Going Gluten Free: Helpful or Hype?
Gluten Free – Helpful or Hype?
The special needs world comes with a plethora of acronyms and abbreviations. From diagnosis (ASD, ADHD, PDD-NOS…) to education plans (IEP, LRE, BIP, ESY) to dietary interventions (GFCF, LOD, SCD), parents can easily become tangled in a chain of letters. Perhaps the most common abbreviation that has made its way into the mainstream is GF, or gluten free. Gluten is the general name for the protein found in certain grains.
Gluten contains gliadorphin (GLY-ah-DOR-fin), which is a by-product from the digestion of gluten and a substance that resembles morphine. It can be problematic in the presence of gut permeability and/or enzyme deficiencies and maldigestion. When highly problematic, some children exhibit autistic-like behaviors. While not a cause of autism, gluten in certain individuals can exacerbate underlying health issues.