Gluten-free, casein-free diet

A gluten-free casein-free diet (or GFCF diet) is a restrictive diet which entirely eliminates intake of the naturally-occurring proteins gluten. Such proteins gluten is found naturally in wheat, barley, and rye; and casein is found in milk.

Giving an autistic child a GFCF diet has become a popular intervention as many parents have observed improvements in their children within few months of placing their children on a GFCF diet. In some cases, no improvements were noticed. It can be argued that the success stories could well lie in issues with the child's sense of taste and the GFCF diet in some cases may go towards the avoidance of sensory overload in this area.

It is important to note that a GFCF diet cannot eliminate autism, but in some cases it improves skills that autism inhibits. Consult a doctor and a nutritionist before making any major diet alterations.

Background
Kalle Reichelt, M.D., in 1991, postulated the possible relationship between gluten, casein, and autism