Research into diet and its link to diseases and disorders continues as keenly as ever and I was particularly interested in an article by Paul Whiteley on the subject of gluten intolerance and autism.
For those who may not be familiar with Paul’s blog, he uses it “to describe and discuss various research into autism spectrum and related conditions”. We hear from a lot of people who have found that being on a wheat-free and gluten-free diet has really helped reduce some of the symptoms of autism, however, there is still no conclusive evidence to explain why this should be the case.
What there is is serious ongoing research and an acknowledgment that for some people their autism is accompanied by sensitivities, very often to certain food types. Paul’s article refers to the growing awareness of gluten sensitivity (non-coeliac gluten intolerance) which can present symptoms similar to coeliac disease, but without the classic flattened villae, for example.
For anyone who either has such a sensitivity, or who has a child with it, they know the huge difference that a change in diet can make. On a case-by-case basis, avoiding wheat and gluten just makes so much sense. I may be wrong, but I got the impression from some customers in the past that where tests for coeliac disease have come back negative, they haven’t always been supported in their conviction that gluten may still be an issue. Hopefully this is something that has now changed.
While it can seem frustrating to hear doctors and medical experts say that they really can’t be sure about what causes certain symptoms, and therefore how to alleviate or cure them, the flip side of this is that as individuals we are best placed to know and understand what makes us feel better. It would not be safe or wise to self-diagnose, to make radical dietary changes without proper professional support, but we can ensure that
our experience is properly heard and taken into account.
No two people are the same, and while there may be common symptoms which allow doctors to identify certain diseases or conditions, the individual experience will still be unique. Our diets, what we fuel our bodies with are so fundamental to wellbeing that it seems obvious that we should make sure they are the best they can be ahead of anything else. Diet may not cure a disease, but if it alleviates symptoms and allows someone to function as they would wish, then it has to be worth exploring.
There is so much that science doesn’t know and what works for one person doesn’t always work in that way for another. What Paul Whiteley’s article tells us is that autism can somehow be influenced by diet – precisely how and to what extent we don’t yet know – and that there is a determination to explore that influence to its fullest extent.
If you would like to share your own experience of how a change in diet has helped you we would love to hear it.
Pure Thoughts 