Gluten-free diet and Autism

Embarking on a gluten-free (GF) journey is often considered a therapeutic path, especially in the context of children with autism. Gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, is not just a dietary element but, for some, a potential key to unlocking health improvements. When a parent follows a gluten elimination diet for their kids , it is important that all foods containing gluten are removed from the child’s daily food intake.

My initiation into the GF realm in December 2019 was not a casual choice but a necessity. My daughter faced severe constipation issues, hindering her potty-training progress. She used to stand and poop which was so painful and traumatic for her. Conventional consultations with pediatricians, endocrinologists, and homeopathic doctors, but none could help her get any relief.

In December 2019, my journey with Autism was hardly a year old. I was in the sulking and sobbing mode, but deep down I knew I had to do something about her constipation before I took up any other skill. Frustrated yet determined, I turned to a nutritionist for an alternative approach.

Introducing a GF diet for my daughter meant bidding farewell to many beloved foods. The sacrifice, though heart-wrenching, proved transformative. Within a month, not only did her constipation alleviate, but her behavior, social skills, and learning exhibited noticeable enhancements.

Tips before starting GF Diet

1. Start the diet slowly- This is one mistake that I made when I started the GF Diet for my daughter. I suggest you don’t take out all gluten-containing foods at once. Let it be a slow and gradual process. Add new gluten-free foods gradually, about one food every 3 to 7 days. If a new food causes a problem, you will know which one it was. It may take 2 to 3 months to become fully gluten free.
2. Buy small amounts of the new foods – Since my kid was very young at that time, I wanted to feed her everything nice that was on the shelf. In this process, I not only bought loads of variety of food but wasted money and food too. Whenever you start GF intervention, buy small packets / quantities of food. Let your child explore and get used to this new taste. Buy them in bulk only when you know your child likes them.
3. Read all food labels– Gluten are found in many forms and go by many different names. Be sure that the product you are buying is not processed in a gluten processing unit.
4. Keep a food and behavior journal – Record what your lil one eats and any behavior change post introduction of the food. In the event that there is an association between specific food varieties and ways of behaving, keeping a diary will assist with recognizing it.
5. Pump up the supplements– Since a lot of food items get eliminated from the diet, it’s important to supplement them in your kid’s system. Always consult your doctor before starting any supplement. Your doctor might ask you to get some blood work done to ascertain the levels before prescribing the medicines. My daughter was prescribed Calcium, Zinc, Magnesium, probiotics and Omega.

Luckily for us , we have a lot of Gluten free options these days. Some restaurants are now categorized as GF friendly. These restaurants are accustomed to serving people on special diets and prepare dishes that adhere to the restrictions of a strict GF diet.

Sharing with you all some of the restaurants in Delhi that serve gluten free food.

Gluten free Restaurants

1.AnnaMaya- Aerocity, Asset No. 1, New Delhi 110037

2.Tamra- 19 Ashoka Road Shangri – La’s – Eros Hotel Level One, New Delhi 110001

3.K3- 4 Lobby Level Asset Area, JW Marriott New Delhi Aerocity, New Delhi 110045

4.Thyme- National Highway 48, Rajokri Rd D Block, 6:Samalkha, New Delhi 110037

5.Spring- Plot 4, Dwarka City Centre Radisson Blu, Sector 13, New Delhi 110075

6.NYC – Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi- National Highway 8 Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi, New Delhi 110037

Gluten free Stores

1.The Celiac Store
A 373 (Behind Sagar Ratna)
Defence Colony Main Market
New Delhi – 110024

2. ATP Mart – Organic & Gluten Free Food Store
Pocket D11, Shop No. 2/40, Sector 8, Rohini, Delhi, 110085

3.The Organicals
Basement, 763/19, Sukhdev Nagar, Arjun Nagar, Kotla Mubarakpur, South Extension I, New Delhi, Delhi 110003

4.Foodbury Retail Pvt Ltd
P44, near Ahlcon Public School, Pandav Nagar, New Delhi, Delhi 110091.

Hope this post gave you some insight about dietary intervention in Autism pertaining to gluten. In my next post, I will write about the types of substitute you can introduce that are naturally gluten free.

Watch this space for more such posts!