The Essential Diet for Children with Autism

By Natasha Campbell-McBride MD. Copyright Reserved

After the publication of my article in The Autism ile !issue "# Autumn $%%%& on nutritional
management of our son Nicholas# ' get a lot of phone calls from parents as(ing# )hat diet )ould
be most appropriate for their autistic child. There is a lot of confusing information on this sub*ect
and it can be difficult to ma(e sense out of it. After years of research and e+perimenting# )e
developed a diet# that ' firmly believe# is most appropriate for our children. This is the diet that
made an enormous difference to our son Nicholas.
A gluten and casein free diet is )ell (no)n and has got a solid scientific basis behind it.
,o)ever# there is much more to your child-s nutritional management# than *ust cutting out gluten
and casein.
.et us start from the very beginning.
' believe in Nature. Nature made us and at the same time it provided us )ith every food )e need
to stay healthy# active and full of energy. ,o)ever# )e have to eat these foods in the form Nature
made them. 't is )hen )e start tampering )ith the natural foods# )e start getting into trouble.
Any processing# that )e sub*ect the food to# changes its chemical and biological structure. /ur
bodies )ere not designed to have these changed foods0 The more food is processed# the more
nutrient depleted and chemically altered it becomes. Apart from loosing its nutritional value#
processed food looses most of its other properties1 taste# flavour# colour. 2o# to compensate for
that# various chemicals are added1 flavour enhancers# colours# all those 3 - additives and
preservatives# - all those chemicals# that have conclusively been sho)n to contribute to learning
disabilities# psychiatric disorders and other health problems. 'f )e loo( at the supermar(et
shelves# )e )ill see that the bulk of processed foods are carbohydrates. All those morning
cereals# crisps# biscuits# breads# pastas# chocolates# s)eets# *ams# sugar# preserved fruit and
vegetables# fro4en pre-coo(ed meals )ith starches and batter are highly processed carbohydrates.
5e )ill e+amine them one at a time. But first# let-s loo( at them as a group.
All carbohydrates in foods get digested and absorbed as glucose. Nature provided us )ith plenty
of carbohydrates in the form of fruit# vegetables and cereals. 5hen )e eat them in the natural
untampered form# the carbohydrate part of them gets absorbed slo)ly# producing a gradual
increase in blood glucose# )hich our bodies )ere designed to handle. 6rocessed carbohydrates
get absorbed very 7uic(ly# producing a very rapid increase in blood glucose. No)# blood
glucose is one of those factors )hich our bodies go to great lengths to (eep )ithin certain limits#
because both
high and lo) values are harmful. A rapid increase in blood glucose# called hyperglycaemia# puts
the pancreas into a shoc( state to pump out lots of insulin very 7uic(ly to deal )ith the e+cessive
glucose. As a result# about an hour later the person has got a very lo) level of blood glucose#
called hypoglycaemia. Did any of you notice that after eating a morning cereal for brea(fast you
feel hungry again in an hour. That is hypoglycaemia. 5hat do people usually have at that time in
the morning to satisfy their hunger8 A biscuit# a chocolate bar# a coffee or something li(e that#
and the )hole cycle of hyper - hypoglycaemia begins again. This up and do)n blood glucose
roller-coaster is e+tremely harmful for anybody# let alone our autistic children. 't has been
proven that a lot of hyperactivity# aggression and other behavioural abnormalities in school
children are a direct result of this glucose roller-coaster. The hyperglycaemic phase produces a
feeling of a 9high9 )ith hyperactive tendencies and self-stimulation in our children# )hilst the
hypoglycaemic phase ma(es them feel un)ell# often )ith a headache# bad mood# tantrums and
general fatigue# )ith e+cessive s)eating.
Most foods have been assigned )hat is called a 9glycemic inde+9 - an indicator of ho) 7uic(ly
they increase the blood glucose after being ingested. 6rocessed carbohydrates# including sugar#
have got some of the highest glycemic inde+es# as )ell as )hite rice# coo(ed potatoes and
coo(ed carrots and peas. 't is best to give an autistic child carbohydrates )ith lo) glycemic
inde+es - ra) fruit and vegetables# and some )hole cereals that you coo( yourself. ructose has
got a lo) glycemic inde+. A natural form of fructose is unprocessed honey !a lot of honeys sold
in the shops have been heat treated# )hich destroys valuable en4ymes and other nutrients# and
gives honey a higher glycemic inde+&. 5e use it as the only s)eetener allo)ed in our house. But#
even honey is given to our son rarely and in moderation.
