Autism and Diet: Can Diet Cause Autism?

As a parent of an autistic child, you’ve probably spent hours and hours on the internet, sifting through pages of conflicting opinions about the best ways to raise your kid. So it probably comes as no surprise that there’s a ridiculous amount of criticism and speculation surrounding something as simple as food.

It seems like half the community wants to label one food as “a cure” while the other half wants to condemn it as “poisonous.” Sadly, this constant stream of differing opinions can make it super difficult to find reliable information regarding nutrition for your son or daughter on the spectrum. But, don’t worry, we’re here to clear up a little bit of that confusion!

In this article were going to take a look at food from a couple of different angles. First, we’ll check out some recent medical findings of prenatal nutrition, addressing the important question: Can diet cause autism? Then, we’ll talk about some helpful ways you can ensure your son or daughter is getting all the essential vitamins and minerals they need to live their best life. 

Fair warning, we’re about to dive pretty deep into a recent medical study, so put on your thinking caps; things are about to get really “science-y.”

Why has Autism Become So Common?

The fact of the matter is, autism spectrum disorders are becoming more and more common. Studies conducted by the CDC show that the number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) this year is five times higher than twenty years ago, rising from one in every 150 kids to one in every 44 being medically diagnosed with some form of ASD. Those numbers are CRAZY! If things continue at the rate they are now, in twenty more years, nearly every kid will be born with some level of autism.

Its alarming stats like these that have parents and scientists asking the same question: Why? Why are there so many kids being born with autism? 

The good news is, more than ever before, researchers are determined to find answers. Every day, extensive investigation goes into finding causes for these rising numbers of autism diagnoses, and more importantly, what can be done to prevent kids from developing ASD in the future.

Is Food to Blame for the Rising Number of Autistic Children?

“Don’t drink, don’t smoke, and don’t do drugs; follow those rules, and your baby will come out just fine.” Sound familiar? Oh, if only it were only that simple. While these guidelines are a great place to start if you’re expecting, by no means do they guarantee a perfectly healthy birth. Every day autistic babies are born to moms who did “everything right” during their pregnancy.

Unfortunately, apart from these obvious “unwritten rules” there is very little information regarding what factors may increase the chances of a child being born with ASD. Some researchers suggest that a pregnant mother’s age, genetics, and environment play a large part. However, recently, scientists have been devoting much effort to researching a somewhat unexplored factor: prenatal diet. Can certain foods consumed by pregnant mothers increase the risk of having a child born with autism? Let’s take a look at what we know so far. 

The Foods in Question

Medical Researcher Dr. Saleh Naser, and his team at UCF College of Medicine Orlando, have recently discovered a potential medical breakthrough in the link to prenatal diet and autism.

The university scientists found that exposure to high levels of propionic acid (PPA) during pregnancy can directly affect nervous system development in the brains of unborn children. Propionic acid is a naturally occurring chemical that the body produces as food ferments in the digestive system. PPA is also added to many processed foods to enhance flavor and prolong shelf-life. 

Usually, consistent amounts of propionic acid are not a cause for concern. However, when a person’s PPA levels suddenly increase, problems can begin to arise, especially during pregnancy. The brilliant minds at the UCF College of medicine explain it this way:

• “If a pregnant woman consumes a significant amount of processed foods, PPA levels can spike.”
• “In excess, PPA impacts a fetus’ brain by reducing the development of neurons — cells that tell other body cells how to function. This can also damage neurons’ communication pathways throughout the body.”
• “High amounts of PPA also cause an overproduction of glial cells. These cells protect neuron function, but too many cells disrupt the connection between neurons and causes inflammation in the brain and the rest of the body.”

Put simply, PPA levels during pregnancy seem to directly correlate with the likelihood that a child will exhibit typical ASD behavior, such as trouble communicating and stimming behavior like rocking back and forth or hand flapping after birth.

Which Foods Contain Propionic Acid and Should you Avoid Them?

