Women's Focus - December 2007 - (Page 40)

focus on H E A LT H A U T& I S M Autistic sensitivities are most common with grains and milk products containing gluten. Flour, bread, pizza, cookies, brownies, pretzels and pancakes are just some of the many culprits. Casein foods such as soy, eggs and peanuts also offer sensitivities. “Some people just cannot digest gluten and casein,” says Jeremy Baptist, M.D., and Ph.D., for Allergy Link of Kansas City. “Kids generally get better once the wheat and casein are removed from the diet.” Nutritional requirements are not the only factor examined when treating autism. Other considerations include toxins, mercury, deficiencies, and both allergy and environmental factors. In some cases, lead from vaccines may be an issue. “Autistic children are more sensitive to the toxic insults compared to a normal child or an adult because their brains are still developing,” says Dr. Baptist. Improvement time varies with each person. It can take months to work out specific details of the diet and see the benefits, including less constipation and diarrhea. Testing methods involve blood, urine and stool. the Gluten-free Diet Imagine your panic as your two-year-old boy spins around, babbles, then slowly withdraws from the world. This scenario is common in children preceding a diagnosis of autism. Rose Shoemaker’s son, Justin, was diagnosed with classic autism when he was two. Justin began showing signs of the disorder when he was just nine-months old. He was lining up his toys, not turning when his named was called, screaming and spinning in circles. He also had severe loose stools. Shoemaker started doing some research and stumbled onto the glutenfree diet. It inspired her and gave her hope for her incredible boy. Justin, now close to three years-old, is a new little man. He stopped spinning in circles, is much happier and has normal bowel movements. “I tell anyone who will listen to try the diet,” says Shoemaker. “It’s not hard with all the new products available.” Gluten-free foods can be found at many grocery and natural food stores. GreenAcres Market, in Bradley Fair, carries a large variety of gluten-free products. Pamela’s Products, a 20-year-old natural foods company, features wheat and gluten-free foods. Pamela uses a combination of ingredients including different kinds of rice, tapioca starches, rice flours and potato starches. Pancake, brownie and cake mix selections of Pamela’s products can be found at GreenAcres Market. Local resident Mark Eddins says his son Evan has been on the diet about one-month, and is already more focused, improving in school and saying a couple of words. Six-months tends to be the greatest benchmark for seeing the diet’s effects. Justin is more coherent and social. He makes eye contact, has started speaking in sentences and is at his age level on many things. “I believe the medical community is becoming more aware of this treatment,” says Baptist. “At the moment, this is still a new concept. Eventually they will accept it.” Being pro-active is very healing and hopeful. That is why Shoemaker began a local Autism support group, U.P. Autism. It meets two evenings each month, with the location rotating between the east and west sides of Wichita. The next meeting will be December 20th at 7 p.m. For more information visit www.autism.meetup.com/337 or e-mail rosemule@yahoo.com. ~Natalie KarliN W o m e n s F o c u s • w w w. F o c u s O n . c o m • D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 7 40 http://www.autism.meetup.com/337 http://www.FocusOn.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Women's Focus - December 2007

Women's Focus - December 2007 Contents BEAUTY & FASHION Quick Change Wichita's Next Top Model Contest FACTS & FUN 12 Months of Shoes Organizing Christmas Stocking Stuffers and Last Minute Gifts Indulge Yourself: Harley Davidson Save the Date FLAVOR Christmas Entrees in Focus Winter Vines FAMILY & FRIENDS Cathy Carrier Forget Me Not Gal: Brenda Glidewell In Her Shoes: Larry Doss Kissin' Tells: KZSN Survey Results Sierra's Stars: Daniel Richardson Social Circle HEALTH Ask Dick & Jane Austism and A Gluten-Free Diet Endometriosis & Infertility Lexi's L.A.M.B.S. Losing Big HOME & GARDEN Crafts: Gingerbread Ornament Don't Bark Up the Wrong Tree This Christmas Holiday Homes Poinsettia Passion That's A Wrap Winter Wonders TRAVEL & LEISURE City Culture Share a Love of Reading with Your Child

Women's Focus - December 2007

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