A Resource for Parents on how to help their child with Autism
What to Avoid when going Allergen Free
There is a light at the end of tunnel. Just because you can't eat the stuff you used to LOVE, doesn't mean that there isn't a way to replace those foods with foods that are just as good and much healthier. If you allow yourself to get comfortable with the change, then YES, these new alternatives can TASTE way better than the old foods. Trust me, give it time and it does get better, easier and tastier.
Getting down to business you first need to purchase from the Produce, Meat and Organic sections only. I suggest completing most of your shopping in the organic and Gluten Free Aisles, unless getting pasta sauce, which I recommend switching to buying Passata (in a glass jar) as proposed by my dietitian. This way you eliminate buying anything in a can, which is beneficial because these foods usually contain preservatives and may have a BPA lining. Not to mention the food is sitting in a metal can that can possibly be giving off toxins from the metal. Lastly, make sure to read all of the ingredients on the packaging to make sure there is no dairy, gluten, preservatives or any other additives that is not good for your body.
Dairy
Dairy is considered to be any food or beverage made from mammals milk. The reasons to avoid dairy are: antibiotics, hormones and what they are feeding these animals. The famous quote I have heard many times before.... "You are what you eat or What you eat you become."
Gluten
This is a protein found in wheat and other grains such as barley, triticale and rye. The reason for so many gluten intolerances is due to an increase in consumption of wheat products and hybridization. I also believe gmo's may also contribute and play factor in it.
Preservatives/ Additives
The preservatives that I'm suggesting you avoid are chemicals that are added to food, which are utilized to keep them from going bad. Additives also help with the preservation of food, and may also aid with giving the food a better flavour. Some commonly known names of preservatives are: sorbates, nitrates, sulphites, benzoates and propionates. Really words I have a hard time pronouncing. This should not be in our foods. Please avoid can products as much as possible and make sure to read all ingredients when buying canned or boxed food. During a grocery tour with my dietitian she pointed out that even dried apricots have preservatives. Reading ingredients is very important since it gives us a better idea of what we are consuming.
Refined Sugar and Artificial sweetners
As I have done some thorough research I have come to realize that the topic of sugar and artificial sweetners can be really complicated to understand. I have gained valuable knowledge about the different types of sugars and artificial sweetners that are contained within the foods we consume. So try to avoid any refined sugars (powdered, sanding, granulated) and Artificial Sweetners such as: Acesulfame potassium, Aspartame, Neotame, Saccharim,Advantame and Sucralose.
Casein
Yeast
This is a protein found in milk, which makes up 80 percent of the protein in cow's milk and only approximately 20-45 percent in human's milk. Our bodies should not be ingesting a high amount of this protein. At a young age, humans should be exposed to their mother's milk in order to obtain all of the nutrients and health benefits contained within their mother's milk. Whereas, cows are meant to be drinking the milk they produce. Casein is used in many things such as: paint, glue, plastic, vegan ready made products, protein supplements and also used as a binder.
A single cell organism that once you activate the yeast it becomes a live bacteria. Having too much yeast and consuming a lot of sugar creates the perfect environment for the yeast to multiply inside our bodies.This is when we can create a yeast overgrowth, which can wreck havoc on our gut and brain. Try to avoid or at least minimize the amount of products that contain yeast. Some of the ingredient names are: yeast, yeast extract, and autolyzed yeast. This can be found in different items such as: pet food, broth, gravies, chips, pretzels and of course all bread products.