Any studies on autism & paleo diet?

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Does anyone know if there have been any research studies done on the effects of the Paleo diet on autism?

Or - if you are on it yourself and want to share your experience, that would be great too!

Thanks!

I am highly sceptical of any supposed effect of a diet on autism, smells like snake oil.

That said I have been on a paleo diet, on and off, to feel healthier in general and I do notice its effect on fat loss, digestion etc. Still very definitely autistic though.

I eat a restricted & medicinal diet - albeit not nearly as medicinal as I adhered to a few years ago when I first started out - that helps treat & control my ASD and other symptoms with great success. I also take various supplements & probiotics etc that also contribute, but diet is also critical. I haven't read the book, but I do remember that my diet is very similar to one known as the GAPS diet - gf/cf, herbs & natural medicinal foods etc. GAPS stands for Gut And Psychology Diet and is used to heal the digestive tract, and in turn treat a variety of mental afflictions.

Not in my experience, feels like a second life.

They tried a couple of diets on me. They didn't make a damn bit of difference.

I've seen a few small studies, but the sample sizes have always been too small, and they're not longitudinal. Also, they're often done on children, so they observations come down to parental observations of behaviour, not on what the child themselves is experiencing.

After years and years of obsessive reading and using myself as a guinea pig (including stints of Paleo, intermittent fasting, vegan, gfcf, elimination diets, and more), my conclusions are:

1. Junky diets high in sugar and empty carbs don't do you any favours. You can sometimes get away with them when you're young, but they'll wear you down eventually.

2. There is no one perfect diet for everyone. Some people thrive on Paleo, vegan or vegetarian, others start looking gaunt or wan. They perfect balance of macro and micro nutrients is different for each individual.

3. After years of trial and error, I've figured out that I do best on a diet high in veg, with limited fruit and no other sugars (like honey or agave or stevia), a bit of fish and chicken for protein, no gluten (I'm diagnosed coeliac), very limited grains, minimal caffeine, and lots of probiotics (homemade kombucha, kefir, and sauerkraut). It took a lot of work to recalibrate my tastebuds to enjoy it, because I was addicted to cheesy pasta, chocolate, fruit-heavy smoothies and strong espresso. But I feel quite a lot better now, with fewer digestive problems, skin problems and edginess, and a bit more mental clarity.

I still have sensory and EF issues (and anxiety, ugh), but that directly correlates with working a high pressure job and wearing an NT-mask 40+ hours a week.

This is quite similar to the basics of my diet, as well.

Although I also take vits/mins/supplements, use epsom salts on my skin, vit D/uv light, annnnd of course the major differentiator: I go far beyond diet for digestive health that in turn results in mental well being, by doing high volume enemas w/ diluted ACV and some natural salts. It's gross science, but highly effective. Whether it detoxes an enteric nervous system toxin, or leaves probiotics behind (or both?) I don't know for certain. I just know it works.

But for sensory issues and anxiety, using epsom salts on my skin daily is the most effective treatment I've found. It also helps executive functioning as well as with depression. Possibly with other symptoms, but those for sure.