Another important point about processed carbohydrates is their detrimental effect on the gut
flora. ' tried to describe the crucial role of the normal gut flora in the health of an autistic child
in The Autism ile !issue "# autumn $%%%&. 6rocessed carbohydrates feed pathogenic bacteria
and fungi in the gut# promoting their gro)th and proliferation. Apart from that they ma(e a
)onderful glue-li(e environment in the gut for various )orms and parasites to ta(e hold and
develop. All these micro-creatures produce to+ic substances going into the blood stream and
literally 9poison9 the child. The more processed carbohydrates you give your autistic child# the
more 9to+ic9 he )ill become and the more autistic symptoms you )ill see.
Recent scientific evidence suggests# that autism may be an autoimmune disorder. An
imbalance bet)een t)o ma*or arms of the immune system1 the Th: and Th$ immunity has been
found in autistic children to have overactive Th$ and suppressed Th:. The same picture is seen
in many chronic diseases - viral# bacterial# parasitic# cancer# allergies# asthma and other
autoimmune conditions. Processed foods, particularly processed carbohydrates and sugar,
directly weaken the functioning of macrophages, natural killer cells and other white blood
cells and undermine systemic resistance to all infections. or e+ample# an immune
compromised person# !li(e an autistic child& )ho has soft drin(s and french fries or crisps daily#
)ill )orsen their condition by these food choices. An appropriate nutritional management is an
essential part of dealing )ith an immune imbalance. As ' tried to describe in the "
th
issue of The
Autism ile# the gut flora plays a ma*or part in the normal functioning of the immune system. A
po)erful probiotic# li(e 6rimal Defense# )ill not only restore the normal gut flora but rebalance
the Th: and Th$ parts of immunity.
.et us have a loo( at various forms of those processed carbohydrates.
5e )ill start )ith morning cereals. They are supposed to be healthy# aren-t they8 ;nfortunately#
the truth is *ust the opposite. Morning cereals are highly processed carbohydrates# full of sugar#
salt and other substances. They have a high glycemic inde+ and are detrimental to the gut flora
balance. The fibre in them is full of phytates - substances )hich bind essential minerals and ta(e
them out of the system# contributing to the mineral deficiencies. There is nothing healthy in them
for an autistic child.
Crisps and chips !and pop-corn&# a bac(bone of children-s diet no)adays# are highly processed
carbohydrates )ith high glycemic inde+es. But that is not all about them. They are saturated )ith
vegetable oil# )hich has been heated to a very high temperature. Any oil# that has been heated#
has got substances# called trans-fatty acids. These are unsaturated fatty acids )ith altered
chemical structure. 5hat they do in the body is to replace the vital omega-< and omega-= fatty
acids in cellular structure# ma(ing cells in a )ay disabled. Consuming trans-fatty acids )ill
increase the activity of Th$ and )ea(en Th: immunity. As you remember# the Th: immunity is
already suppressed in autistic children and Th$ - overactive. Cancer# heart disease# ec4ema#
asthma# neurological conditions and even the famous cellulite have been lin(ed to trans-fatty
acids in the diet.
Wheat. The gluten free diet is )idely recommended and a lot of families )ith autistic children
found it very helpful. But# let us have a loo( at )heat as a )hole )ith gluten or )ithout it.
>irtually nobody buys )heat as a grain and coo(s it at home. 5e buy foods made of )heat flour.
The flour arrives to ba(eries in pre-pac(aged mi+es for different (inds of breads# biscuits and
pastries. These mi+tures are already processed )ith the best nutrients lost. Then they are
9enriched9 )ith preservatives# pesticides to (eep the insects a)ay# chemical substances to
prevent it absorbing moisture# colour and flavour improvers# softeners# *ust to mention a fe).
