| I think the thing of main importance is to start him on a gluten-free and casein-free diet. (The Specific Carbohydrate Diet and Paleo diets are both naturally GF/CF.) Atkins can also be GF/CF if you are careful.
Gluten and casein are proteins found in certain grains and dairy products, respectively. These proteins can wreak havoc on the body in a multitude of ways, if a person is sensitive or intolerant. A GF/CF diet has been found to lessen or eliminate many symptoms of autism spectrum disorders.
Gluten and casein can hide in many places. You will need to be aware of hidden sources of these two proteins. You said your son eats french fries; if they are from a fast food restaurant, those can be dangerous for a couple of reasons. One, they might not be made in a dedicated fryer, meaning that other breaded items (like onion rings, cheese sticks) made with flour are also cooked in the same fryer. This is cross-contamination. French fries might also be dusted with flour or mystery "seasonings" to prevent sticking or clumping.
Other non-obvious sources of gluten include, but are not limited to: soy sauce, salad dressing, meatballs, chocolate, flavored potato chips, shampoo, chapstick, hand soap, hair gel, dog food, envelope glue, etc. It's not just what your son will be eating, but ALL products he will use or encounter.
Casein is the protein found in dairy. Butter and cream, though Atkins-legal and very high in fat, still contain small amounts of casein. You also mentioned cream cheese--all cheeses have quite a bit of casein in them. Casein-free means finding dairy alternatives. For a butter substitute, try Earth Balance, coconut oil, spectrum shortening, or ghee. Soy milk, rice milk, and almond milk are casein- and lactose-free, though many people who have intolerances to gluten and casein also have difficulties with soy protein. Many dairy-alternative cheeses contain casein, but I believe there are a few out there made from almond and rice milk that are casein-free.
Casein can hide in many places too, just like gluten.
Some manufacturers are VERY good about listing the top 8 allergens. Kraft, McCormack, ConAgra are a few that will clearly list any of the top 8. Of course, you still have to check ingredients, but many companies will list the sources of natural flavors and ingredients. | |
February 24th, 2009, 10:54 AM
Re: I want to put my son on Atkins 
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