Alternative Diets Can Make a Difference
Usually I write about the gluten free/casein free (GFCF) or Feingold Diet, but there are other diets listed in my book that have helped transform many children with a variety of disabilities and ailments. In this article I will share information and details about three other diets that one might be interested in pursuing. The three diets are: The Body Ecology Diet, Sara’s Diet and The Specific Carbohydrate Diet. All of these diets, as well as the GFCF and Feingold diets have helped reverse symptoms, illnesses and traits in people around the world!
The Body Ecology Diet
A nutritional consultant, Donna Gates, developed the Body Ecology Diet (BED). She was seeing many patients with candidiasis and other fungal infections. Many people suffer with an overgrowth of yeast or fungus known as Candida. BED helps eliminate the yeast and helps people feel much better. The first step of the BED is to heal the gut, with young coconut kefir. Kefir is a natural probiotic and contains live, active cultures of normal flora, that help the digestive tract and aids in digestion.
Young coconuts, which are also called “green” coconuts, are sold in most areas in the United States in the produce department. It is not coconut milk, which comes from mature coconuts.
Young coconut kefir is made in a very specific way and has to be fermented for eighteen to forty-eight hours, using a kefir starter. For more information go to www.kefir.com [1].
Secondly, one needs to add raw butter to the BED. Next, success has been found with introducing natural foods, such as vegetables, “meats” (chicken, turkey, lamb and fish), free-range eggs, and good fats, using Celtic sea salt and herbs for seasoning. Also gluten free grains, such as: millet, buckwheat, amaranth and quinoa.
The last step to the BED is to use fatty acids, such as: coconut oil, vitamins A and D, cod liver oil or krill oil, unrefined seed oils like pumpkin, flaxseed, borage, evening primrose and ghee. Green juice made from broccoli stems, celery or a leafy green is also suggested.
For more information on BED, Donna Gate’s has a book called: The body Ecology Diet [2].
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Sara’s Diet
Max and Sandra Desorgher were looking for answers to help their autistic daughter, Sara. Sandra discovered that many foods with lutein could be removed from Sara’s diet with remarkable results.
Foods high in lutein are: kale, spinach, mustard greens, yellow corn, broccoli, green peas, pumpkin, collard greens, summer ( yellow) squash, carrots, brussel sprouts, red currants, green olives, peppers (green, orange and yellow), green beans (pod), chicken fat, egg yolk, plums, peaches, oranges, tangerines, avocados, kiwi and rhubarb.
Sometimes lutein is found in the peel of fruits and vegetables such as cucumbers, pears and pineapples.
This particular diet also requires eliminating artificial food dyes and the artificial sweetener Aspartame.
Sara’s diet also suggests going gluten free and casein free, or at least reducing these two proteins, as well as removing soy protein and foods high in purine: sweetbreads, anchovies, sardines, liver, beef kidneys, brains, meat extracts, herring, mackerel, scallops, game meats and gravy.
There are other food items that might need to be removed. Some suggest, in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms, adding these supplements: cod-liver oil, B-vitamins, honey, dimethylglycine and coenzyme Q10.
For more detailed information, please check out this web site; http://www.saras-autism-diet.freeservers.com/Diet/Saras_Diet_I.html [3]
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The Specific Carbohydrate Diet
Elaine Gottschall’s daughter had severe digestive issues and was unable to keep any food down. No doctor could help until her family finally met a doctor that talked about “the food.”
The family realized their daughter was ill due to grains and sugars in her diet. Elaine quickly changed her daughter’s diet by having her eat mostly meats, fruits and vegetables. Carbohydrates, such as grains, flour and sugar were eliminated. Her daughter began to regain her health, drastically improving her digestive system and improving neurological disorders.
Elaine decided she had to help save other children who suffered, as her daughter did, with such ill health. At age forty-seven, she returned to school to become a biochemist. She went on to write the book, “Breaking the Vicious Cycle.” [4] Elaine’s book has helped many individuals with Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, diverticulitis, autism, cystic fibrosis and other ailments that are rooted in the digestive tract.
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Some food to be avoided with this diet include: sugars with double molecules, and starches (corn, grains, potatoes).
Homemade fermented yogurt is allowed on this diet. The special yogurt must be fermented for at least twenty-four hours. No other dairy products are allowed.
More information on The Specific Carbohydrate Diet can be found at: www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/legal/legal_illegal_a-c.htm [5] and at www.pecanbread.com [6]. Information on making the yogurt can be located at this web site: http://pecanbread.com/p/yogurt1.html [7]
There are many alternative diets to try when your child is suffering with ill health or problematic symptoms. Never be afraid to search online for your child’s ailments, there might be a special diet or a certain food (or groups of food) that should be avoided. Sometimes it’s just trial and error. Discuss your child’s symptoms with your medical practitioner and other parents, you might find some answers!
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Barrie Silberberg is the author of The Autism & ADHD Diet: A Step-by-Step Guide To Hope and Healing by Living Gluten Free and Casein Free (GFCF) And Others Interventions [8]. Her web site is: www.puttingyourkidsfirst.com [9]
Helpful Articles
- Ways to Advocate for Yourself While on a Special Diet [10]
- Most Popular Gluten Free/Casein Free Products and Where to Find Them [11]
- Special Diets: Food Allergies [12]
- Traveling with Special Dietary Need [13]
This post originally appeared on our July/August 2012 Magazine [14]