Then the ba(ery ma(es breads# pastries# ca(es# biscuits# etc. out of these chemical coc(tails for
us to eat. The producer is 7uite happy to ta(e the gluten out of these mi+tures and ma(e gluten
free products. 2o# you )ill get all the processed carbohydrate )ith all the chemical additives in it
# but this time )ithout gluten. /nce s)allo)ed# a piece of )hite bread turns into a glue-li(e
mass# )hich feeds parasites and pathogenic bacteria and fungi in the gut# contributing to the
general to+ic overload# your child already has got. ' strongly believe# that autistic children should
not have )heat in any shape or form. Being a staple in the )estern )orld# )heat is also a number
one cause of food allergies and intolerances.
ugar and anything made with it. 2ugar )as once called a 9)hite death9. 't deserves :%%? of
this title. The consumption of sugar in the )orld has gro)n to enormous proportions in the last
century. 't is estimated that an average )estern person consumes about :=% - $%% pounds of this
unnatural substance per year. 2ugar is every)here and it is hard to find any processed food
)ithout it. Apart from causing the blood glucose roller-coaster and having a detrimental effect on
the gut flora# it has been sho)n to have a direct damaging effect on the immune system !)hich is
already compromised in our children&. /n top of that# to deal )ith the sugar onslaught# the body
has to use available minerals# vitamins and en4ymes at an alarming rate# finishing up being
depleted of these vital substances. An autistic child should not have sugar in any form. Ca(es#
s)eets# and other confectioneries are made )ith sugar and )heat# as the main ingredients# plus
lots of chemicals li(e colours# preservatives# flavourings# etc.. 't goes )ithout saying that they
should be out of your child-s diet !)ith or )ithout gluten&. or birthdays and other rare occasions
home made ca(es )ith honey instead of sugar and ground almonds !or other ground nuts& can be
made. ' )ould highly recommend a boo( by 3laine @ottschall 9Brea(ing The >icious Cycle9#
'2BN %-A=A$B=C-:-C. 't has got some )onderful recipes as )ell as a good insight into nutrition.
2oft drin(s are a ma*or source of sugar in children-s diets# not to mention all the chemical
additives. ruit *uices are full of processed fruit sugars and moulds. ;nless freshly pressed# they
should not be in your child-s diet either. Aspartame# a sugar replacement in many drin(s# )as
found to be carcinogenic and should be avoided. 't turns into methanol and its derivatives in the
body. Methanol is a )ell (no)n poison. !ottled mineral or filtered water with a slice of fresh
lemon is the best drink for our children. Drin(ing chlorinated tap )ater )ill further damage
your child-s gut flora# since the chlorine is there to (ill bacteria in the first place.
To summarise# an autistic child should have no processed foods at all in hisDher diet. All foods
should be as close to the )ay Nature made them as possible. resh fish# crayfish# fresh meats
!not preserved&# eggs# fresh vegetables and fruit# nuts and seeds# garlic and cold pressed virgin
olive oil# buc()heat# millet# 7uinoa should be prepared at home from fresh supplies. ' have
deliberately repeated the )ord fresh four times.
ruit and vegetables should be eaten ra) as much as possible in the form of salads# 9stic(s9#
slices# etc.. resh fruit and vegetables are not *ust a good source of various vitamins# minerals#
antio+idants and other nutrients# but they are an e+cellent source of vital en4ymes# )hich autistic
children are lac(ing. Those en4ymes are essential in the deto+ification of the body. 3ating ra)
vegetables )ith meals )ill assist in the digestion of meats and cereals. Coo(ed vegetables and
fruit loose a lot of their nutritional value1 en4ymes and vitamins get destroyed# carbohydrates
change their structure. Carrots# cucumber# peppers# cauliflo)er# broccoli# celery are delicious in a
form of stic(s or rosettes )ith a dip !mayonnaiseE avocado# mashed )ith plenty of cold pressed
virgin olive oil and a dash of lemon *uice# )ith a choice of fish and onions or garlic and tomato&.
Avocado is a )onderfully nutritious fruit and should be a regular part of your child-s diet. ,alf
an avocado )ith pra)ns and mayonnaise or any meat or fish ma(es a 7uic( and delicious meal.
