Special Needs Food Concerns

These days, many moms are concerned about food allergies – especially parents of children with special needs. Many children with special needs, including those with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), struggle with chronic ear infections, constipation, asthma, eczema and many of them had colic as infants.

Research shows that at least 60 per cent, and as many as 90 per cent of children are allergic or sensitive to foods they eat every day. Unfortunately, most reactions to foods are not easy to observe and so they’re often overlooked.

Some of the most common foods that cause symptoms are:

 Wheat and gluten (a protein in wheat, as well as oats, barley, rye and spelt) - bread, pizza dough, baked goods, pasta, cereal, etc.

 Dairy products and casein (a protein found in most dairy products) - milk, cheese, yogurt, etc.

 Eggs - baked goods (breads, cakes, muffins, etc.), battered foods, ice cream, egg noodles, etc.

 Soy - salad dressing, baby formula, baked goods, seasonings, soups, etc.

 Sugar - cereals, bread, cookies, candies, ketchup, canned soups, spaghetti sauce, etc.

 Food additives/chemicals (e.g. nitrites, red/yellow food dyes, salicylates, etc.) - Processed or packaged foods, cereals, fruit punch drinks, cold cuts, etc.

 Histamine-rich foods - Berries, banana, pineapple, cherries, grapes, plums, dairy, chocolate, etc.

It’s surprising to some that the most common food allergens come from the foods we eat every day.

Food allergies, even the milder sensitivities, are stressful to the body. The body has evolved to cope with this stress with its automated “fright-or-flight” response regulated by the adrenal glands. It’s important to note that because we eat dairy products, wheat, sugars and soy products (in various forms) every day, the stress caused by these foods, for some people, is almost non-stop – masking the reaction. People simply don’t notice the difference until they stop eating the food, which is usually done with an elimination diet.

Avoiding foods “one at a time” will not uncover most of these reactions. The changes won’t be seen in most people unless they follow a comprehensive elimination diet that avoids all of the allergens at the same time. That’s why it’s important to seek out testing with a health care provider (i.e. naturopathic doctor), who is specifically trained to provide guidance.

Whether parents want to help reduce or eliminate a child’s asthma or chronic infections, or they are desperate to reduce symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, clinical experience and research proves that avoidance of food allergens can make a difference. I’ve often found that when families try the elimination diet, they are surprised to learn that they all end up feeling better.