PPA is commonly used as a preservative in many processed foods like cheese, dried fruit products, and baked goods such as bread, tortillas, and pre-packaged pastries. If you want to limit your intake of propionic acid, experts suggest checking the ingredients on the packaging for: 

• Methyl propionate
• Sodium propionate
• Calcium propionate

The connection between propionic acid and neural development is still being studied. While there is no sure-fire way to guarantee that your baby will be born without signs of autism, it never hurts to air on the side of caution. As hard as it may be cutting down on processed foods during pregnancy can be a great way to maximize the potential for healthy fetal brain growth, and it’s better for your overall health in general. 

Can Diet be Used to Treat Autism?

Let’s switch gears now and examine another aspect of nutrition. We’ve established a possible connection between prenatal diet and autism, but what if you have a son or daughter who has already been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder? Can their diet affect their overall health and cognitive ability? 

Put simply; there is no “cure” for autism. However, implementing certain foods into your child’s diet (and possibly removing some) can significantly improve their overall quality of life. When analyzing an autism-based diet, there are two main ways to look at food. First, from a nutritional perspective, and second, viewing certain foods as triggers can cause your son or daughter to react unfavorably.

Nutrition and Autism

One study showed that kids on the spectrum often lack fiber, folic acid, calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamins A, C, D, E, K, B6, and B12. All of these vitamins and minerals are crucial to your child’s development and overall well-being. Fortunately, there are tons of fun and tasty foods that you can implement into your child’s diet to ensure they are receiving all the vital nutrients that their little bodies need. Here are a few examples, broken down by each essential vitamin and mineral.

Fiber	beans, broccoli, avocados, apricots, figs, potatoes. nuts
Folic Acid	whole grains, spinach, peanuts,, asparagus
Calcium	kale, soy beans, yogurt, chia seeds, cheese
Iron	peas, salmon, tuna, fortified breakfast cereals, pumpkin seeds
ZInc	chicken, chick peas, cashews, almonds, pork chops
Vitamin A	red peppers, carrots, sweet potatoes, mangos
Vitamin C	oranges, strawberries, brussel sprouts, pineapple
Vitamin D	eggs, oatmeal, salmon
Vitamin E	peanut butter, pumpkin, sunflower seeds, dark chocolate
Vitamin K	Prunes, blackberries, pomegranates, kiwis, tomatoes
Vitamin B6	Papaya, canteloupe, turkey, tofu, beets, pistachios, garlic
Vitamin B12	Clams, shrimp, eggs, beef, trout

 

Also, just as a side note, if you haven’t done so already, we encourage you to visit your child’s doctor or nutritionist. Gluten and lactose allergies are common among autistic children. Since many kids can’t communicate how they feel with words, they may have one of these allergies without you ever knowing about it. 

Trigger Foods

Every kid has meals that they like and dislike, but for boys and girls living with ASD, certain foods may cause them to stress or even panic. Most of the time, It boils down to sensory perception. For some kids, foods with specific colors, intense flavors, or unfamiliar textures can be overwhelming to their senses. 

Be prepared, learning which foods trigger negative reactions in your child can be a challenge. It may seem like they suddenly have an avulsion to every new meal you put in front of them. In this situation, it’s best to start simple. Try to identify a few foods that they tolerate, and gradually make slight changes to your recipes to incorporate other ingredients. 

When trying to incorporate a specific vitamin-rich food, smoothies might just become your new best friend. Sweet fruits easily mask the flavors of “undesirable” foods like vegetables, allowing you to give them essential nutrients while providing a cool and tasty treat.

It’ll take some time, but with some creativity, you can gradually turn trigger foods into meals that your autistic son or daughter will actually crave, and who knows, you might even have some fun doing it. For more tips on getting your child to try new foods, check out this article here. 

Share Your Nutrition Tips with us!

We hope that this information has helped shed some light on the importance of a healthy diet both before and after a child is born. It’s awesome to see so much research finally going into this important part of daily life. New discoveries and studies regarding nutrition and autism are being published every day, so as always, we encourage you to do your own research and let us know what you find!