The Role of Food in Childhood Illness
Many of the children seen at Caring Medical come for conditions such as autism and ADHD.  In our experience, removing certain foods from a child’s diet may help prevent or alleviate symptoms of such conditions.  Diets consisting of gluten and casein foods have been connected to a number of childhood conditions including allergies, autism, ADHD, eczema, and others.  Gluten is a protein found in grains including wheat, rye, oats, and barley.  Casein is found in milk products.  One of the recommendations that we make first is to eliminate gluten and casein from the child’s diet.

ALWAYS READ THE LABELS

• Gluten may appear on labels as:  flour, graham, wheat germ, wheat bran, wheat starch, gluten, food starch, vegetable starch, vegetable gum, gliadin, glutenin, globulins, peroxidases. 

• Casein may appear on labels as:  casein, caseinate, whey, lactalbumin, sodium caseinate, lactose, cream, non-fat milk solids, calcium caseinate, buttermilk, betalactoglobulin, bovine serum albumin. 

Beyond Gluten and Casein, eliminate the following as much as possible:

• Artificial colorings (look for names like "Red 40" and "Yellow 5" on labels)

• Artificial flavorings (including vanillin)

• Artificial sweeteners (acesulfame-K, aspartame, saccharin, sucralose)

• BHA, BHT, and TBHQ preservatives

• Sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate

• SUGAR

So, what IS allowed?   

You can still provide your child with a balanced diet and shop at a regular grocery store while implementing a gluten and casein free diet.  Meats, vegetables, and fruits are allowed.  Eggs and nuts are allowed, after 1 year of age.    

• Gluten substitutes: Rice products, soybean products, amaranth products, potato starch, and corn products. 

• Dairy substitutes: Soy milk, rice milk, almond milk, coconut milk, vegan cheeses.

 Remember, a child knows no difference between health and junk food.  If you don’t introduce fast foods or other junk foods, the child does not know the “bad” calories he or she is missing.  The child will also not miss dairy foods and wheat products if he or she is not served them.  For instance, the child knows no difference between vegan cheese and other cheeses.  The next time you are shopping pick up a few new products to introduce to your child, and your family.  Also, check out some of the internet grocers who specialize in gluten and casein free foods.         

For more information on implementing and following a gluten and casein free diet, or if you are interested in testing your child for food allergies, call Caring Medical for a consult.  Children can be tested for food allergies at 15-18 months.  It is best to try and maintain a gluten-free and casein-free diet through the time they are old enough to do this.  Visit our Tips for Parents link to see how to make your child as comfortable as possible on his or her visit. 

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Patient Information: Caring Medical and Rehabilitation Services
715 Lake Street Oak Park, IL (708)-848-7789

• Although there are many studies suggesting the benefits of nutritional and herbal supplementation, there is not enough evidence to suggest that supplements, in general, have any beneficial effect on health and disease.
• Not everyone will benefit from taking nutritional supplements.
• Before taking any supplement contact your health care provider.
• The information in this newsletter should not be used as a self-help guideline. We are not responsible for the use or misuse of this information. The information presented here does not constitute a physician-patient consultation. Every attempt is made to insure accuracy, however, it is up to the reader to confirm any information through other sources. Not responsible for errors or omissions.