Talking about fruit# there is a lot of confusion in this area. ' al)ays ta(e a very cautious vie) of
any scientific laboratory findings# done on chemically isolated nutrients# )hen the researches say
something li(e this1 9This nutrient is found in apples and oranges# so do not eat apples and
oranges9. Apples and oranges are not made from a laboratory purified substance in 7uestion0 /n
the contrary# they are natural products )ith a very comple+ biological structure. 5ithin that
structure the chemical in 7uestion might behave completely differently to the )ay it behaved in
the laboratory. Fou cannot transfer scientific laboratory findings# done on an isolated nutrient to
a piece of food# made by Nature. 'n a piece of food# for e+ample a piece of fruit# that nutrient is
in a comple+ chemical structure of another big molecule# incorporated into a cell structure of the
)hole fruit. There are plenty of e+amples to illustrate this point. or instance# )e all (no) that
cyanide is a poison. ,o)ever# it is an important part of the vitamin B:$ molecule and )e all
(no)# that )e cannot live )ithout vitamin B:$. Another good e+ample is breast mil(. Breast
mil( has got a very high content of casein. ,o)ever# it is one of the best foods for autistic
children. All parents recall ho) normally their child )as developing# )hile e+clusively breast
fed. 'n fact# in the "
th
issue of The Autism ile there is an article 9Breast eeding Miracle9# )here
a mother brought a lot of improvement in her autistic boy by giving him breast mil( !luc(ily# she
)as breast-feeding her ne+t baby at the time&. ' do not believe in limiting fruit in children-s diet.
An important thing to remember# ho)ever# is to provide as big a variety of fruit as possible and
not to fall into a trap of eating bananas every day. 2ome fruits are particularly beneficial for our
children. resh and fro4en berries are number one and should be eaten as often as possible
!Remember# no sugar0 A bit of cream )ill do no harm.&. Amongst many other beneficial
substances berries contain nitrilosides# essential in deto+ification in the body. 6a)-pa) and
pineapple )ill provide proteolitic en4ymes# )hich our children are lac(ing. ruits should be
eaten on their o)n# not )ith meals# as they have a very different digestion pattern and can ma(e
the )or( harder for the stomach. 2erve fruit as a snac( bet)een meals )ith their s(ins and seeds
!s(ins and seeds have a lot of very valuable nutrients&. "e#er cook fruit$
%eats, fish, poultry, organ meats and eggs should be a large part of your child&s diet. They
need to be bought fresh# not preserved# and coo(ed at home. Meats# fish and eggs are the best
source of most nutrients for us# human beings. Contrary to popular beliefs# most vitamins#
minerals# amino-acids and essential fats come from meats# fish and eggs. The plant foods# li(e
cereals and green leafy vegetables are full of vitamins and minerals# but their bio-availability to
us# humans# is much lo)er# than from animal sources. 5e are not ruminants# )ho have got
special bacteria in their stomachs to digest plants. /ur digestive tracts have been designed to live
largely on meats. 2ome northern people# li(e the 3s(imos# live almost entirely on fish# meat and
fat. They )ere found to be one of the healthiest people on 3arth.
resh eggs deserve a special mention. According to its ability to be digested and absorbed by the
human gut# eggs are the only food that is placed close to breast mil(. Ra) egg yol(s are one of
the best sources of all essential amino-acids# vitamins# minerals and fatty acids in the most
assimilable form. 't is best to buy free range eggs from a source you trust. The egg )hite should
al)ays be coo(ed as in the ra) form it may impair the syntheses of biotin in the gut. But the yol(
is best uncoo(ed0
The 7uestion of salmonella in eggs needs to be addressed. The li(elihood of salmonella
poisoning is very lo) in the ;G# particularly if you buy your eggs from a reliable source.
,o)ever# if you feel uncomfortable )ith eating uncoo(ed yol(s# then coo( them to your li(ing.
