broken down properly to be used like healthy

people may use them. In the brain, these peptides act as an opiate to our kids.

Take the casein out, peptides don't go to the brain, the child's brain is

suddenly functioning more clearly, often described as a lifting of fog by older

children/adults with autism. For my daughter, when we removed the opiate, just

like breaking any addiction to an opiate, she suddenly didn't crave (i.e.

demand!) the opiate anymore--her repertoire of foods increased and she suddenly

starting eating things other than chicken nuggets and fries. It is a " vicious

cycle " that's in our grasp to break.

http://www.autismndi.com/faq/

P.S. I hope the mother-in-law's interest is to help Kali, not to disprove this

as hogwash. (I fear for you that the latter is the case, particularly because

it's Thanksgiving week and relatives tend to be less understanding of diet

restrictions when it's time to lay out the traditional feast.) I know what it's

like to have in-laws doubt every choice you make, no matter that your choices

have brought about obvious improvement. Likely, no matter what you do, this

type of person's judgment of you and negativity won't change. So, hand them

books and printouts from the internet (which they probably won't read, if

they're like my in-laws) but don't let anyone make you doubt your choices for

your daughter. Get your affirmations and doubts from how Kali is doing, not

from anyone who doesn't have experience raising or being a hurting child.

Nannette, IBS, SCD 2 months

daughter, , autism, 13yo, SCD 2 months