Autism is a really common brain disorder that is majorly found in children. It basically refers to a group of brain disorders called Autism Spectrum Disorder or Autism. There are different types of autism that children suffer from and challenges that they face.
They usually show different symptoms as well.
You might have heard that children with autism are restricted to some particular diet. They do not like a certain food or food groups, or sometimes they are advised to ignore some particular food.
In case your child has ASD or autism, you might feel doubtful before giving anything to your child. This way, the child misses some essential nutrients that are crucial for their growth.
A number of supplement brands are also there in the market that claims to improve the symptoms of autism. Here, in this article, we will discuss how supplements improve the quality of life of autistic children.
But before jumping into the main topic, let’s get some basic ideas about autism.
What Is Autism?
Autism is a disorder that affects the way an individual’s brain works. Among children, this disorder is noticed the most. Across the world, around 1 in every 160 children has autism.
Diets And Nutrients Are Linked To Autism
Children who have autism might limit their food intake or might have food preferences. A number of children with autism also experience gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, or constipation on top of other behavioural issues.
As a result of this, children who suffer from autism sometimes also experience low in some particular nutrients. Some of those nutrients also have been studied in order to check whether giving their supplements will help with autism symptoms or not.
And, it has been noticed that they do work up to a certain level. Still, more studies are required. Here, we will talk about the nutrients that can bring a noticeable change.
Vitamins And Minerals
Some results have already stated that mineral and multivitamin supplements might help in improving digestive problems and enhance sleep quality in autistic children.
These types of supplements might help your child to get those extra nutrients that might be missing or low from the diet. However, before you give any supplement to your children, consult with your doctor to know whether it is safe or not.
There are some particular vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B6, iron, and magnesium supplements, that have not shown any result in improving the symptoms of autism. They can help your child get the necessary nutrients that they are missing from the regular diet.
Probiotics
Now, come to the probiotics. The research regarding autism and probiotics has shown mixed results. More research is required before any recommendations can be made. It is best to talk with your child’s dietician in case you have any queries regarding probiotics.
We can say that children with autism often encounter a deficiency of probiotics. Probiotics are responsible for maintaining gut health.
Omega-3 Fats
Research has found that a lot of children with autism have lower levels of mega-3 fats. Some Omega-3 fatty acids, such as DHA, are extremely important for the healthy growth and development of your child’s brain.
Research has also shown that supplementing with mega-3 fatty acids might help in reducing anxiety in teens and children who have symptoms. But these supplements do not work on reducing or eliminating autism symptoms like irritability and communication.
The Casein-Free, Gluten-Free Diet
This particular type of diet is basically a diet that does not contain casein and gluten. Gluten is the main protein that is present in wheat along with other grains, like barley and rye.
On the other hand, casein is the main protein that is present in all types of dairy products, like ice cream, yogurt, cow’s milk, and cheese.
Some research has shown that this diet excluding dairy products can help in improving some symptoms of autism, such as communication and hyperactivity. However, this particular diet has not been shown to improve digestive symptoms.
Before this diet is recommended for autistic children, a lot more research is required. As this diet can restrict and is low in some specific nutrients, such as vitamin D and calcium, that are crucial for growth and development, before trying this diet, you should consult with your doctor.
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