Is Keto The Best Diet For Autism?

Paleo & vegan & keto, oh my! With a constant rotation of trending diets, It can be hard to keep up and sift through which diets are actually beneficial and which are just fads. Of course, everybody is different. A diet that changes one person’s life might prove to be completely useless (or even damaging) to someone else’s health. 

Throw in an autism diagnosis, and it’s even more challenging to find the right foods to eat and to avoid. 

Many families with autism swear by the keto diet. Claims have been made that this diet is excellent for behavioral improvements. However, committing to the keto diet can be challenging, and improvements aren’t always immediately seen. 

Since there are so many different opinions regarding the keto diet, we want to supply you with the facts so you can decide which diet is best for your family member with autism. 

Let’s dive into the science behind the keto diet, what benefits some claim to see, and why others are hesitant to implement this diet. 

What Is The Keto Diet?

Healthline explains, “It involves drastically reducing carbohydrate intake and replacing it with fat. This reduction in carbs puts your body into a metabolic state called ketosis.” In short, the keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet.

Putting the body in a state of nutritional ketosis leads to increased energy as the body can burn fat more efficiently in this state. As a result, the body’s primary energy source is now fat. In turn, there are more ketones producing energy in the brain. 

To maintain a low-carb, high-fat diet, foods you would avoid include sugar, grains, starches, fruits, beans, root vegetables, natural sweeteners, and unhealthy fats. Instead, you would focus on eating whole and nutritionally dense foods like meats, fish, eggs, dairy, olive oil, avocados, tomatoes, onions, peppers, and other low-carb vegetables. 

As it is a seemingly restrictive diet, let’s switch gears and focus on the benefits some claim to experience!

What Are The Benefits of Keto For Individuals With Autism?

Most people start the keto diet to lose weight, but it has also improved medical conditions such as epilepsy and heart disease. Other benefits are reduced inflammation, oxidative stress, and acne.

Thankfully, more studies have focused on the link between diet and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in recent years, so there isn’t a shortage of research to review before deciding on a diet. In addition, some studies have focused primarily on ketogenic diets to analyze if they are just a fad or if they have genuine benefits. 

For example, researchers who conducted a study at the University of Calgary say that kids with autism following a ketogenic diet showed “improved behavior and changed the metabolism and trace elements in their bodies.” They think this is a result of the brain having produced more energy thanks to the increase of ketones. We can’t forget to mention the kids partaking in this study were on a modified ketogenic diet. 

A second study shows a modified ketogenic diet is beneficial in improving social effects and behaviors in children with autism. A different study saw “noticeable improvements in learning, social behavior, speech, cooperation, stereotypy, and hyperactivity.” 

Interestingly enough, many individuals with autism are affected by mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondria make up a massive portion of the energy our body needs. When your body is in a state of ketosis, it increases mitochondria, which is another added bonus to a keto diet.

Of course, behavioral improvements will not happen overnight, and even within the mentioned studies, not every participant saw results. 

Why Some Are Skeptical

Sounds too good to be true? Some think so! Many arguments against a ketogenic diet to treat autism are based on these same studies. For example, some of these studies were conducted on small groups of participants and didn’t report the long-term effects of sticking with a keto diet as the studies lasted for a few months. 

At the same time, it’s a pretty restrictive diet. If you have a picky eater, following a keto diet might be just about impossible. 

As with any diet, it takes time to see changes. If your child doesn’t stick to the diet, all the effort might prove to be in vain.

We want to provide you with the information you need to decide. So, before deciding, ask yourself:

• What are their current dietary restrictions?
• How will the food budget change with a new diet?
• Will they be compliant with this new diet?
• Am I prepared to follow and cook a new meal plan?
• Will the whole family be on board, or will I need to duplicate meals?

Of course, what we put into our bodies should be healthy and nutritional, but as with everything in life, our diet should balance it. So while keto isn’t for everyone, there are plenty of other diets that families with an autistic member have come to love. 

For example, a gluten-free and casein-free diet (GFCF) is another popular diet that many parents are implementing to benefit their child’s autism. Since it means avoiding certain foods, it’s also referred to as an elimination diet. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. Casein is a protein found in mammal’s milk. So, following a casein-free diet means avoiding milk and other dairy products. 

What’s Best For Your Family

If you are still unsure about following a keto diet after looking at the studies and pros and cons of a keto diet, talk to your physician or consult with a dietician! They will no doubt give you loads more information and advice. 

Health fads come and go, but the basics of leading a healthy lifestyle don’t really change. Of course, as new research comes out, we keep learning new ways to care for our bodies and families. 

Whether you decide to start with a gluten-free diet or jump all the way in with a keto diet, we are here to cheer you on! Have you already switched to a new diet and noticed behavioral changes? We would love to hear your feedback!