't is better to eat coo(ed eggs than no eggs at all. T)o eggs for brea(fast )ill provide your child
)ith daily amounts of many vitamins# including some vit.B# vit.A# vit.3 and vit.D# as )ell as all
those amino-acids# our children are deficient in. .5hen my children )ant a snac(# ' often give
them $ -< ra) egg yol(s - delicious and e+tremely nourishing. They love it0 'nstead of morning
cereals for brea(fast give your child t)o eggs !soft boiled# fried )ith runny yol(s or coo(ed any
other )ay& )ith pure meat sausages !or any other meat&# stir-fried onion and ra) vegetables in
any form. 6our a liberal amount of cold pressed virgin olive oil on the served meal.
't is important to use plenty of onion and garlic in your cooking. /nion has got )onderful
immune-stimulating properties# coo(ed or ra). @arlic is (no)n to have anti-fungal# anti-parasitic
and anti-viral properties as )ell as Th: stimulating ability. ,o)ever# it gets destroyed by
coo(ing very easily. That-s )hy it is important to add it into your dishes at the end of coo(ing !<-
H min before turning the heat off&. Add ra) garlic in minute 7uantities into salads or ready
meals. To start )ith# you can *ust rub some garlic onto your child-s plate before putting the food
on it. As your child )ill get used to the taste of ra) garlic# slo)ly increase the amount. 3ating
garlic coo(ed and ra) on a regular basis )ill do a lot of good to himDher.
(li#e oil has got lots of properties similar to garlic as )ell as being an e+cellent source of oleic
acid - an essential monounsaturated fatty acid# )hich )ill strengthen the Th: arm of your child-s
immune system. Ma(e sure it is cold pressed and virgin and use it liberally on ser#ed dishes. 't is
not a good idea to coo( )ith it# as it has got lots of unsaturated fatty acids )hich )ill be turned
into harmful trans-fatty acids by heating. 't is best to coo( )ith fully saturated fats# li(e ghee#
coconut oil# por( dripping and lard# because they do not alter their structure# )hen heated. They
even can be reused. 2aturated fats have been out of favour in the last decades due to some ill
founded research and misconceptions. 5e need about as much of saturated fats in our diets as
unsaturated. The important point here is that )e should consume natural fats. or e+ample#
butter is much healthier than any so called 9healthy9 synthetic substitutes. All coo(ing and
vegetable oils have been heated to e+treme temperatures in the production process and are full of
trans-fatty acids. 3at fats# that Nature provided us )ith# and you )ill not go )rong. ' )ould li(e
to emphasise# that autistic children need plenty of natural fats. .et them eat the fat on the meats#
the s(in of the chic(en# pour plenty of olive oil on their served meals# give them good cod liver
oil or other source of omega-< fatty acids !D,AD36A& on a daily basis. /mega -< fatty acids#
found in cold )ater fish# reduce '.-= !Th$ cyto(in& and strengthen Th: immunity. Contrary to
popular believes# fat is a preferred source of energy in the human body. The brain and the rest of
the nervous system are largely made of fats.
What about cereals) Cereals generally are hard )or( for the digestive system# particularly for
an unhealthy one. Autistic children do not have a healthy digestive tract# so )heat# oats# rye#
rice #corn# particularly processed# are better out of their diet. ,o)ever# there are some cereals#
)hich# eaten once or t)ice a )ee(# can be beneficial. These are buc()heat# millet and 7uinoa.
They have a relatively high percent of protein in them and are not processed to the same degree
as other cereals. Buc()heat and millet# in particular# have got substances in them# called
nitrilosides# )hich are essential in the deto+ification processes in the body. There are some :"%%
foods that contain nitrilosides. The main ones are1 apricot (ernels# peach (ernels# grape seeds#
apple seeds# blac(berries# blueberries# stra)berries# bean sprouts# lima beans# macadamia nuts.
To coo( a cup of buc()heat# millet or 7uinoa# bring to boil t)o cups of )ater )ith some sea salt#
rinse the cereal under cold )ater and put it into the boiling )ater. Cover and simmer on a very
lo) heat until all the )ater disappears and the cereal is soft. 2erve )ith a handful of pump(in
seeds !or sunflo)er seeds& and olive oil poured on it liberally. Do not forget that cereals are
largely made of starch# )hich )ill feed the Candida colony in your child-s gut and possibly other
pathogens. That-s )hy even buc()heat and millet should be limited until your child-s gut flora
improves.
