Natural Remedies for Autism and Adhd: Diet and Therapy
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition that influences social interaction, sensory processing, and behavior. While there is no medical treatment for autism itself, some parents explore natural remedies, such as dietary changes and alternative therapies, to support their child’s well-being and daily life.
In this guide, I will outline step-by-step natural treatments for autism, guiding you to find useful and effective ways to live with autism better.
Understanding Autism and Its Symptoms
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects communication, behavior, and sensory processing. Since each individual suffers from autism differently, personalized strategies must be kept in mind while planning natural remedies for autism spectrum disorder.
Common Symptoms of Autism
Although symptoms of autism are diverse, certain typical symptoms are:
- Communication Challenges: Difficulty with verbal and non-verbal communication, including speech delay, little eye contact, and trouble interpreting social cues such as facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language.
- Sensory Sensitivities: The majority of autistic individuals suffer from sensory processing disorder, which renders them highly sensitive to stimuli like bright lights, loud sounds, specific textures, or even specific smells.
- Repetitive Actions & Rigid Schedules: Stimming (such as hand-flapping or rocking) and a requirement for rigid schedules are common. Unexpected changes can result in distress, so predictability is essential for emotional health.
- Emotional Regulation Challenges: Difficulty with emotional regulation can result in intense responses to frustration, anxiety, or sensory overload. This can sometimes manifest as aggression, withdrawal, or difficulty with transitions.
- Gastrointestinal Problems & Food Intolerances: The majority of autistic children suffer from gastrointestinal problems, such as constipation, diarrhea, bloating, or intolerance to food (especially dairy and gluten). They can be uncomfortable and could be a cause of behavioral problems, thus dietary adjustment is an important element of autism management.
Can Natural Remedies for Autism Help?
Yes, natural remedies for autism and ADHD can be effective in enhancing overall health and serve to supplement conventional treatments. Autism looks different in each individual, so what may work for one person will not necessarily work for another. Parents turn to diet changes, sensory rooms, and nutritional supplementation to address problems like anxiety, meltdowns (intense reactions to overwhelming situations) or belly issues. As much as these solutions are effective, they become most useful if combined with expert therapies like speech and occupational therapy.
No universal solution exists, but careful planning and patience can aid well-being and optimize every day using nature.
5 Best Natural Remedies for Autism: Managing Sensory and Behavioral Issues
Looking for natural ways to help with autism? Natural remedies like targeted nutrition, sensory therapies, and lifestyle changes can foster health, coping with anxiety and easing communication alongside conventional treatments.
1. Diet and Nutrition-Based Treatments
The Role of Diet in Autism Management
Diet plays a significant part in brain function, digestive health, and the regulation of behavior. Research shows that food intolerances tend to worsen symptoms of autism, leading to digestive issues, inflammation, and mood swings. Eliminating trigger foods and maximizing nutrition can lead to noticeable improvements.
Foods to Avoid in Autism: What to Know About Dietary Triggers
Some foods will trigger behavioral and gastrointestinal problems in individuals with autism. These include:
- Processed foods containing artificial additives and preservatives
- High-sugar foods cause energy fluctuations
- Dairy products containing casein
- Grains containing gluten such as wheat, barley and rye (a grain used in bread and cereals).
- Soy and some legumes, such as peanuts, lentils, and chickpeas, are known to cause gut inflammation (irritation in the digestive system that can lead to discomfort and digestive issues).
Casein and Gluten-Free Diet for Autism: Is It Helpful?
One of the most widely recommended diets for individuals with autism is a gluten-free and casein-free (GFCF) diet. The rationale behind this diet is that proteins gluten and casein can cause inflammation and damage to gut health, which affects brain function. Most families note improvements in attention, digestion, and behavior after removing these proteins from their child's diet.
Gluten Free and Casein Free Foods List: What to Eat and What to Avoid
Here's a comprehensive table that includes a closer look at the gluten and casein free food list, gluten and casein-free diet food list. Also, the foods to avoid on a casein-free diet and foods to avoid on a gluten-free diet.
