Specific Carbohydrate Diet and Autism--anyone here with experience?

[daisymommy]

Hello all,
I have a dear friend who's 3.5 yr old child has autism. He is already gfcf. She would like to start the SCD this weekend (she has already read the book). But she feels overwhelmed and confused on some points and information. She doesn't have any real-life support on this or know anyone who has done SCD to be able to ask questions.

I told her about the lovely kind wise mamas here and told her I would ask around to see if I could get some support for her, someone who could maybe answer her questions.

So, anyone here with experience?

Cross-posted in Special Needs Parenting and Health and Healing

[Llyra]

I was on the SCD myself for about two years. I do not have any experience with autism, but I do have quite a bit with the diet, so you could refer her to me if you would like. I will be away a lot during the next two weeks, however, and out of Internet contact.

[PeachBaby]

Just a couple words of caution.

1. Sorry, I don't know too much about this first issue, but if the child has mitochondrial issues, please learn more about that first to avoid problems. I think it has to do with making sure not to overdo proteins and/or fat which is oftentimes the tendency when people go on this diet.

2. There is a book, "Special-Needs Kids Eat Right" that cautions about making sure the diet is adequate in macronutrients first and foremost and tells you how to be sure your child is getting enough to eat (kid may even look fine, but may in actuality not be having enough nourishment according to growth parameters). Micronutrients are important of course, but if macronutrient needs are not met, it can overshadow other problems, so the author stresses that this needs to be taken care of first. Kids need calories because they are growing... obvious,.. but many times she encounters children who are on various diets of all sorts that are not getting enough macronutrients. The book mentions the SCD regarding this caution (It is not an SCD book though.) The author is a registered dietitian.

[dogmom327]

Have you read the GAPS book yet? I found it immensely helpful (disclaimer, my children just have gut issues and we are doing everything we can to avoid it becoming a bigger problem). It's based on SCD but lots of really great information.