"uts and seeds are a )onderful source of very good nutrients. They are the best source of
magnesium# 4inc# selenium and other vital minerals in their most bio-available form# )hich our
children all lac(ing. Avoid peanuts# unless you buy them in their shells# (no)n as ground nuts.
All nuts are at their best if you buy them in their shells and crac( them *ust before eating. This
)ay they are an e+cellent source of essential fatty acids and are free of moulds. @round almonds
you can use for ma(ing your o)n bread# panca(es and even ca(es at home !for the recipes loo(
in the boo( by 3laine @ottschall 9Brea(ing The >icious Cycle9& . Nuts and seeds should be a
regular part of your child-s diet.
All autistic children have got faulty digestion. To ma(e your child-s meals easier to digest try not
to serve protein and starch at the same time as they interfere in each other-s digestion. 't means
that# if heDshe is having meat# fish# eggs or other protein foods# serve them )ith vegetables only
!salad or coo(ed& )ithout potatoes# cereals or any other starchy foods. 'f you coo(ed potatoes#
grains or any other starchy foods# serve them )ithout meats# fish# eggs# cheese or any other
protein foods. 'nstead serve them )ith salads or other vegetables. The proportion of
proteinDvegetables on the plate should be :1< !: part of fish for e+ample# < parts of vegetables&.
The same is for starchy meals1 : part of starchy food# < parts of vegetables.
'f you are spending your day out ta(e a pac(ed lunch )ith you !a choice of meats# vegetables#
avocado# fruit# nuts# )ater to drin(&. 3ating out should not be a problem. Choose from the menu
foods that are allo)ed. Most restaurants )ill serve meatsDfish )ith fresh salad instead of chips.
What about lunch bo*es) This is a common 7uestion. 5e order pure meat sausages at our local
butcher. My children have t)o or three of these sausages# tomato# cucumber# carrot stic(s# celery
stic(s# pepper stic(s and a fruit in their lunch bo+es# as )ell as a bottle of mineral )ater to drin(.
2ometimes ' )ould put nuts# panca(es made )ith ground nuts and egg# any meat left from the
night before# salad# pra)ns )ith mayonnaise and chopped onion. /f course# my children get
some unfavourable comments from other children at school# )ho eat chocolate bars# crisps and
ca(es. 5e have to reassure them and e+plain )hy they have lunches# different to other children.
3ducating our son Nicholas about foods is an essential part of his upbringing. ,e has to have a
lifetime of a diet #very different to the one # people are commonly having. As he sees his friends#
eating s)eets and crisps all day long# of course he )ants to do the same. This education process
doesn-t al)ays go smoothly. /nce# after e+plaining to Nicholas )hy he can-t have s)eets and
ca(es# )e )al(ed into our local corner shop. After a fe) minutes Nicholas loudly announced1
9Mummy# is there anything in this shop )ithout bad chemicals89.
't is not al)ays easy to persuade our children to have healthy foods. ' found that the easiest )ay
to introduce ne) foods into my son-s diet is to 7uietly put them in front of him# )hen he is
)atching television. Anything gets munched up )hen he is absorbed by a T> programme.
Behaviour modification !ABA or .ovaas& also has got good )ays to introduce ne) foods.
3verything ' said here may loo( completely over)helming. ' )ould agree )ith you :%%?0 't
too( us years to establish the right diet for our son. 't is not easy$ But# )hat is easy )ith our
children80 2o# please# don-t get disappointed by early failures# persevere. After all you are
ma(ing a change for life. 2o# ta(e it at your o)n stride as slo)ly as you and your child need to.
Thro)ing yourself into the deep end is the best )ay to fail the )hole thing. 'ntroduce foods one
at a time# developing your o)n )ay of coo(ing and serving them. Remember the rule number
one1 cook e#erything as little as possible, do not cook anything that can be eaten raw. An
efficient probiotic# li(e Bio-Gult# )ill help your child to digest and absorb the good meals# you
coo(ed for himDher. ' believe that this diet )ill provide the nourishment# your child both needs
and deserves.
+ood luck$