|
Food Category |
Gluten Free and Casein Free Food List |
Gluten & Casein Free Diet Food List |
Foods to Avoid on a Casein-Free Diet |
Foods to Avoid on a Gluten-Free Diet |
|
Fruits & Vegetables |
Fresh fruits (apples, bananas, berries, oranges) & vegetables (carrots, spinach, broccoli) |
Fresh fruits (apples, strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, peaches & vegetables ( carrots, broccoli, kale, cauliflower, cucumbers) |
Dairy-based sauces or dressings on veggies |
- |
|
Proteins |
Lean meats (chicken, turkey, fish like salmon, tuna, cod), eggs, legumes (lentils, chickpeas) |
Lean meats (chicken, turkey, salmon), eggs (if tolerated), tofu, lentils, beans |
Dairy-based proteins such as milk-based cheese or processed meats like sausage |
Processed meats (sausages, hot dogs with gluten fillers) |
|
Milk & Dairy Alternatives |
Almond milk, coconut milk, rice milk, oat milk, and hemp milk (a plant-based milk made from hemp seeds) |
Almond, coconut, oat, rice, and hemp milk |
Cow’s milk, cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan), yogurt, butter, and cream contain casein and lactose, which may trigger digestive issues |
Dairy milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, cream |
|
Grains & Starches |
Rice (brown, white, wild), quinoa, millet, buckwheat, amaranth (a gluten-free ancient grain rich in protein and minerals) and gluten-free oats |
Rice (brown, white), quinoa, millet, buckwheat, amaranth, gluten-free oats |
Wheat-based products like pasta, bread, crackers, cookies, and cakes |
Wheat-based foods like bread, pasta, crackers, cakes, and cereals |
|
Flours |
Almond flour, coconut flour, rice flour, chickpea flour, tapioca flour (a gluten-free starch from cassava root) |
Almond flour, coconut flour, rice flour, quinoa flour, tapioca flour |
Wheat flour, flour made from gluten-containing grains like barley |
Wheat flour, barley, rye flour |
|
Healthy Fats |
Avocados, almonds, walnuts, cashews, seeds (chia, sunflower), olive oil, coconut oil |
Avocados, olive oil, coconut oil, chia seeds, flax seeds, nuts (almonds, walnuts) |
Dairy-based fats such as butter, cream, or cheese sauces |
Some processed snacks with gluten and hidden sources of gluten |
|
Snacks & Spreads |
Hummus ((a creamy chickpea dip), guacamole (a mashed avocado dip), nut butter (peanut, almond), dairy-free cheese (coconut, almond, cashew) |
Hummus, guacamole, nut butters, gluten-free crackers, rice cakes, dairy-free cheese |
Dairy-based snacks (cheese, cream cheese, milk chocolate) |
Gluten-filled snacks, cakes, cookies, certain packaged snacks with gluten |
|
Beverages |
Water, herbal teas, coffee (without milk), almond milk, coconut milk |
Water, herbal teas, coffee, fruit juices (without additives) |
Milk-based drinks (coffee with milk, milkshakes, etc.) |
Beer with gluten, malt beverages (drinks made from malted barley, often containing gluten) and some flavored or soda drinks with gluten |
|
Baked Goods |
Gluten-free bread, gluten-free muffins (made with gluten-free flours like almond or rice flour, eggs, milk, and sweeteners) and gluten-free cookies made with almond flour |
Gluten-free bread, muffins, cookies using almond flour, rice flour, or coconut flour |
Any baked goods with wheat flour, dairy ingredients |
Gluten-based baked goods like cakes, bread, and pastries |
Keto Diet Autism Meal Plan: Can It Help Improve Symptoms?
The high-fat, low-carb keto diet has been explored as a potential autism treatment. Benefits are:
- Improved brain function through ketone production.
- Reduced rate of seizures among individuals with epilepsy and autism.
- Improved concentration and mood regulation.
A standard keto diet autism meal plan includes healthy fats, moderate protein, and non-starchy vegetables (such as spinach, broccoli, zucchini, and kale) to give continuous energy and brain feeding.
Essential Supplements and Nutrients for Autism
Supplementation of essential nutrients can also benefit individuals with autism. The best supplements for autism are:
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Supports brain function, enhances cognitive processes, reduces inflammation, and supports behavior control by enhancing social interaction and focus.
Probiotics Or Live Bacteria and Yeasts
Sustains gut microbiome balance (a healthy mix of bacteria in the gut), supporting overall gut health and stabilizing behavior by influencing mood and reducing anxiety.
Vitamin D and B-complex
Improves mood, maintains neurological well-being, and allows for cognitive growth and social learning with required vitamins like B12 and folate (B vitamins essential for brain function and cell growth).
Magnesium and Zinc
Allows for relaxation, improves sleep, reduces anxiety, and aids in concentration and focus, which is required for controlling impulsive behavior and stress.
2. Behavioral and Sensory Therapies as Natural Strategies
Occupational and Sensory Integration Therapy
It aims at improving motor function, sensory integration, and emotional regulation in children with autism. Occupational and Sensory Integration Therapy helps them to better respond to sensory stimuli, modulate their everyday activities, and develop more adaptive behaviors.
