Family Foodies

Just recapping yesterday I pointed out research that found a possible link between food and autism. Today I will focus on the researchers who are saying there is no link.

As many of you know Jenny McCarthy as well as many other parents out there feel there is a link between vaccinations as well as food allergies that are associated with autism. As of right now I on the side with the vaccinations as I have done some research myself. However as far as autism linked to food allergies that I am not so sure of.

Another study has said that they are finding no links between autism and food allergies. The study was done at the Mayo Clinic that were tracking 124 kids for more then 18 years and they compared them with “typical” children. The findings were that there was no link between illnesses of the stomach and the signs and symptoms we see in children with autism.

Some comments I have seen from other articles were that putting your child on a restricted diet your not giving your children enough nutrients. Your spending way more money then you should have to. Other comments were you should only put your child on Gluten-Free or dairy-free diets after undergoing diagnostic testing.

Dr Samar H. Ibrahim said that there is no actual trial that has proved a gluten-free and casein-free diet improves autism. She also claimed that the diets are not easy to follow  and can sometimes cause nutritional deficiencies.

The physicians who are listed with the organization Defeat Autism Now (which are DAN Doctors) believe there is a link between food and autism.

However, if you look at the large scale medical studies you find that they are often backed with big money from pharmaceutical companies. Which in my opinion I have to wonder what exactly have they been studying over the last 18 years at the Mayo Clinic.

Don’t they listen to facts?

As seen in the beginning of the series I have written you actually heard about parents who have actually adjusted their child’s diet. You also heard about the results. I think that really says something. As we have said there is NO cure for autism it just makes life more comfortable to live with for these kids.

Many parents out there with autistic kids don’t believe in the scientific facts. I think there is way to many large scale studies that are done and when researching they should be more of a small scale study.

Oh and by the way at the end of one article I read they then contradicted themselves and said there is a link between diet and autism. Their opinion was that it wasn’t anything that Defeat Autism Now and Jenny McCarthy was saying. It was the fact that autistic kids are often picky eats. Which because of limited diets have often had more cases of constipation.

Your thoughts?

I would love to hear your thoughts on this! Yes I have to say my autistic son is picky but I also know many “typical” kids who are picky eaters. Are they going to say the same for those “typical” kids? I would love to hear comments from parents who didn’t have children with autism that have their child on special diet!

• Autistic Kids and Food: Does Food Really Affect Kids,Really?
• Autistic Kids and Food:  A Link To Food Intolerance