By Anna Derhak, M.S., L.N., Nutritional Weight and Wellness

Have you ever thought about how nutrition supports your brain? If you are a parent of an autistic child, you may already know that nutrition is critical for your child; study after study agrees with you. From a nutrition perspective, three factors to consider when caring for a child with autism are beneficial fats, balanced blood sugar, and avoiding gluten and dairy.

Autism is a neurological disorder characterized by behavioral issues and impairment of language and social interaction. Significant aggression and irritability are often seen in autistic children, too. Autism can also be accompanied by ADHD, anxiety disorders, depression, or epilepsy.

Over the past few decades, population studies in both the United Kingdom and America have shown a significant increase in the prevalence of autism. In the mid-1980’s, the incidence was as low as 1 in 2500 children. In 2002, the incidence climbed to an alarming rate of 1 in 150 children! Today, it is 1 in 100 children.

As a nutritionist, I know that one of the most important foods for brain wellness is beneficial fat. Sixty percent of the brain is made from fat.  Can you believe it? That means that beneficial fats are the nutrients our brains need to function.

The Omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon and organic egg yolks closely match the fat in our brains. If you eat two organic eggs per day, you are giving your brain the nutrients it needs for focus, memory, and stable moods.

Studies have shown that many children with autism are very deficient in these beneficial fats and that supplementation can help to decrease specific behavioral issues in these children. I have seen the difference Omega-3 fish oils make in my younger clients in reducing ADHD symptoms, decreasing anxiety, and in retaining information they read or need for tests.

Another critical factor for brain wellness is maintaining balanced blood sugar. I have noticed that when my kids have low blood sugar their focus and attention spans suffer. They also get irritable if they haven’t eaten for three hours. This happens because the brain needs a steady supply of glucose. Low blood sugars can lead to low blood flow to the brain, which compounds issues for an autistic child. To keep blood sugar stable, make sure your child eats every three hours. Balanced meals and snacks should include protein (such as poultry, grass-fed beef, fish, eggs, etc.), vegetables or fruit, and healthy fat (olive oil, butter, coconut oil, avocadoes, nuts/seeds).

The third nutrition connection to autism to consider is a gluten-free, casein-free diet. As a nutritionist, I have seen major improvement in autistic children that adhere to a gluten-free, casein-free diet. Behavioral issues that come to mind include showing more affection towards their parents, less obsessive-compulsive behaviors, interacting with other kids in school, and being able to focus on one subject. These changes can usually be seen within the first month of the child being off gluten and dairy products!

So you are probably wondering what gluten and casein are? Gluten is the protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and even oats. For many people, gluten can be inflammatory and irritating to the intestinal lining. These undigested foods can irritate the entire nervous system. Inflammation in the brain can lead to behavioral issues and interfere with the development of the brain. Casein is one of the proteins found in dairy products. It can also be a problem for many children with autism.

A case study conducted in March of 2009 with a 5-year old boy diagnosed with autism at the age of 3 found that he had Celiac disease. The parents immediately took him off gluten and started replenishing his diet to address severe nutrient deficiencies (specifically iron, Omega 3’s, folic acid, and Omega 6’s). Within one month, his gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting, nausea, bloating, diarrhea, and abdominal pain) had cleared up, and his behavior changed dramatically. His mother reported that he told her he loved her and communication was more progressive. After 3 months, his functioning had improved so much he no longer needed an individualized learning program and was integrated into a normal classroom without an aide.

As a nutritionist, I know that healthy brains and healthy bodies require nutritious food. To help all children function better, incorporate these foods daily.

Real food creates healthy brains and healthy bodies. We cannot afford to take something as important as our brains for granted.

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