Music and Art Therapy
It encourages creativity and self-expression, which can truly help in communication and emotional expression. It helps an individual to express their feelings nonverbally, which solidifies social connections.
Animal-Assisted Therapy
It involves interaction with animals that can reduce anxiety, improve mood, and foster more productive social interaction, making relationship-building easier.
Also read more: Mert Therapy
3. Herbal and Alternative Therapies
Essential Oils and Aromatherapy
- Lavender & Chamomile: These oils are celebrated for their calming effects, soothing anxiety and sensory overload, and bringing about relaxation and better sleep.
- Frankincense: Heightens focus and helps to balance emotions, thereby being useful for emotional balance.
Homeopathy and Herbal Remedies
- Ashwagandha: An adaptogen that reduces stress and anxiety, causing emotional balance.
- Ginkgo Biloba: It improves cognitive functions and memory, enhancing concentration and mental acuteness.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
There has been some research to indicate that acupuncture can help in sensory processing and in the management of emotions, offering potential relief for individuals who work with autism challenges.
4. Mind-Body Exercises to Help with Autism
Yoga and Meditation
Yoga and meditation are beneficial practices for individuals with autism, helping to improve concentration, regulate mood, and enhance self-awareness. These practices promote a greater sense of sensory awareness, allowing individuals to connect more deeply with their bodies.
Deep Pressure Therapy and Breathing Exercises
Deep pressure therapy, such as weighted blankets, and respiratory exercises are effective ways to decrease stress and anxiety. Sensory interventions such as these initiate relaxation, ground the body, and create a sense of safety.
Nature Therapy or Ecotherapy and Outdoor Activities
Outdoor time is also a healthy sensory break that reduces anxiety and enhances mood. Outdoor activities make autistic individuals more engaged with their environment, and that is a natural, soothing way of reducing stress and enhancing well-being.
5. Lifestyle Changes to Boost Support
By bringing small modifications in everyday life, a lot of comfort and well-being can be promoted in autistic individuals
Establishing Organized Routines
A daily routine has the impact of lessening stress and anxiety by minimizing uncertainty. Consistent timing of activity, sleep, and meals produces a sense of stability, enabling the individual to more readily manage transitions and abrupt change.
Managing Screen Time
Excessive screen use can lead to overstimulation, which affects concentration and mood regulation. Restricting the use of digital devices and including activities without screens, such as reading or playing outside, maintains balance.
Designing a Sensory-Friendly Home
A carefully designed home environment can be reassuring and reduce sensory overload. Soft lighting, sound-reduction strategies, and calming textures are employed to design a soothing atmosphere that is tailored to sensory needs, which enables relaxation and emotional well-being.
How Natural Remedies for Autism Complement Traditional Therapies
Natural therapies can supplement standard therapies to provide a complete autism treatment approach. As behavioral therapy, medication, and structured therapy address core symptoms, natural therapies can assist in enhancing emotional balance, sensory integration, and overall health.
Autism Nutritional Support
Omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, and probiotics enhance brain function, gastrointestinal health, and emotional regulation, as well as therapies such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and speech therapy, these nutrients can help improve behavioral and communication skills, supporting overall progress..
Mind-Body Practices
Yoga, meditation, and deep breathing promote relaxation, reducing anxiety and sensory overload, which can improve engagement in occupational and speech therapy.
Herbal and Alternative Therapies
Lavender and frankincense essential oils can reduce stress, and acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can help support sensory processing, especially in place of traditional therapies.
Sensory-Friendly Adaptations
Having a routine schedule and sensory-friendly setting can support the effectiveness of traditional therapies by being soothing and preventing unnecessary stress.
When carefully combined, natural remedies for autism can augment the impact of traditional treatments to create more personalized and well-rounded autism therapy. Consultation with a healthcare professional is required, however, to ensure best safety and effectiveness.
Also Read More: Can Sensory Processing Disorder Get Worse With Age?
How to Create a Gluten-Free and Casein-Free Meal Plan for Autism?
A Gluten-Free and Casein-Free (GFCF) diet may be an effective strategy in the treatment of individuals with autism since personal reports and limited research suggest benefits in behavior and gut function. This is a step-by-step guide to help you create an effective Gluten-Free Casein-Free diet:
Know the Fundamentals
- Gluten: A protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and their derivatives.
- Casein: A milk protein that is found in milk products like milk, cheese, yoghurt, and butter.
Eliminate Sources of Gluten and Casein
- Remove Gluten-Containing Grains: Remove wheat in the form of bread, pasta, cereals, and bakery items.
- Dairy Products: Exclude cow's milk in all forms, cheese, yogurt and all dairy products.
Use Safe and Healthy Alternatives
- Gluten-Free Grains: Substitute rice, quinoa, millet, buckwheat, and packaged gluten-free oats into foods.
- Dairy Alternatives: Substitute plant milk like almond, coconut, hemp, or rice milk. Ensure they have necessary nutrients like calcium and vitamin D.
Prioritize Whole Foods
- Fruits and Vegetables: They are naturally casein-free and gluten-free, giving the vitamins and minerals that are required.
- Proteins: Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, legumes, nuts, and seeds.
Plan Balanced Meals
- Breakfast: Gluten-free oats-cooked oatmeal with almond milk and fresh fruits.
- Lunch: Mixed vegetables mixed with quinoa salad (a nutritious, gluten-free seed high in protein and fiber) and grilled chicken.
- Dinner: Steamed broccoli with brown rice and baked fish.
- Snacks: Hummus and carrot sticks, or a handful of nuts.
Read Labels Carefully
- Hidden Ingredients: Casein and gluten can be found in processed foods, seasonings, and sauces. Check for labels that indicate "gluten-free" and look at ingredient lists for dairy by-products.
Avoid Cross-Contamination
- Kitchen Habits: Cook gluten-free and casein-free foods in separate utensils, cutting boards, and toasters to avoid cross-contamination.
Monitor Nutritional Needs
Consult Experts: Obtain the recommendation of a dietitian to ensure the meal plan is comprehensive and ideal for all nutritional needs, especially for kids. Following are some popular dietitians name from all over the world:
Dr. Megan Rossi
An Australian nutritionist and scientist of gut health. She founded The Gut Health Clinic in London and has authored several books on nutrition.
Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian
An American nutrition scientist and cardiologist who serves as the Dean of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University.
Dr. Louis Aronne
An American doctor and author specializing in the practice of obesity medicine. He is also the Director of Weill Cornell Medicine's Comprehensive Weight Control Center.
Gradual Transition
- Phased Approach: Add gluten-free and casein-free food gradually and eliminate gluten and casein foods to help the person adjust to diet modifications.
Practice Continuous Observation
- Observation: Monitor progress by keeping a food diary to note any shift in behavior, digestion, or health and make the appropriate modifications to the diet.
Final Thoughts
Natural remedies for autism are highly useful in controlling symptoms of autism and overall health. There is no single treatment for everyone, but the integration of autism dietary modifications, sensory therapies, herbal treatments, and lifestyle changes may be part of a system of natural healing. Always use professionals as referrals to ensure proper introduction and adaptation to any therapy. Combine these methods with regular treatments to help individuals feel emotionally better, witness reduction of symptoms, and maintain quality of life toward long-term healing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Does the Autism Diets Plan Impact Autism Symptoms?
The autism diet is also involved in the regulation of autism symptoms since it has the capability of affecting the health of the gut, brain, and behavior. Anti-inflammatory and nutrient-dense foods can enhance attention, reduce hyperactivity, and improve emotional control. Elimination of possible gluten and dairy offenders may also enhance well-being.
Why Should You Avoid Certain Foods in Autism?
Certain foods, such as gluten, casein, artificial food additives (like artificial colorings, preservatives, and flavor enhancers such as MSG) and processed sugars, may trigger inflammation and worsen behavioral symptoms in autism. These foods for autism avoidance can improve digestion, reduce sensory sensitivity, and contribute to improved mood regulation and cognitive function.
How Can a Keto Diet Benefit Autism?
A high-fat, low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet can regulate blood sugar and stimulate ketone production (a byproduct of fat breakdown that the brain can use for energy), thereby improving brain function. This has the potential to result in greater focus, lower aggression, and better energy management, contributing to overall neurological wellness in autism.
What Supplements Help with Autism-Related Aggression?
Certain supplements have been known to reduce aggression in autism. These supplements are omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, vitamin B6, and N-acetylcysteine (NAC). These supplements for autism aggression help regulate neurotransmitter balance (the proper functioning of chemicals in the brain that control mood and behavior), reduce oxidative stress (damage caused by harmful molecules in the body), and cause relaxation, which can be used to manage mood and behavioral problems.
Are There Natural Ways to Cure Autism?
Autism can't be treated, but it can be well controlled by using natural interventions that can reduce its symptoms. When used together, dietary changes, sensory integration practices, herbal therapy, and lifestyle changes can improve communication, dampen fear, and increase the quality of life in autism patients.